Sobering Voices from the Diaspora

Voices from the Diaspora

 

On this, August 30, 2023, Artsakh Independence Day, it is sobering to see history unfold. I quote the following voices from social media without identifying the authors. Suffice to say that they are bosom friends very much concerned.

 

“Now too much bloodshed has occurred and " integration “ with Azerbaijan is un fathomable at this point”

 

“Just few days ago the Azeris pulled aside a 69 yr old Armenian fro Atrstkh from a group of passengers I think in the corridor and took him prisoner and charged him with war crimes from the First Artsakh war “

 

“They accused him of having been Samuel Babayan’s driver in the 90’s. Yes, with that logic they could arrest every adult male in Artsakh, as ~ all able-bodied men served in the 90’s, 2016, or 2020. Likewise, the 3 young students, at least one of them pictured in army fatigues. Azerbaijan said they are sentenced to 10 days in jail for ‘dishonoring’ Azerbaijan flag. I think 10 days are up, where are they?”

 

“Very scary and I don’t see a way out.”

 

“It may be less costly to actually fight in self-defense than to surrender as the latter may be more costly”

 

I am being reminded of the legendary historic Sassoun and the song that was sung in its honor that has perpetuated to this day. I pray that it is not an ominous reminder that comes to my mind.

 

Օսմանական գոռ վաշտերը կատաղի

Ferocious Ottoman regiments roaring

Պաշարեցին մեր լեռները սոսկալի։

Terribly besieged our mountains

Մի վհատիր քաջ Սասուն,

Do not give up brave Sassoun

Քեզ համար չէ նորութիւն,

It is not news for you

Մեր պապերից սորվեր ենք,

We have learned from our ancestors

Կռուել տղամարդի պէս,

To fight like brave men

Զոր մեզ թողին յիշատակ։

They left as a legacy to us.

 

Թնդանօթի դէմ դրել ենք քաջ սրտով,

We have faced cannon brave heartedly

Սովին դիմացեր ենք կաթով բանջարով։

We have faced famine with milk and vegetables

Ի սէր Աստծոյ դժուար է

For the love of God

Հպատակիլ ոսոխին,

Toe bow to the enemy

Լաւ է մեռնիլ առանց հացի,

Better to die without bread

Քան թէ յանձնուիլ վատ Թուրքին։

Rather than surrender to the bad Turks

Անգութ եւ անաստուածին։

Ruthless and ungodly

 

Շենիկ, Սեմալ պաշարած են քիւրտերով,

The Kurds have surrendered Shoeing and Semal

Տալւորիկ ացքն էր փակուած Թուրքերով։

The Dalvoreg pass is closed  by the Turks

Զքեզ տեսնեմ քա՚ջ Մուրատ,

Brave Mourad, may I see you

Սուրդ շարժիր անվհատ,

Brandishing your sword without discourage

Մեր հեռաւոր եղբայրներ,

Our far away brothers

Չեն մնար միշտ անտարբեր,

They won't remain indifferent

Շուտով կուգան։

They will soon come to help