Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide is a tragic and memorable part of Armenian history. The Armenian Genocide happened between April 24, 1915-1923. It began after World War l broke out. The Ottoman Empire used the war as an excuse to start a massacre against the Armenian population in the regions where war was happening. They did it under the influence of the Communion of Union of Progress and the program they had already adopted in order to get rid of Armenians in Turkey so they could build a Pan-Turanian Empire.

Before the Armenian Genocide, Armenians were significant minorities in the Ottoman Empire. Beset through a series of navy defeats, an ever-shrinking economy, and an typical political instability on both home and worldwide fronts, the Ottoman Empire subsequently turned inwards. In the article Holocaust and Genocide Education by the University of Minnesota it states, “Armenians had been considered the “loyal nation,” and had risen to economic and civic prominence in the most important of imperial urban centers and in the capital.”

There were 1.5 million Armenians living in the multiethnic Ottoman Empire in 1915. Sadly, during the genocide 664,000 and possibly as many as 1.2 million died. By 1923, after the genocide, a 3,000-year-old civilization ceased to exist. One and a 1/2 million Armenians, greater than half of the Armenian population, were dead, and the Armenian community and personal properties were misplaced. Armenians were Christian and the Ottoman Empire was Muslim, they didn’t treat Armenians well because of their different religion. They kidnapped children and forced them to convert to Islam. There were “killing squads” that went out to kill Christians. They drowned people in rivers, threw them off the cliffs and crucified and burned them alive to make them suffer because of their religion and Christianity. 

During the genocide, some Armenians tried to find some ways to escape because they didn’t want to die. 295,000 Armenians escaped to Russian-controlled territory during the genocide resulting in the Soviet Armenia. Armenia became its own country during the Soviet era. 

Additionaly, during the genocide, Turkey took Armenia’s mountain called “Ararat,” which was has always been one of the main symbols of Armenia. It was a part of Armenia. Mountain Ararat is located in eastern Turkey on the coast of the Araks River. Mountain Ararat is divided into two parts and they both have their own names, “Masis and Sis.” They are also known as The Big Ararat which is 5,137 meters, and The Small Ararat which is 3,927 meters. They were a really important piece of Armenia, and it was always rememberable that it belongs to Armenia even though during the genocide Turky took it; Big Ararat is the highest mountain in Turkey. The mountains are covered with snow because they are really high and close to the sky which makes more climate changes happen.

Many international organizations and countries recognized the Armenian Genocide and acknowledged its significance, but Uruguay was the first country that that officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1965. Also, on April 24, 2021 the President of United States Joe Biden also recognized the Armenian Genocide by using the term “Armenian Genocide.”

Armenia has suffered a lot before, during and after the genocide, which changed lots of things about Armenia. Right now there is still a war going on between Armenia and Turkey. Turkey is still trying to achieve their goal which is to get all of the Armenian lands. Turkey commits cultural assimilation against Armenian people. They are taking Armenian soldiers and keeping them in their secret basements. They are using Armenian soldiers to find answers for what they are looking for:  they want to know the ways to get to the secret-spots that the Armenian soldiers are hiding when there is a war going on which can make it easier for them to kill those soldiers.

I remember, three years ago in 2020, the forty-four day war started between Armenia and it was around October, around my birthday. And I remember at that time my dad was still living in Armenia and all men were receiving letters from the government asking them to go fight for their country and I was horrified when I heard that. I wasn’t even able to talk to him at all because communications were disabled for national security purposes. I was in Washington D.C. asking the U.S. to stop the war.

In my opinion, it is good that Armenia became an independent country, and I also like the fact that other countries such as the United States recognize its independence. Armenia achieved its own peace, its own land, and its great and beautiful nature spread in the world.

My artwork featured in the article is really important to me and I hope it’s important for others too. Every single detail in this art has its own meaning and reminds us of the genocide itself. As I worked on this art, I remembered what had happened before and everything was really hard to process because of how our soldiers died to protect their country.

For me, everything that happened to my country is terrible because half of my family still lives in Armenia, and I never know if I will see them again one day, because you can never guarantee what can happen in two seconds. Everything is possible. I am scared of losing my family, because I am nothing without my family. My last name “YEGORYAN” will be erased and not remembered because the story of my existence and my country will be deleted from existence.