If Not Us, Then Who

Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte

BY ANNA ASTVATSATURIAN TURCOTTE

Over the last two years I’ve been traveling the country and internationally to talk about my childhood, escaping Azerbaijani violence in Baku as Nagorno-Karabakh was fighting for its independence from Azerbaijan’s brutal regime.  In almost every community I visit, both Armenian and non-Armenian, there is an element of surprise, both on the part of the audience but also for me, learning about the community I visit.  The audience’s questions are always enlightening of what triggers that specific community, what drives their interest in my topic and how they engage in their work for the Armenian Homeland or globally.  This exchange of ideas, this two-way education, is the reason I take personal vacation time from work and fly away from my children for days at a time to do this.  I want to educate people who want to learn about what it was like to live as an Armenian in Azerbaijan, hiding and running for our lives.  I want to tell them of the hatred that still exists and of the rabid, almost unbelievable anti-Armenianism that’s being taught right now to the children of Azerbaijan.  I also want to describe the rich and vibrant history of the Armenian Artsakh who against all odds achieved the unthinkable.

In almost all instances that experience is positive.   Recently, when visiting a very vibrant Armenian community, I presented to a large hall full of people happy to hear me.  But the first question that followed my presentation was presented in the form of a statement that shook me to my core.

“You know, I think the best solution for Karabakh conflict is to take all of the Armenians out of it, ship them out, empty the country and give the lands back to Azerbaijan.  Just be done with it.”