Skip to main content

These Teens Are Fighting a War Older Than They Are



SOURCE: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2018/01/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-azerbaijan-border-photographs/

“These Teens Are Fighting a War Older Than They Are” 

As we all may have previously heard, along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border exists a military limbo containing 150,000 who are living in an unrecognized republic. In the April of 2016, Armenia and Azerbaijan battled for four days over the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, land that belongs to the Armenians, yet is claimed by Azerbaijan. A cease fire had taken place in 1996, however, as both sides slowly violated each other's territories, war broke out in 2016. Soldiers as young as 13 trained to fight in the battle and photographer Emanuele Amighetti from National Geographic visited the region last year to capture the aftermath of the conflict, including analyzing the psychological effects that stemmed from the war. “Their dedication and profoundness was something I had never seen before,” stated Amighetti. “I felt obliged to humanize these young boys and girls.”

The country’s economy can drastically be affected as a result of these battles, especially since young people seeking to educate themselves are forced to train in Nagorno-Karabakh to prepare for battle. Amighetti recalls meeting an 18 year old boy who had left his studies in Yerevan to join the army; he seeked to study journalism and was quite fascinated to meet a foreign photographer the first time.

These articles serve as constant reminders of the pain our people are currently facing. It is as if history keeps repeating itself, yet what is so admirable about the Armenians is that they have the courage to persevere in order to save our land and expand our rich culture.

Written by: Aelita Arshakyan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Winter Formal

At 12:15 on Friday, January 19, students rushed out of the Abcarian building halls, hoping they would have enough time to get ready for the long awaited, formal. Guys put on their best suits and the girls slipped into their best dresses, anxiously waiting to see what their friends are going to wear. Members of specific grade levels gathered earlier together to start the celebration and take lots of pictures. Soon students started rolling into the beautifully decorated hall in Metropol. The night started off with dining, along with the occasional dancing to the Armenian music being played. However, as the music got more intense, students could not get off the dance floor. The rhythmic beats of Armenian, Arabic, Spanish, and English music filled the hall and the bodies of the students. They took a quick break for some water and kebab, but quickly stood back up to continue dancing. Towards the end of the night, we celebrated Mr. McCrory’s and junior Veronica Mkhsi-Gevokian’s birthdays ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Poll #1

Oscar Nominations 2018 Vote for the film you would like to receive an Oscar Award: “The Shape of Water” “Dunkirk” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” “The Post” “Call Me by Your Name” “Darkest Hour” “Get Out” “Lady Bird” “Phantom Thread" Please post your answer in the comment box!
Post a Comment
Read more

Politics: Kavanaugh

Kavanaugh By Nayiri Artounians In the past couple of months, the Kavanaugh Supreme Court hearing has rocked the whole nation. In the midst of #Metoo and Time’s Up, sexual assault allegations have been brought up against what is supposed to be the epitome of justice and honor: a Supreme Court nominee.     Decades later, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came out to speak her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was being reviewed for the position of Supreme Court Justice. This was the last straw for Dr. Ford: she talked of a sexual assault during high school done to her by Kavanaugh. During the testimony, Dr. Ford said, “ I am here today not because I want to be. I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school.” And she proceeded to tell her story about her harrowing ordeal. About the bed, about Kavanaugh’s hands on her mouth, about the laughter of others and about the fear of not surviving.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more