Between war and reality

Today is the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s army, which is celebrated in conditions of unprecedented skirmish activation at the border. This fact makes people to relate to the celebration of the army day more seriously.

This is another reason for the government to come up with more pathetic announcements this year. Certainly the protocol demands such vocabulary on the day of celebration; however, the impression is that the authorities are trying to cover up the lack of action or work on their party by speeches. Maybe the same protocol wants us to speak good things on the day of the army anniversary. However, maybe on this very day of the army anniversary we should speak of the negative things in our society and the “grim environment,” which make people afraid of joining the army. “The army is the society’s mirror reflection,” officials would say. However, in many situations such reminders are an attempt to justify the killings and incidents as a result of a lack of strict control in the army. It is true that there are negative things in our society that have penetrated into the army as well. Probably the first one among such negative things would be the feeling of injustice that every soldier takes with him from the society into the army.

Accordingly, it is natural that soldiers may ask themselves whose fatherland they are protecting – is it the fatherland of the government super-rich and corrupt officials and their sons that have not served in the army, is it the fatherland of those that are deeply disappointed of the same injustice and are leaving the country? This question is not reflected anywhere in the pathetic speeches of government officials. However, it is this very question and its answer that make many people escape from army service and even give up on their life in their own country.

Those who really wish prosperity and peace to the army (indeed there are many officials in the government who are sincere in their wishes) should do their best to make sure nobody asks himself the question above. While looking forward to this happen, we would like to wish peace, celebrate the army anniversary and thank those brave soldiers who are protecting us even though they may ask this question too. Happy army anniversary!