28th of May is celebrated as Republic Day in Azerbaijan, the day when Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was declared, Act of Independence of Azerbaijan was adopted...in 1918...first Democratic Republic in the Orient...Republic lasted then for 23 months only...Soviet Army rushed in and following 70 years or so were spent "under" supervision of "big brother"...The second time Republic was declared in 1991. Years that are left behind were not easy. Doubtful socialism was replaced by hasty capitalism...people were "lost in transition", beliefs were shaken...other "well-wishers" jumped in....borders opened...anything that reminded of any structure was not working and had to be build up again...generations that lived most of their life times in Soviet Union found it very hard to adapt...
Today is 28th of May of year 2009. People always have objective and subjective reasons to prefer the past or present times...what can I say? I never had a big brother per se...I had people around me that could give advice and show the way but I was free to make my own decisions, choices, mistakes and little victories. I prefer to take my own responsibility and be free. I guess the same applies to my country. Azerbaijan has rich history, natural and human resources and potential...the land that it is located on as any other land does not need much but only to be taken care of...people that live here want to make their own choices, travel, study, work, have families and enjoy life, peaceful life...they hope not to become victims of politics and wars...
It is a beautiful early summer evening in Baku...I had a nice walk in the city...Baku wind was cool and refreshing...city was not very crowded as it is a holiday...everything was very peaceful...I was thinking about my little post...people that were/are struggling to create a democratic and free Republic were/are most probably trying to create something similar...that people just like I could safely wander in the city, have tea in cafes, have freedom to study and work, make their little and big choices...and be themselves with pride and honor...I was passing by a flagpole, I looked up at the flag and it felt nice as always...I hope our colorful flag (blue stands for "Turkic", red for "modern, progressive", green for "Islam") always waves proudly and freely...in blue skies of Azerbaijan Republic…
