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 Z I N D = A  M A G A Z I N = E
Tishrin II  20,=20 = 6750           &nb= sp;        =20 Volume=20 = VI            = ;         =20 Issue=20 = 30            = ;=20 November 20, = 2000
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T H I=20 S   W E E K   I N   Z I N D=20 A
The=20 Lighthouse Sarah's Wedding
Good=20 Morning Bet-Nahrain Turkey Arrests Priest for Confirming Assyrian=20 Genocide
News=20 Digest AUA Calls for Recognition of 1915 = Genocide
Surfs=20 Up "angry about our community in = Europe"
Surfers=20 Corner Aprim Shapera Lectures in Athenes =
Annual AUA Gala Dinner
Reflections=20 on Assyria Breaking Faith
Literatus Rice, Assyrian Style
Bravo! Canadian Society for Syriac = Studies
Assyrian=20 Surfing Posts Assyrian Audio Bible Tapes
Pump=20 Up the Volume Spelling & Pronouncing
Back=20 to the Future Esharra-Hamat & Rev. Goriel of=20 Habbaniya
This=20 Week in History The American Mission Press
Calendar=20 of Events November = 2000

All blue=20 links throughout this issue are hyperlinks to other sections on this = page or=20 featured websites.

THE=20 LIGHTHOUSE


SARAH'S=20 WEDDING

Like turning pages of an album, I = leaf through=20 the days of my childhood. An event seems to me to have taken place only=20 yesterday.=20

In 1949, Granny set about finding a = husband for=20 my cousin Sarah, a lovely brunette with gazelle eyes and gentle = ways.=20

Granny went to see her friend Amina = who had a=20 twenty-year-old son Hana, a large, serious, and hardworking boy. The = affair was=20 concluded on the spot as Sarah and Hana had known each other since = childhood.=20 The betrothal was celebrated according to an ancient and = well-established=20 custom. On Thursday, the groom =91s parents summoned the village = dignitaries. When=20 they were ready, they all made their way, at about eight in the evening, = towards=20 the young woman=92s house which had been swept, washed, and decorated = with=20 flowers. The guests had come to ask for Sarah=92s hand. Her family, = forewarned,=20 answered in front of all the guests: -You are welcome. We are happy, = joyful, and=20 our child is here.=20

The small gathering applauded. Then = the mayor=20 rose and proclaimed the engagement to be official. -Once all the = arrangements=20 have been completed, we can celebrate your wedding, he said to Hana, = full of=20 emotion.=20

At that instant, the festivities = began. The=20 evening feast, or Khadaya of Kalo, which means "the fianc=E9e=92s = dinner", had been=20 prepared that same morning by the young man=92s mother and sisters. = Sarah was not=20 permitted to do a thing. We where all invited, except for my young = brother. The=20 women served us a tasty dish of rice and lamb, which we ate with relish, = comfortably seated on our kilims. The men drank sweetened red wine, and = then=20 began telling stories, singing and dancing to Kurdish melodies. Hana and = Sarah=20 appeared, as was proper, serious and discreet. It was late at night when = we took=20 our leave. I went to sleep brimming with hope, curiosity, and joy at the = thought=20 that in two days, I would participate at a wedding for the first time. = The=20 following Saturday, at around four in the afternoon, all the mountain = folk=20 stopped working so that they could actively take part in the young = couple=92s=20 wedding.=20

How beautiful and warm it was = outside. The sky=20 seemed indigo blue. Poppies sparkled joyously on the = mountainside.=20

My father came home early. Shy and = modest, he=20 rarely participated at the village celebrations. He drew on his Shal, = which was=20 made of puffy maroon woolen trousers, a sweater, a coat sleeveless, and = a large=20 belt draped about his waist.=20

He put the Chechina on his head, = which consists=20 of a small skullcap surrounded by a Keffieh, white material with red = squares. He=20 looked so proud and dignified !=20

Granny and Mummy took out new cotton = dresses in=20 pink and blue, from the heavy chest, and they covered their braids with = white=20 headscarves.=20

As for me, I slipped on a little = shawl and the=20 Sharshoy festivities continues. Hana prepared himself to go out of the = village.=20 He was still wearing his everyday clothes. Men, women, and children led = him=20 singing and dancing until they reached a place called Behoar=E9, where = Hana=20 immersed himself in the river for the nuptial bath.=20

A woman awaited there to wash him, = perfume him,=20 and dress him in his festive garb, a white Shal decorated with red = geometric=20 shapes; then everyone accompanied him back to Sanate. As he drew closer, = the=20 villagers came out to meet him with cries of joy and gunshots.=20

I followed the crowd that led the = groom to his=20 parents=92house.=20

In the late afternoon, the people who = had=20 accompanied him to the public baths dined with him on the terrace, and = then the=20 dancing began.=20

I ran along with the other children = to the=20 wedding hall to take part in the general felicity and to whirl with the=20 others.=20

At around seven in the evening, Mummy = went with=20 some other women to Sarah=92s home to arrange her hair, perfume her, = make up her=20 face, and dress her in a long cotton print dress. Earrings, bracelets, = and=20 necklaces all in gold were the final touches. Meanwhile, the men = finished up=20 preparing the groom.=20

And then the "Borakha" wedding was = performed in=20 the village church. Young men and women, with full heart, joined = together before=20 the altar.As soon as they came in, Matty the priest, dressed in a gold=20 embroidered chasuble, welcomed them in the choir, and began the ceremony = according to the oriental Chaldean rite, which is very exuberant. The = Sanatians=20 kept bursting out with cries of joy, interrupting the = priest=92prayers.=20

I watched Sarah, she wore an = enigmatic smile. I=20 noticed that, behind Hana, one of my aunts held a large needle and that = she=20 discretely poked him. Another guest poked the bride with a thinner = needle.=20 Surprised and perplexed, I wondered : "Why are these women poking the = bride and=20 groom with needles ? " I pulled at my mother=92s dress, questioning her. = She=20 answered : "My son, it brings luck, it chases away the demon, and it is = good."=20 She refused to supply me with more details.=20

At the end of the celebration, uncle = Mansour went=20 out of the church and fired a gunshot that resounded throughout the = village. At=20 its sound, children and grown-ups shouted : "May God bless them = forever." Then=20 the congregation led the newlyweds down winding streets all the way to = the home=20 of Sarah=92s parents, who had prepared a "marriage dinner"; only close = family like=20 us stayed on.=20

Just as the dinner was about to = begin, Hana=20 declared in front of everyone that he didn=92t want to eat. And so = Yalda, his=20 father-in-law, declared that he was going to offer him a beautiful gift. = At that=20 moment, the young man began to eat with the guests. After dinner, the=20 festivities continues. We danced until midnight. At midnight, the = newlyweds went=20 to sleep at Sarah=92s parents house, but separately.=20

The next morning, Sunday, we went to = the parish=20 for mass and communion.=20

Hana and his wife had confessed = before the=20 wedding. After the service, they went to Sarah =91s house for breakfast, = and then=20 the official departure of the bride towards her husband=92s home took = place amidst=20 much liveliness. Hana was the first to leave, upon the back of a mule. = His=20 companion followed, mounted on another mule that was colorfully = decorated. The=20 villagers accompanied them in multitudes, following the couple along the = path=20 that led to their new home.=20

My cousin Selim had arrived = beforehand, and he=20 came out of the house and stood in front of the door. He had prepared = for Hana a=20 small earthenware jar filled with candies, dates and raisins. As soon as = Sarah=20 crossed the threshold, her husband threw the countenair up in the air = and gave=20 it a hard blow in order to break it. The jar didn=92t crack. Selim said = to Hana :=20 "You must throw it again, and smash it, otherwise there will be trouble = in the=20 marriage. It will mean bad luck."=20

The boy =91s face fell, he was = saddened and=20 confused. He tried a second time, and succeeded. I ran with the other = children=20 to pick up the contents of the broken clay. It was a common belief that=20 splitting a jar was a mark of virility, force and power. A man thus = appeared=20 capable of taking charge of family and maintaining authority over his = wife. He=20 revealed himself as deserving to found a new household. At last, Sarah = entered=20 her new abode and began to make it a home.=20

The festivities continued under a = different=20 guise. The whole village gathered around the house of the new people, to = sing=20 and fire more gunshots. Dancing rings were formed on the terraces and = the man=20 who had assumed the role of wine server did not stop handing out = glasses, even=20 throughout all the crackling.=20

At noon, our family was supposed to = send a=20 representative to dine with the newlyweds. Mummy beckoned me and said : = "My son,=20 you are six years old, you are now a big boy. Your father had to leave = and so=20 you will be the one to replace him in this task; you are the eldest, you = will go=20 with your uncles to offer our blessings and our gifts."=20

I took the envelope that Mummy held = out to me and=20 I left. As I entered the house, one of my uncles gently instructed me : = "You=20 will do exactly as us, you must kiss the groom on his head and give him = the=20 gift." Standing as high as I could on my small legs, I had a hard time = reaching=20 to kiss Hana=92s head. And so Hana lift me up and carried me in his = arms. I gave=20 him the envelope. He burst into laughter and then spoke to me :=20

-Your father...=20

I answered :=20

-My father is no longer in Sanate, he = went to=20 Zakho to make the purchases for the village.=20

-I am glad that you came, he told = me.=20

Meanwhile, I was wondering what we = were about to=20 eat. In ten minutes, a plentiful dish of rice and vegetables was placed = before=20 me and, like a grown-up, I began to eat with my uncles. I was afraid, as = I was=20 the youngest and I felt overwhelmed by these adults all around me who = were=20 discussing and joking about things I didn=92t understand. Their language = was=20 beyond me. I couldn=92t keep up with their conversation, and I wanted to = finish=20 the meal as soon as possible so I could run and play with my = friends.=20

But I had to assume my father=92s = role. I stayed=20 there right up to the end, and then I left with my uncles. I shouted :=20 "good-bye, " to the newlyweds. Night had fallen, my uncles congratulated = me : "=20 Very good, you managed to fulfill this task." And in fact, from that day = onwards, whenever my father was away, I replaced him.=20

At nine o=92clock that night, Matty = the priest came=20 to bless the nuptial bed. He arrived, followed by a sacristan and a = cantor; the=20 holy men entered the bedroom along with the newlyweds =91 close family, = of which=20 we were part. The young couple sat timidly upon the bed and the priest = began=20 reciting the appropriate players.=20

After the blessing, old Amina offered = Matty a=20 rooster, and then together we ate conserve of goat, all of us laughing = and=20 joking. Sarah and Hana=92s marriage celebration thus drew to a close. = Once we were=20 back home, Mummy made some comments about the food and the dress. =

-My daughter, I believe these kids = will be happy=20 together, concluded Granny, and she began to take snuff, she had an air = of=20 satisfaction about her.=20

Ephrem-Isa Yousif
France=20

"Sarah's Wedding" is an excerpt from = Mr. Yousif's=20 book "Parfums d'enfance =E0 Sanate [Fragrances of childhood]. =
For more information on Mr. Yousif's = other work,=20 click=20 here.

GOOD=20 MORNING BET-NAHRAIN =


TURKEY ARREST = PRIEST FOR=20 CONFIRMING ASSYRIAN HOLOCAUST

The following is a press release of = the Assyrian=20 Democratic Organization (Takasta)=20

For Immediate Release
November 18, 2000=20

(ZNDA)  During the debate within = the U.S.=20 Congress regarding HR596, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, an = infuriated=20 Turkish government mounted an unprecedented all out assault on the = historic fact=20 of the Assyrian-Armenian-Greek Genocide of 1915. Well-documented Turkish = threats=20 against the U.S. government were accompanied by even greater persecution = of=20 Turkey=92s own citizenry.=20

Quite regrettably, in early October, = journalists=20 from a major Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet, interviewed an Assyrian = (Syriac)=20 priest from St. Mary=92s Syriac Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir with the = hope of=20 eliciting a Christian denial of the 1915 Holocaust. Rather than = succumbing to=20 the escalating hysteria of threats and intimidation within Turkey, Fr. = Yusuf=20 Akbulut instead confirmed that the Armenian genocide and insisted that = Assyrians=20 (Syriacs) had also been similarly victimized. Fr. Yusuf added that Kurds = had=20 also been willing accomplice in the killing and that the holocaust was = an=20 undeniable historic fact. Fr. Yusuf defiantly asserted that Bet Nahrain=20 (Mesopotamia) is the land of the Assyrians (Syriacs) and that = irrespective of=20 U.S. Congressional action, "we will have our voices heard throughout the = world."=20

The Turkish response was predictably = swift and=20 brutal. On October 4, the Hurriyet newspaper carried an article with a=20 photograph of Fr. Yusuf entitled "icimizdeki hain" meaning "A Traitor = Amongst=20 Us" with a subheading quoting Fr. Yusuf as saying "Not only Armenians = were=20 killed, Assyrians (Syriacs) were also killed." The outrage from within = Turkey=20 led Turkish military security agents to arrest Fr. Yusuf on October 6 = from his=20 church in Diyarbakir. Although earlier reports had stated that Fr. Yusuf = had=20 been freed, in reality he remains imprisoned and charged with treason. = Fr.=20 Yusuf=92s court date is scheduled in military court on December 21, = 2000. Under=20 Turkish law, the charge of treason, if sustained, is punishable by = death.=20

There is grave concern for Fr. = Yusuf=92s physical=20 well being while he remains in Turkish custody. The vitriolic Hurriyet = newspaper=20 headline labeling Fr. Yusuf as a traitor to the Turkish nation is = believed=20 intended to stir passions and lead to vigilante or extra judicial = attacks=20 against Fr. Yusuf by fundamentalists or security forces. Moreover, there = is=20 reason to believe that Fr. Yusuf is being physically and psychological=20 mistreated as he awaits word on his possible execution if he is found = guilty of=20 treason. Thus far, Fr. Yusuf has not been allowed visitor or adequate = legal=20 defense.=20

The Turkish government has likewise = increasingly=20 threatened other members of the Assyrian (Syriac) community into = condemning Fr.=20 Yusuf=92s statements. Some clergy, terrified at the prospects of a = renewed=20 campaign of persecution against the remaining few thousand Assyrian = (Syriac)=20 Christians in southeastern Turkey, had acquiesced in the face of these = mounting=20 threats.=20

The arrest of Fr. Yusuf and the = subsequent=20 threats against the Assyrian (Syriac) community in southeastern Turkey=20 underscore Turkey=92s insecurity in dealing with its bloody past and = with its=20 present day Assyrian (Syriac) Christian minority. Now clamoring to join = the=20 European Union, Turkey continues to demonstrate a primitive, draconian = approach=20 to historical and political debate with a penchant for brutality and=20 intolerance. Despite universal and continuous international criticism of = its=20 behavior, Turkey continues to show a perverse disdain for any semblance = of=20 civility. Still more, despite the international community=92s insistence = on=20 greater openness and tolerance, Turkey still refuses to show any = proclivity=20 towards respect for even the most basic of human rights.=20

We of the Assyrian Democratic = Organization demand=20 that Turkey immediately and unconditionally release Fr. Yusuf Akbulut = and end=20 the menacing intimidation of the Assyrian (Syriac) community. We also = demand=20 Turkey=92s acknowledgment of its role in the Assyrian-Armenian-Greek=20 Holocaust.=20

Assyrian Democratic = Organization
U.S.A., Canada, Europe, and = Sweden=20
=20
NEWS=20 DIGEST


AUA CALLS FOR = RECOGNITION OF=20 1915 GENOCIDE

The following letter was posted by = the=20 AUA-Australian chapter, in support of the The European Delegation of the = Armenian National Committee (ANC-Europe) to contact members of the=20 Europarliament and urge them to support the incorporation of amendments=20 regarding the Armenian Genocide in the "Report on Turkey=92s Application = for=20 Accession to the European Union." The letter was received successfully = by all=20 Europarliament members.=20

Dear Europarliament Member:=20

On behalf of The Assyrian Universal = Alliance=20 (AUA) - Australian Chapter, I am writing to encourage you to support = amendments=20 regarding the Armenian Genocide during discussions of the "Report on = Turkey=92s=20 Application for Accession to the European Union," (Report A5-02-97/2000, = by=20 Philippe Morillon).=20

As you are aware, Article I, = Subparagraph 4 of=20 Resolution A2-33/87 stipulates that the European Parliament considers = Turkey's=20 refusal to recognize the genocide committed against the Armenian people = by the=20 'young Turk' government; refusal to apply standards of International law = in=20 their disagreements with Greece; continued military occupation of = Cyprus;=20 refusal to recognize Assyrian and Kurdish Human rights; absence of true=20 parliamentary democracy; and failure to respect individual and = collective=20 freedoms, particularly those dealing with religious rights to constitute = insurmountable obstacles to even the examination of possible accession = by Turkey=20 into the European Community. As such, I urge you, as an official charged = with=20 defending commonly held democratic values, to support amendments to Mr.=20 Morillon's prepared report dealing with the Armenian Genocide.=20

It is an undeniable fact that in the = same period=20 that the Armenian Genocide were taking place , the Assyrians were = subject to the=20 same atrocities, over 750,000 Christian Assyrians lost their lives in = this=20 genocide, and that hundred of Churches were plundered, destroyed and = burnt down.=20 The depopulation of Greek Orthodox, Assyrians and the Armenians was part = of=20 parcel of Turkey's policy of eliminating the Christian minorities =

The facts of the Armenian Genocide = are thoroughly=20 documented in the archives of Europe (Austria, German, French, British, = and=20 others), as well as those of the United States and Russia. All these = documents=20 record the systematic and deliberate extermination of one and a half = million=20 Armenians, at least 300,000 Greeks from the Pontos region and 750,000 = Assyrians=20 in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Efforts to encourage Turkey to = face=20 this historical reality will help move forward the process of = democratization in=20 that nation. It will, as well, provide moral support for those = courageous voices=20 in Turkey who have taken a stand against the official government's = campaign to=20 deny this crime against humanity. By ensuring that recognition of the = Armenian=20 and Assyrian Genocide remains a condition of Turkey's accession we will = also be=20 helping to guarantee that Turkey understands its contemporary = obligations to=20 protect both the human and collective community rights of its minority=20 populations and to prevent any future genocide. Finally, taking this = step will=20 help encourage Turkey to abandon its failed eight-year policy of = blockading=20 Armenia as a means of pressuring the Armenian people to retreat from = their=20 efforts to secure international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. = This=20 blockade is a violation of international law and represents a serious = obstacle=20 to a durable peace in the Caucuses.=20

We are urgently seeking your = assistance in this=20 matter.=20

Thank you for your attention to our=20 concerns.=20

Sincerely yours,=20

Hermiz Shahen
Assyrian Universal Alliance- Australian = Chapter=20

Author's Note:  The AUA is an = international=20 alliance made up of various sectors of the Assyrian people as = represented by the=20 Assyrian national organizations and federations through out the world. = The AUA=20 is committing itself to spreading, upholding, enhancing the Assyrian = name around=20 the world, and working to secure the sacred human and national rights of = the=20 Assyrian people in our home land and else where.
=20
SURF'S=20 UP!

=93We=20 always follow and read your articles, and for this week we enjoyed = reading about=20 Assyrian Scholarship.  We are wondering if there are any more = Scholarships=20 besides the Assyrian Foundation in Berkeley, California that we can = apply=20 for?  ... Good work Zinda.=94=20

M. Benjamin
California=20

The Assyrian American National = Federation's=20 Education Committee has an annual budget allocated to the education of = the=20 Assyrian students in the U.S. Colleges and Universities.  Click Here.

Issues worth pondering about

=93The way I see = it, this is=20 not the time to continue sweeping issues under the rug or being polite = because=20 we need to be cautious about the feeling of this and that. Never before = the=20 Assyrians=92 political and national existence has been threatened as it = is today.=20 Successive Iraqi Governments, especially throughout Iraq=92s young = existence as an=20 independent country, have used various means to undermine the Assyrian = national=20 dream. They have used the religious factor and those few Assyrians, = loyal to=20 them, simultaneously. Here are few facts that reflect the general = climate of the=20 Assyrian affairs.=20

In 1920, the Assyrian Patriarch Mar Poulus Shimun, = bless His=20 soul, died in Baquba Refugee Camp because His weak body could not resist = the=20 long suffering He and the Assyrians had endured during World War I, and = He=20 needed an appropriate burial place. The Chaldean Catholic Church refused = to let=20 the Assyrians perform the burial ceremony in any of their Churches. The=20 Assyrians were forced to go the Armenians who responded most gracefully = and the=20 Assyrian Patriarch was buried inside the Armenian Church in Baghdad. = This stand=20 by the Chaldean Catholic Church left a bitter taste among the Assyrian = members=20 of the Church of the East. This added to the already unfriendly feelings = these=20 two churches had for each other since the separation of the Chaldean = Catholic=20 Church from the Church of the East, a process that started in 1552. The = members=20 of the Church of the East and Chaldean Catholic Churches seldom = communicated=20 with each other since then. There is ton of incidents about what = clergymen of=20 one church did against the other, keeping in mind that the Chaldean = Catholic=20 Church has always been favored by the Ottoman Turk and Iraqi Governments = during=20 the last three hundred years or so. What has the Chaldean Catholic = Church=20 clergymen done to assure the survival of their church=92s Syriac = liturgy? Haven=92t=20 they rather deepened the gap between their congregation and other = churches=20 members while making Arabic the official language of its own church? We = have=20 seen some dialogue lately, but looking at the bigger picture, a person = must at=20 least wonder if this is a genuine step to save Our Mother Church! = Despite the=20 many conversions to Catholicism in the plains of Mosul and after nearly = 400=20 years of vigorous attempts by the Catholic Church to swallow the Church = of the=20 East, it has basically failed to do so. Today, in a more peaceful = approach it is=20 trying to drag the Church of the East in to the arms of Catholicism and=20 Arabization?=20

The other issue used well by the Iraqi Government was = that of=20 Malek Khoshaba and his family. We need here to touch base on this issue = briefly.=20 In 1932 just before the League of Nations was going to meet in Geneva = and=20 discuss again the Assyrian case, Assyrian tribe heads, leaders, = clergymen and=20 notables met in Amadiya/Mosul. In this meeting the Assyrians unanimously = decided=20 to send Mar Eshai Shimun, bless His soul, to Geneva as the Assyrian=20 representative. Malek Khoshaba immediately after leaving the meeting = contacted=20 the Iraqi Government. He among few others, including couple clergymen, = signed a=20 letter put together by the Iraqi Government declaring that the Mar = Shimun was=20 not the representative of the Assyrian people! When the Mar Shimun began = presenting the Assyrians=92 grievance and demands in front of the League = of=20 Nations in Geneva, the Iraqi Government representative stood up pulled = out that=20 letter and showed it to the League. The League read the letter signed by = Malek=20 Khoshaba stating that the Assyrians were happy with the Iraqi Government = treatment, hence contradicting and challenging the claims of the Mar = Shimun!=20 This act basically ended any hopes the Assyrians have especially in = regards to=20 some sort of a self-rule.=20

As far as the Iraqi Government is concern, Malek = Khoshaba was a=20 hero ever since. He and his family began to receive the best treatment = possible=20 and many privileges. In 1954, Malek Khoshaba died and his son Yousip = took his=20 place as the new appointed Malek (tribe leader), and became known as = Malek=20 Yousip. While other Assyrians, with the exception of handful limited = cases, were=20 deprived from entering the Iraqi Armed Forces Academies, Yousip Khoshaba = was=20 being promoted. It is true that few were transferred to the Iraqi Army = and=20 Police after the dismantling of the Levies in mid 1950s, but most of = those were=20 released soon. In the coming years the government even planned carefully = the=20 killing of Assyrian officers like the assassination of one of the = bravest pilots=20 in the Iraqi Air Force Pnoel Aghassi while on a mission in southern = Iraq. At any=20 rate, Malek Yousip Malek Khoshaba finally received the ranking of = Colonel in the=20 Iraqi Army before he retired in 1960. In 1964 Malek Yousip was announced = as Head=20 of the Central Council looking after the affairs of the group which has = stood=20 against the Patriarch in 1932 and against the Church of the East with = the=20 blessing of Baghdad. He played a major role in dividing the Church of = the East=20 and the establishment of the Ancient Church of the East (Old Calendar) = in 1968.=20 In 1969 he was behind the arrest of a group of Assyrians in Kirkuk who = were=20 imprisoned, tried for treason, and sentenced to death. It was only the=20 preparations for the 1970 visit of His Holiness, Mar Eshai Shimun, bless = His=20 soul, to Iraq that secured the release of the Assyrians in Kirkuk and = saved=20 their lives.=20

About a year ago or so we heard about the plan for = establishing=20 the Assyrian National Supreme Committee in Baghdad, a committee that was = to=20 speak on behalf of all the Assyrians in Iraq and those originally from = Iraq=20 living throughout the world! The Iraqi Government used its loyal members = William=20 Sh. to spread this proposal, hence applications were sent to Assyrians = all over=20 the world to elect 200 members for this Committee. The proposal called = for the=20 appointment of this same Malek Yousip as the Assyrian Head with another = Assyrian=20 name, as his Deputy, claiming that these two were the most qualified to=20 negotiate the Assyrian issues with the Iraqi Government! Even though = Malek=20 Yousip died this past July 2000 in Baghdad after a long battle with an = illness=20 at the age of 86, the plan is in full gear, divide and rule still going = in full=20 speed!=20

When the Ba=92ath Party came to power in Iraq in = 1968, it needed=20 some stability, even if temporarily, specially in the north in order to=20 concentrate on steps to cleanse the country from any questionable = individuals=20 and secure its grip on power. It signed a phony peace treaty with the = Kurds and=20 invited the exiled Assyrian Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun, bless His soul, = and=20 Malik Yaqu to visit Iraq. I am not going to analyze the demands of the = two=20 Assyrian leaders, but the cultural rights of the Assyrians were = addressed and=20 were granted through Presidential Decree # 251. The question is how was = the=20 decree stated and how long did these cultural rights last? We know that=20 basically it was a phony declaration, which looked good on paper. The = Decree=20 stated that the Revolutionary Command Council in Baghdad has decided in = its=20 session of April 16, 1972 the following: To grant cultural rights to the = Syriac=20 speaking citizens in the country from the al-Athouriyoon wa al-Kildan wa = al-Sir-yan. In a statement which preceded the grant order itself, the = decree=20 stated that the Arab Ba=92ath Socialist Party believes that all ethnic = minorities=20 in Iraq have the right to exercise their cultural rights. Right then the = Ba=92ath=20 Party distinguished between the Assyrians and the chaldeans. It is as = clear as=20 the sun that coming from a power position the Ba=92ath Party could have = mentioned=20 Assyrians as the ethnic minority and listed the religious denominations = as a=20 clarification point, but they did not! Wonder why? This same formula was = used by=20 those few members in the Chaldean Catholic Church in the Census 2000 in = the USA!=20 Today when few members of the Chaldean Catholic Church promote = chaldeanism=20 instead of Assyrianism, one must wonder, again, why? The argument that=20 chaldeanism will end the process of Arabization is the most ridiculous = to listen=20 to, knowing that they have been calling themselves loosely chaldeans for = about=20 (200-300) years in north of Iraq. We know from history that members of = the=20 Chaldean Catholic Church are nothing but a religious sect of the = Assyrian=20 nation, who should have been called simply Catholic Assyrians. What is = more=20 logical to adapt the Assyrian national name, since members of the = Chaldean=20 Catholic Church have historically lived in and around Nineveh, the = Assyrian=20 heartland. Why would few so-called intellectuals promote this division = by=20 working with the Census Bureau, behind closed doors and for years and = years.=20 Logic tells us that people with good intentions do not need to hide = their=20 actions, only those who are planning evil always plan in the dark. = Remember that=20 in the name of unity we have experienced the followings:=20

1. The establishment of a separate ethnic group = called=20 =91chaldean=92, different than the Assyrian.
2. The=20 creation of the so-called chaldean language.
3. The=20 creation of a new flag, different than the Assyrians.
4. The establishment of the so-called chaldean = genocide!=20
5. The establishment of the chaldean Aid Society! Is = that to=20 compete with the Assyrian Aid Society in north of Iraq?
6. Interesting is the fact that lately few members in the = Chaldean=20 Catholic Church have begun hinting that the Assyrian Church of the East = is not=20 the original Church of the East, rather the Chaldean Catholic Church is! = The=20 rewriting of history continues!=20

It is a very well known fact to the political world = in general=20 and to the Iraqi Government in particular that the chaldean title is = nothing but=20 a religious term. The term chaldean does not constitute any political or = national sense to it. What will be more convenient for the Iraqi = Government than=20 attaching this religious term to the Assyrian national title and then = promote=20 chaldeanism or should we say Arabized Christianity!=20

The political scene in Iraq seem to be going through = some=20 definite changes, in preparation for an open Iraqi society in the post = Gulf War,=20 and in the aftermath of the embargo and its inhumane consequences. The=20 establishment of the so-called Assyrian National Supreme Committee in = Baghdad by=20 Assyrian loyalists to the Ba=92ath rulers, is a logical answer, as far = as Baghdad=20 is concern of course, to the question of who will represent Assyrians in = this=20 new era and how will Assyrians be represented. Meanwhile, undermining = the=20 Assyrian national dream by promoting the religious title =91chaldean=92 = is yet=20 another logical approach for the Iraqi Government. One must, yet again, = wonder=20 if this whole issue, being undertaken by the few members in the Chaldean = Catholic Church, has been pursued and implemented based on sheer = political=20 immaturity while trying to do something to save the Arabization of its=20 congregation in Iraq! Come to think of it I find that hard to = believe.=94=20

Fred Aprim
California


=93I am = concerned about=20 Assyria TV, an Assyrian program broadcast in Europe that reaches all of = Europe=20 and the Middle East via satellite.=20

It's such a wonderful idea that we have our own TV, = really=20 ours.   But who think and work with others and say we are = having also=20 TV programmes for our community, they have to shame too. We have to do=20 everything by our own, to eat from and with our hands!!!=20

I am really sad and angry about our community here in = Europe.=20 It seems they are becoming so individualist like the Europeans. I am = saying this=20 because I feel it and I experience it.  About 6 months ago, for the = first=20 time in the entire Assyrian history, an Assyrian satellite TV-station = became a=20 reality. We Assyrians have to know how important television nowadays is = and=20 especially for us.   In my view it is one of the best things = we can=20 have at the moment. But it seems now that the Assyrian community here in = Europe,=20 which is about 200,000 people, isn't interested in it. It's a shame. = Assyria TV=20 is really struggling to survive, and no one likes to help. = Why??   If=20 of the 200,000 only 20,000 of them give $10 a month, that would be = enough. It's=20 a shame.  Isn't it?=20

In writing this I am really asking for help from any = Assyrian=20 and also others who can help keep Assyria TV on the air.=20

May God bless you and I hope the Assyrian nation will = never die=20 and that humanity will never speak about the death of our nation. =

ASSYRIA TV BROADCAST & TRANSMISSION TIMES =
Every=20 Saturday and Sunday
13:00 TO 15:00 CET
12:00 TO 14:00 GMT = TECHNICAL DATA=20
Satellite: Eutelsat W2, 36 to the East
Frequency: 11.163 OR = 1.410 Mhz=20
Polarization: Horizontal

ASSYRIA TV
ERLENWEG 2
64354 REINHEIM =
GERMANY=20
TEL: +49 6162 914 782
FAX: +49 6162 914 794
EMAIL: = ASSYRIATV@AOL.COM=20

We are seeking Assyrian reporters from around the = world and=20 others that can assist us in anyway possible. We welcome criticism and = advice=20 that help better our programs.=94 =

Sabro Gabri=EBl
=20
SURFERS CORNER =


APRIM SHAPERA = LECTURES IN=20 ATHENES

On Sunday evening, November 5, 2000, Aprim Shapera = delivered a=20 lecture before the Assyrian Federation of Greece (AFG) on the subject of = "Nationalistic Activity in the Assyrian Diaspora". This topic mirrors = the title=20 of Mr. Shapera=92s latest publication, a book which some may have = acquired while=20 attending the September convention in Chicago.=20

In his opening remarks, Hanna Khoshaba, an Assyrian = officer in=20 the AFG, expressed the warm appreciation of his group to Aprim Shapera, = and=20 commended the speaker=92s initiative in visiting with the Assyrians in = Athens.=20 This was followed by Rev. William Yako's introduction of the = speaker.  Rev.=20 Yako gave the attendees a r=E9sum=E9 of Mr. Shapera's activities and his = numerous=20 writings in the service of his people.=20

The principal theme of Mr. Shapera's address related = to the=20 issue of Assyrian =E9migr=E9s, and their important role within the = larger question=20 of the Assyrian people. Drawing on his personal observations and = experience, Mr.=20 Shapera encouraged his audience to be realistic in their personal and = civic=20 performance in Western countries, but at the same time, he added, they = should=20 retain Assur or Bet Nahrain as the spiritual and moral guiding light for = their=20 performance. Mr. Shapera's message is consistent with his belief that = Assyrians=20 living in such "wait stations" deserve at least as much, if not more,=20 encouragement and sustenance from Assyrian writers and = intellectuals.=20

Modern Assyrian history in Greece began in the early = 1920's,=20 when some ten thousand of them migrated from Russia. This first wave of=20 Assyrians in Greece had experienced a miserable period as refugees, = following=20 the Great Exodus from the Hakkari Homeland, 1915-1918. In the mid = 1930's,=20 following the Assyrian massacre in Simel, a few nationalistic Assyrians = created=20 the Assyrian Federation of Greece. The first wave of immigrants has = passed on,=20 and to a great extent their children have integrated into Greek society. = Among=20 the third generation in this group, it is rare to find one who speaks = Assyrian.=20 It might be noted in passing that the President of the AFG, a Mr. = Marcus,=20 typifies this legacy. He is a Greek national with deeply-held feelings = for his=20 Assyrian heritage; and while he understands the language of his people, = it is=20 most difficult for him to speak it.=20

There has been something of a renewed consciousness = among=20 Assyrians in Greece concerning their identity, and this has been sparked = largely=20 by the arrival of Iraqi Assyrian refugees in more recent times. For the = most=20 part, these new immigrants came to Greece via Lebanon in the mid-1970's = (where=20 typically they were duly registered as refugees by the Beirut office of = the=20 UNHCR and by the World Council of Churches). This Assyrian infusion in = Greece=20 has prompted the AFG to become more active, particularly in dispensing = aid to=20 those with special needs. In addition, with Mr. Marcus at the helm, the=20 organization has just purchased a piece of land for U.S.$25,000, where = it plans=20 on building its facilities.=20

Typical of Assyrians everywhere, our community in = Greece is=20 divided along two confessional lines. Those of the Chaldean faith number = between=20 3,000 and 4,000, and they are ministered by Kasha Fawzi. Adherents of = the Church=20 of the East number between 2,000 and 3,000, and they are ministered by = Kasha=20 William Yako. Very unfortunately, only a few of our brothers and sisters = in=20 Greece have secured a regular job, and virtually none has received Greek = nationality. In fact, very few of the new arrivals are interested in=20 establishing their residence in Greece. The majority of them are = patiently=20 biding their time, hoping that some opening will permit them to enter = some other=20 Western country, preferably the U.S., Canada or Australia. While they = are=20 waiting, they are for the most part living very difficult lives, even as = they=20 remain uncertain of their final destination.

AUA-AUSTRALIA = ANNUAL GALA=20 VIP DINNER

(ZNDA:  Sydney)  The = Assyrian Universal=20 Alliance (AUA) Australian Chapter held its annual VIP dinner on 14 = October 2000=20 at the new Assyrian Church of the East Banquet Hall "Edessa Reception" = in=20 Sydney. Guests of honour were His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia, Bishop of the = Assyrian=20 Church of the East, Diocese of Australia and New Zealand; Senator John = Nimrod,=20 General Secretary of the AUA; and Mr. Homer Ashurian, AUA Executive = Board member=20 and former Assyrian representative in the Iranian Parliament. =
Senator John Nimrod is presently the = president=20 of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) in the = Hague and=20 the Assistant General Secretary of the UNPO for Americas.=20

The AUA - Australian chapter believes = it is very=20 appropriate that our leaders get closer to our Assyrian community in = every=20 country they live. It is now the custom of this chapter to invite the = General=20 Secretary of AUA every year to its annual gala VIP diners and to = organise public=20 rallies and get together to bring the leaders closer to the Assyrian = Australian=20 community , to brief the Assyrian organisations about the recent = activities of=20 AUA, its progress and the general situation of the Assyrian people, = particularly=20 in the Middle East. The General Secretary informes the Assyrians about = the=20 outcome of AUA=92s international conferences and meetings.=20

In the meantime he meets with some of = the=20 Australian government officials, to discuss and understand the situation = of=20 Assyrians, internationally. It is also hoped that we can, through this=20 communication build a better relations with Government Officials. =

At this annual function there were = over 500=20 attendances. Including representative of different sectors of the = Assyrian=20 community in Australia, combining together to meet with Assyrian = international=20 representatives and honouring those members of our community who were = presented=20 with awards for their hard work and dedication to Assyrian works and = their=20 contributions to the Australian community and welfare. Senator John J. = Nimrod=20 presented those Awards.=20

Master of ceremonies was Mr David M. = David, a=20 prominent Assyrian and a well known personality among our Assyrian = community in=20 Australia. A board member of the Assyrian Australian National Federation = for=20 seven years, and a very active AUA-Australian administrative committee = member.=20 Music director and conductor of the Choir of the Assyrian Church of the = East by=20 Maestro Rabi Alexander (Shoora) Michailian one of the most respected = Assyrian=20 Musicians of our time, who organised a special presentations for the = first part=20 of the night.=20

The program started with precession = of the=20 Australian and the Assyrian National Flags, followed by the Australian = and=20 Assyrian National Anthems.=20

A welcome speech by Mr Hermiz Shahen, = the=20 Secretary of the AUA - Australian Chapter, followed by Miss Suzy David, = Advisor=20 and member to the AUA United Nations International Committee, Dr. Said = Stephan,=20 AUA - Adviser and president of the Assyrian Australian National = Federation=20 (AANF), Senator John Nimrod, the Secretary General of the AUA, H.G. Mar = Meelis=20 Zaia, Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East, Former Mayor of the = City of=20 Fairfield Councillor Anwar Khoshaba, and finally the quest speaker Mr = Homer=20 Ashurian.=20

During the speeches the audiences = were captured=20 by the magnificent performance of the Choir of the Assyrian Church of = the East=20 who performed a number of Assyrian National songs and Assyrian Folklore = dancing.=20 Finally the audience were inspired by the excellent performance of the = choir of=20 St. Hurmitzd Children (Orchestra) and violin recital by some 60 = beautiful=20 children.=20

Plaques were awarded by AUA Secretary = General to=20 several prominent Assyrian community members for their hard work = contribution to=20 the Assyrian community of Australia and abroad. These include his Grace = Mar=20 Melis Zaia, the immediate past president of the AANF Mr Younatan Afarim, = Miss=20 Suzy David, Ms Lounarda David, Mr Shoora Michailian, Mr Wilson Younan, = Mr Karl=20 Salamon, Mr Homer Ashurian and Dr Peter Talia.
 =20

On Sunday afternoon and about 5:00 = pm, our guests=20 were at the auditorium of Ninveh Club for a political rally organised by = the AUA=20 -Australian Branch attended by over 300 people. Secretary General = Senator John=20 Nimrod and Mr Homer Ashurian were the only speakers. They were assisted = by MC Mr=20 David David and Chapter Secretary Mr Hermiz Shahen. A complete report on = AUA=20 activities, political events and AUA history and goals were made such = that at=20 the questions and answer period none was asked. Two persons publicly=20 complimented the guests on the presentations. After the end of the = program many=20 people, more than ever before, come up and thank us for the information=20 including from other political parties. All the events were Video taped = and can=20 be viewed or ordered through our chapter's postal address or e-mail. = Interviews=20 were made with the media; TV channel 31 and the three Radio Stations as = well as=20 with reporters from magazines and organisations.=20

A large delegation made up of our = guests together=20 with Dr. Said Stephan, President of the Assyrian Australian National = Federation=20 and AUA advisory committee, H.G. Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia, Miss Suzy David = and Mr=20 Hermiz Shahen, met with the Hon. Philip Raddock MP, Minister for = immigration and=20 Multicultural Affairs. The meeting was to clarify some problems and = concerns=20 effecting our Assyrian community. A submission was presented by the AUA = in this=20 regard which was prepared by Miss Suzy David .=20

A special program was organised on = Tuesday=20 evening to celebrate the official opening of the Assyrian Universal = Alliance=20 office. This ribbon cutting event was attended by representatives of = parties,=20 organisations and the Federation, there were a large crowd of people who = came by=20 to congratulate the AUA . A special speech was delivered by Mr Hermiz = Shahen,=20 who thanked all the attendees and specially the Businessman and = prominent=20 Assyrian friend Mr Karl Salamon who equipped and furnished the AUA = office and=20 Councillor Anwar Khoshaba, Former Mayor of the City of Fairfield, who = with his=20 great help AUA was able to obtain this office in a new building of one = of=20 Fairfield Council community Centres at Stockland Mall in Wetherill = Park.=20

The event was televised the same = night on the=20 Assyrian Program Channel -31. On Wednesday more meetings with Government = Officials and a wonderful dinner hosted by the Assyrian Australian = National=20 Federation. All officers of the Federation organisations attended as = well as the=20 Federation Officers led by President Dr. Said Stephan, who welcomed our = guests=20 and all the delegates and representatives of Assyrian organisations, he = valued=20 the important roll of becoming an affiliate of the AUA and to tie our = community=20 in Australia with all other affiliates around the globe.=20

On Thursday evening our guests and = along with all=20 Presidents of the organisation and AUA members were hosted to a dinner = at a=20 restaurant on the banks of Sydney Harbour, one of the best tourist = attractions=20 in Australia. Several dignitaries were included by our host.=20

On Friday night a special diner was = organised in=20 honour of our guests by the Assyrian Charity and Educational Community = that was=20 opened freely for all members and non-members as a show of respect for = our=20 guests, over 300 people attended. A number of speeches were given = including a=20 special welcome by the President of the organisation, Mr Hormiz Karimi. = During=20 these events a number of meetings took place with representative's of = our=20 Assyrian political parties.=20

On Saturday 21st October 2000, our = guests=20 together with Mr Hermiz Shahen and Mr David M. David left by plane to = Melbourne=20 some 700 miles to the south. We were greeted by few prominent members of = our=20 community who established a welcome committee and organised the whole = visit=20 program in conjunction with Hermiz Shahen, Chapter's Secretary. They = were very=20 excited about our visit and had made excellent preparations with a = dinner=20 attended by several hundred on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning we = attended=20 two Churches in the daytime and one in the evening. At 4:00 pm. we = attended a=20 political rally which was organised by members of the welcome committee = at=20 Prince Philip theatre in the University of Melbourne. The M.C. of the = this=20 program was Mr Yaco Havil, the head of the Assyrian program in Radio = 3-ZZZ.. who=20 opened the meeting with one minute of silence to the souls of the = Assyrian=20 Martyr's, then he welcomed the over 300 audience and introduced the next = speaker=20 Dr Yaghoub Sayad-Yaghoubi also known as Dr. Nardin put much effort in = bringing=20 the welcome committee members together and in communicating with the AUA = -branch=20 of Sydney, Also Dr. Nardin is working recently in the Monash University, = as=20 principle Material Engineer with the BHP - Monash Maintenance Technology = Institute.=20

A well known personality for his = involvement with=20 the Assyrian community of Victoria. Then there was the introductions by = Hermiz=20 Shahen and David David to Senator John Nimrod and Mr Homer Ashurian who = were the=20 only speakers. There were several questions and several young people = come and=20 ask to have pictures and show their interest in the aims and work of the = AUA. In=20 this regards we would like to thank all Assyrian Organisations of = Victoria for=20 their support and respect particularly the Assyrian Youth group of = Victoria (=20 Youth Publication of Nakosha).=20

Hermiz Shahen
Secretary of AUA- Australia
=20
REFLECTIONS ON ASSYRIA=20


BREAKING=20 FAITH

The subject of martyrdom and genocide preoccupies our = people.=20 My mother told us that as a children she and her brothers were read = stories from=20 a sort of book of Assyrian martyrs by their grandmother, a devout woman. = The one=20 I remember most vividly dealt with a mother who allowed her seven sons = to be=20 slain before her eyes rather than betray her Christian faith. That it = isn't=20 simply my own irreligion which makes me dislike that mother and any = moral to her=20 story, is proven by my admiration for the way Jews are "commanded" by = their God=20 to save themselves and especially their children when faced with a = similar=20 situation. God understands that it's a temporary expedient brought on by = threats=20 and the real point is to live another day, to raise children in the = faith and=20 keep it alive.=20

If the idea of that story is to emphasize devotion to = one's=20 religion, how about to one's family...to saving seven sons who could = presumably=20 produce another seven each for a total of 49 more Christians in one = generation=20 alone. It seems a tragic waste of material and one could presumably run = out of=20 Christians. I realize that this is sacred ground, however, I would like = to point=20 out that while, on the one hand, Assyrian children are taught how = admirable are=20 the extremes people go to in defense of their faith how, on the other = hand, do=20 we reconcile this with the fact that we abandoned our own, natural, = religion=20 without a fight. I say natural because it began with our beginnings, we = were=20 deeply rooted within it. If we mean to say that Christianity is worthy = of this=20 kind of intense loyalty and devotion but our ancient religion, which = brought us=20 greatness, is not...then didn't we betray our essential core and worth = as=20 Assyrians long ago in favor of the value we received as Christians. If = it's good=20 to allow our children to be slaughtered like pigs rather than utter one = word of=20 slander against Christianity, why wasn't it likewise good to hold fast = to our=20 own religion, to Ashur , Marduk, Shamash and Ishtar.=20

The Assyrian who laughs at this notion is laughing at = his or=20 her own roots. Do Jews, do Moslems laugh at or reject any part of their = ancient=20 faiths or is it all dear and precious to them. After all the ancient = Jewish God,=20 contemporary of our own, had several competitor, elements of paganism, = human and=20 animal sacrifice were all practiced at one time or another before Yahweh = worship=20 won out. If the belief system of Ashur strikes us as bizarre today, so = would the=20 religious underpinnings of the faith which eventually gave us = Christianity. Who=20 knows how Ashur might have evolved had we kept faith with him, had we = helped him=20 grow as we matured.=20

Only much later did Jehovah become the God of love, = of "Gentle=20 Jesus meek and mild". Assyrians weren't meek or mild by nature or = training, We=20 became that way, kept from demanding or expecting anything but scorn by = a=20 religion which admonishes us, as its highest virtue, to turn the other = cheek.=20 Nations certainly can't afford, and no one expects them, to act in a = Christian=20 manner. Only the citizens within a country are schooled to such docility = and=20 obedience. While Christian nations and armies never turn the other cheek = we,=20 without either to protect us, are made to stand at the crossroads of = history,=20 swiveling this way and that as passersby deliver slap after slap. Not = only do we=20 take it, but we've learned to like the feeling, to bask in the misery to = brag=20 about how much it costs us in humiliation, in dead children. We glory in = our=20 importance, not seeing the the self-hatred this engenders the only we = dare slap=20 belongs to a fellow Assyrian because he's just one of us, someone we = hold in=20 equal contempt and..,Who can be expected to take it.=20

The story of the Assyrian king who converted us all = to=20 Christianity because he'd been cured of a disease by a letter from Jesus = contrasts sharply with the example held up to us of a people defending = their=20 religion in the face of horrendous challenges. Indeed our forefathers = and=20 mothers didn't abandon their faith because of threats and hardship but = because=20 they were offered a "better deal" That story simply attempts to prove = that our=20 own Gods had lost the power to confer benefits on our people and we had = better=20 shop around for one who could "cure" our failing national and ethnic=20 health.=20

If there was ever a good reason to deny a religion, = the Jews=20 had an excellent excuse. They didn't, at least not as a group, because = among=20 other things their suffering was explained, perversely, as a sign of = God's favor=20 and proof of his devotion. This was a clever way of mitigating the doubt = arising=20 in peoples' hearts when they saw those who do evil prosper while the = good=20 suffered. God chastised his beloved people for their own good... tough = love on a=20 cosmic scale.=20

The religion of Ashur served our people well for = thousands of=20 years. Rather than excusing or accepting his displeasure, our people = looked for=20 positive signs that our God wanted nothing but the best for his chosen = people=20 and for a good long while, he delivered. Perhaps the shock of losing our = empire,=20 of falling from such exalted heights was more than our souls could bear. = Unused=20 to it as we were, it rendered us willing to abandon a God who'd = apparently=20 abandoned us.=20

The new religion of Christianity, with its emphasis = on meekness=20 and humility better suited our diminished status and wounded ego than = the proud=20 overbearing Gods of old. While it's okay, even commendable, to have = betrayed our=20 original religion, it's definitely not allright to deny our new = Christian faith,=20 which was after all for the first 100 years of its existence nothing = -more than=20 a Jewish sect. Were we really in exalted state when we converted or so=20 demoralized that we eager to turn our backs on our own history.=20

The religion of Ashur was meant for a proud, daring, = inventive,=20 adventurous, forward-looking people...for people who developed and = refined many=20 of the Arts and institutions enjoyed by Western Civilization today. Yet = we are=20 most remembered and most often feel apologetic for the one thing we did = better=20 than most and that was to defend what we developed, what we wound up = sharing=20 with the world. We've allowed the Christian west to glean from its Bible = stories=20 a violent antipathy to our ancestors which has crossed the line from=20 religious/political propaganda to art, culture and science. By contrast, = Christianity, as we apply it, is for a frightened and small people who = can only=20 hope to survive by begging and pleading, arousing pity for themselves = and their=20 children, by worshipping the strength and resolve of others. I can't = help but=20 wonder if there isn't an uncomfortable psychology at work here...that = we're=20 fundamentally and irrevocably divided against ourselves, against our own = best=20 interests and that this turning our backs on our core beliefs, not = because of=20 any overwhelming threat but because of a better deal, is at the root of = much of=20 what ails us today.=20

To a good Jew, a complete Jew, there can be no = division between=20 religion, ethnic identity, custom and law...much as we once believed. = Turning=20 our backs once meant that we could do it again and again and yet again, = always=20 on the look-out for that better deal. And so from being Church of the = East, we=20 turned our backs and became Catholic, from that we turned to = Protestantism, then=20 to the various sects within it until today we're Evangelical, = Pentecostal,=20 Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, 7th Day Adventist and every shade and flavor = in=20 between, always looking for that ever better deal. It stopped being = Religion=20 with us long ago and has come instead to be fashion. And since we have = no=20 country whose laws and customs bind us together, we become citizens = loyal to=20 other political entities who can at any time order us to fire on our own = people.=20 And, sadly, we seem only too willing to go along in order to get along. = There=20 can't be much strength of purpose or character in this. I'm reminded of = a line=20 in Robert Bolt's play A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, in which Sir Thomas Moore = warns a=20 perjurer that a man holds his own soul like water in his hands. If he = opens his=20 fingers, if he breaks faith once, he needn't hope to find it = again.=20

Our first real martyrdom, as Assyrians, came at the = hands of=20 our ancient enemies who killed our children and destroyed our empire = long ago.=20 The difference being that this wasn't a glorious thing to us then, or a = mark of=20 the divine favor of our God. It was nothing to brag about, certainly = nothing to=20 inculcate in the minds of new generations. But Christianity, our = rendition of of=20 it, seems to boast and revel in these kinds of things. The rather who = watched=20 her children die isn't condemned for being unwilling or unable to save = them.=20 She, or her husband, isn't sickened by their helplessness. Her failure = to do the=20 one thing above all others which a loving patient is supposed to = do...protect=20 their offspring...doesn't meet with our censure. Instead she's held up = as an=20 ideal and shining example of devotion, at least to a religion. Proving = the point=20 for her Christian faith, she costs countless Assyrian children their = chance at=20 life.=20

If that incident really happened, it's bad enough. If = the story=20 is intended to be a lesson and the actual facts were embellished...it's = even=20 worse. For what does the story really hope to teach, besides = self-loathing on a=20 grand scale. I don't know but I wouldn't take my eyes off of such a = mother for=20 fear she might develop an itch to prove her devotion to her faith at my = expense.=20 Perhaps it's just this breaking of faith with God long ago which makes = us so=20 zealous now to prove, at any cost, how loyal we can be. Perhaps we = secretly know=20 and fear the ridiculous figure we strike becoming so many different = kinds of=20 Christians when we couldn't even be one kind of Assyrian. Perhaps this = why=20 Assyrians in the Modern Era are famous for one thing...for betraying = each other,=20 for only fighting against each other while currying favor with their = tormentors,=20 for sticking a knife in a brother's back, because sacrificing and = martyring each=20 other is all we're taught. Like the mother who sacrificed the dearest = thing she=20 had, her children, and we who sacrifice our children too, in another = way, and=20 our heritage...just to prove loyalty to something or someone else, = something=20 more worthy, more important, "better". And just so do we sacrifice our = sense of=20 self, our heritage, our unity, to prove to ourselves and others how true = we can=20 be, how loyal, despite our dismal record.

=20

Fred Parhad
California

ASSYRIAN SURFING POSTS=20


Assyrian Audio = Bible=20 Tapes

 

LITERATUS =


RICE, ASSYRIAN = STYLE

The following recipe was sent to us = by Helen=20 Sliva, an 80-year-old Assyrian grandmother from Chicago:=20

One pound long grain rice (do not use = pre-cooked=20 or minute rice)
1/2 = pound=20 butter
Wash rice = several=20 times.  Soak in about 2 qts of salted water = overnight.
When ready to cook strain salted=20 water.
Boil = about 2 to 3 qts=20 of water pour in rice stirring.
When about 3/4 of the grain is cooked, remove from flame = and drain=20 in colander.
Pour cold water=20 over rice and shake in remaining butter.
Cover and place in oven 350 degrees about 20=20 minutes.
Shake = in roasting=20 pan several times while steaming.  Serve hot.=20

Thanks = grandma!=20


BRAVO =


THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR = SYRIAC=20 STUDIES

Under the direction of Professor Amir = Harrak at=20 the University of Toronto, the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies was = recently=20 established to promote the literary and artistic traditions of the=20 Post-Christian Aramaic-speaking populations in the Middle East.  = CSSS has=20 scheduled four monthly public lectures beginning with this week's = presentation=20 by Professor Harrak.=20

During the 1990's Iraqi = archaeologists conducted=20 archaeological excavations in various sections of the modern city of = Tikrit (150=20 kilometers south of Baghdad), uncovering spectacular Christian = remains.  At=20 the site of Chenisat al-Abid, an impressive monastery was uncovered, = including a=20 major church with a West Syriac architectural plan, reception halls, and = cells.  At the site of the "Green Church" inside Tikrit, another = church=20 containing graves of ecclesiastical leaders was excavated, and near the = medieval=20 city-wall several graves with Syriac funerary inscriptions were = uncovered. =20 The archeological remains not only shed light on Syriac art and = architecture but=20 also offer insight in the history of that city, which was the see of the = maferiono, the highest West Syriac ecclesiastical leader in=20 Mesopotamia.=20

On November 23rd at 8:00 PM, = Professor Harrak=20 will discuss the recent archaeological excavations in Takrit and the = discovery=20 of the Syriac inscriptions.  See Calendar of Events for other = monthly=20 lectures.
=20
PUMP UP THE VOLUME =

ENGLISH=20
MODERN=20 ASSYRIAN
GENDER=20
 Spelling
ha/ge/ta
 Feminine
 Pronouncing
 rtam/ta
Feminine=20
BACK TO THE FUTURE =

BC (673)=20

Esharra-hamat, Assyrian queen, wife of Esarhaddon is = buried in=20 Babylonia.  She was a Babylonian an dthe mother of crown-prince=20 Shamash-shuma-ukin, who became king of Babylon.  She build a = mausoleum=20 where she was buried.=20

Assyrian Royal Inscriptions, = Grayson

AD (1947)=20

Rev. Goriel Koda, Ph.D., through his fundraising and = his=20 parishioners volunteer work, succeeds in building the St. Mary Queen of = Peace=20 Church in Habbaniya, Iraq.  The church had a membership of 300 = families.=20 Rev. Goriel served the church for 17 years.=20


THIS WEEK IN HISTORY=20

November 21, 1840:  The American Mission Press in Urmie, Iran begins = printing=20 in Syriac language.  The first item published was the Lord's Prayer = in=20 Classical Assyrian.
 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS =

Nov = 23
SKOKIE,=20 ILLINOIS
DRAMA:  = "BABYLONIAN=20 SPACESHIP IN NINEVEH"

Written by: Amira Bet-Shmoel
Edited by: Ewan Gewargis
Directed by:=20 Nazar Amadin=20

The=20 North Shore Center for The Performing Arts
9501 Skokie Blvd.
(773) = 262-0500=20

2 shows at 4:00 and 8:00 PM
Tickets:  $15

Nov = 23
TORONTO=20
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES=20 LECTURE

"Recent Arch. Excavations in Takrit & the = Discovery=20 of Syriac Inscriptions"
by Professor = Amir=20 Harrak
8:00 PM
Auditorium, Earth Sciences Centre, Room 1050 =
5 Bancroft Avenue
University = of Toronto,=20 St. George Campus

Dec = 31
SANTA CLARA,=20 CALIFORNIA
WALTER AZIZ = NEW YEAR'S=20 EVE PARTY

Presented by Worldance Entertainment: =
Walter Aziz & his Middle Eastern / Latin = dancers=20
Assyrian, Arabic, & Salsa
Raffle Prize:  Hawaiian Vacation for 2 courtesy of=20 PoinTravel.com
Marriott Hotel in Santa=20 Clara
2700 Mission College Blvd =
Tickets:  $ 95.00
in San Jose:  = Etminan (408)=20 226-5992
in San Mateo:  Worldance (650) 571-8538
in = San=20 Francisco:  Oasis Travel (415) 664-8400
in Modesto:  = Soro=20 Enterprises (209) 551-1800
For more = information contact=20 worldance2000@aol.com .

Until =20
Jan = 21
CHICAGO=20
TREASURES FROM THE ROYAL TOMBS OF = UR=20

The Oriental Institute 
University of Chicago
1155 = East 58th=20 Street=20

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun  = 10AM-5:30PM=20
Wed 10AM-8:30PM
Closed=20 Mondays=20

General Info:  773-702-9514 =
Tours:  773-702-9507=20

Admission is free, but the Institute suggests a = donation=20 of $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12 to view the Ur=20 exhibition.

Jan = 25
TORONTO=20
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES=20 LECTURE

"Icons & Syriac Inscriptions in the = Monastery of the=20 Syrians in Egypt"
by Professor Lucas = van Rompay,=20 Duke University
8:00 PM =
Auditorium, Earth Sciences Centre, Room 1050 =
5 Bancroft Avenue
University = of Toronto,=20 St. George Campus

Feb = 15
TORONTO=20
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES=20 LECTURE

"Frescoes & Syriac Inscriptions in Medieval = Churches=20 in Lebanon"
by Dr. Erica Dodd, Victoria = University
8:00 PM
Auditorium, Earth Sciences Centre, Room 1050 =
5 Bancroft Avenue
University = of Toronto,=20 St. George Campus

Mar = 29
TORONTO=20
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES=20 LECTURE

"Syriac Heritage at the Northern Silk = Road:  The=20 Archaological & Epigraphic Evidence of Christianity in=20 Kirghizia"
by Dr. Vassilios Klein, Bonn = University
8:00 PM
Auditorium, Earth Sciences Centre, Room 1050 =
5 Bancroft Avenue
University = of Toronto,=20 St. George Campus

Jul = 2-6=20
  = 2001
FINLAND=20
XLVIIe RENCONTRE ASSYRIOLOGIQUE=20 INTERNATIONALE

International Congress of Assyriology and Near = Eastern=20 Archaeology 
"Sex and Gender in = the Ancient=20 Near East"
University of = Helsinki=20

Registration Form:  click=20 here


 Thank=20 You!
Yakdan Nissan.......Francis Sarguis = (California)=20

SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH = READERS IN 50=20 COUNTRIES BY INCLUDING ZINDA MAGAZINE IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR = ORGANIZATION'S=20 MAILING LIST.
SEE OUR=20 MAILING ADDRESS BELOW.

ZINDA Magazine is published every = Tuesday. =20 Views expressed in ZINDA do not necessarily represent those of the ZINDA = editors, or any of our associated staff.  This publication reserves = the=20 right, at its sole discretion, not to publish comments or articles = previously=20 printed in or submitted to other journals. ZINDA reserves the right to = publish=20 and republish your submission in any form or medium. All letters and=20 messages  require the name(s) of sender and/or author. All messages = published in the SURFS UP! section must be in 500 words or less and bear = the=20 name of the author(s). Distribution of material featured in ZINDA is not = restricted, but permission from ZINDA is required.  This service is = meant=20 for the exchange of information, analyses and news. To subscribe, send = e-mail=20 to: z_info@zindamagazine.com.=20

Zinda Magazine =
P.O. Box 20278   San Jose, = California  =20 95160   U.S.A.
Voice:      (408) = 918-9200=20
   = Fax:      (408)=20 918-9201

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