=20
| Z I N D A = M A G A Z=20 I N E |
| Adaar 6,=20 = 6750 &nb= sp; =20 Volume=20 = VII &nbs= p; =20 Issue=20 = 2 = =20 March 6, = 2001 |
To receive our weekly notification message or = this =20 issue in text format write to z_info@zindamagazine.com. =
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| The=20 Lighthouse | The Melbourne Protests |
| Good=20 Morning Bet-Nahrain | Mar Bidawid Condemns US-British =
Bombings=20
Pope May Visit Iran |
| News=20 Digest | Chaldean Association Builds $1.9 Million =
Banquet=20
Hall Coptic Church = Inaugurated in=20 Egypt New Officers of the Assyrian = Academic=20 Society |
| Surfs=20 Up! | "until my life is = extinguished" |
| Surfers=20 Corner | Summer Syriac Institute 2001 |
| Literatus<= /FONT> | Proud To Be Your=20 Friend |
| Bravo | New York Governor Recognized Sano = Halo |
| Ass= yrian=20 Surfing Posts | Learn Assyrian=20
Aramaic Local Article on Fr. = Yusuf=20 Abkulut's Trial |
| Pump=20 Up the Volume | Beauty & Fit |
| Back=20 to the Future | Tiglath-Pileser's March to Babylon & = Mongols in=20 Arbil |
| This=20 Week in History | First School For Girls |
| Calenda= r=20 of Events | Kha b'Neesan Party in San=20
Jose``````````````````````````````` |
All blue = links throughout this issue are hyperlinks to other sections on = this=20 page or featured websites
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THE MELBOURNE = PROTESTS =20
It was Wednesday, 28th = February, 20001=20 and most of the participants had never taken part in a protest = (tagleetha)=20 before. Yet here they were assembling outside the Turkish Consulate on = Albert=20 Rd. in South Melbourne, Australia
The first protesters had begun assembling at 11 am, = and they =20 waited for other Assyrians, from near and far to join their ranks, and = prepare =20 for the protest to come. They were here to protest the arrest of Father = Yusuf =20 Akbulut for affirming the Assyrian-Armenian and Greek Genocide of World = War =20 I.
A steady stream of Assyrians slowly assembled in = the park=20 opposite the Turkish Consulate, as the clock slowly approached 12pm.=20 Meanwhile, the organisers were busy handing out placards and informing = them of=20 the protest=92s guidelines.
Federal Australian police then arrived to oversee = the event, =20 and they talked to the organisers informing them of requests they had. = =93This =20 is a democratic country, and you are all free, to peacefully protest = outside =20 the consulate=94, a Federal police officer said calmly. Upon receiving = word of =20 the protest the Federal police had informed organisers that the Federal=20 government, located in Canberra, was now fully aware of this protest = as it had=20 been formally registered and noted by them.
At 12pm the signal to start the protest was given = as the=20 organisers led the crowd across the road and in front of the Turkish=20 Consulate. Then far in the distance Assyrian youth, who had = =93skipped=94 school=20 on the day, could be seen approaching the Consulate. Numbering = approximately=20 15, they crossed the road holding a long banner that was held in front = by=20 around 5 Assyrian youth. The homemade banner printed in bold letters, = stated,=94=20 TURKEY =96 FREE ASSYRIAN PRIEST=94.
Draped in=20
Assyrian T-shirts, Assyrian caps, and holding homemade Assyrian flags in =
the=20
air, they approached and raised the morale of the initial protesters as =
they=20
moved in and positioned themselves in front of the Consulate. =
Having been informed of only a group of 30 to 40 = protesters, =20 the police quickly called in further State police for additional = support. The =20 total crowd of 80 strong protesters then began the peaceful = protest.
The Consulate having received word of the protest = adopted=20 their standard operating procedures and closed down the Consulate for = the day,=20 sending all workers home.
One of the protest=92s organisers, Brian Berro, = then picked up =20 a megaphone and began a prepared oratory that informed the assembled = protesters=20 and gave pause to nearby Australian onlookers.
=93We are here to protest, not against the Turkish = people, but =20 against the Turkish government and its policy of persecuting all those = that =20 are deemed to be different.=94 Whilst he talked many passing by were = given a=20 pamphlet detailing the plight of Father Yusuf Akbulut. The oratory was = then=20 interrupted by slogans as the emotion charged crowd yelled their = demands to=20 the Consulate. =93Turkey - Free Father Yusuf!=94 and =93Turkey - = Recognise the=20 Assyrian Genocide!=94, were the favourites on the day.
The protester's energy was self-evident as an = emotion-charged=20 atmosphere was projected by many of the Assyrian youth in attendance. = When=20 asked about his homemade flag, one of the protesters Sargon Warda made = the=20 following comment, =93I phoned a flag maker the other night, and asked = him to=20 make me an Assyrian flag. He said he only had the Syrian flag on his = database.=20 I told him that wasn't good enough, and hung up. So I decided to make = my=20 own.=94
Many youth showed remarkable initiative and using = markers,=20 which they had brought, from home, they turned the prepared signs = around and=20 marked them with words such as, =93Honk for support=94. Being a busy = intersection=20 many passing motorists provided the crowd with the requested audible = support.=20 Having blocked the Turkish Embassy's entrances the youth peacefully = allowed=20 all people leaving the car park to leave provided they honked their = horn for=20 support, and took a copy of a pamphlet detailing the Father Yusuf = case.=20 Pulling out some tape Assyrian youth then decided to leave their mark = on the=20 Consulate by sticking pamphlets all over the Consulate's walls, as = bemused=20 police officers looked on.
=93This is a peaceful, non-violent protest=94, was = the word the=20 organisers repeated to the waiting crowd. As an under-cover policeman=20 approached the organisers, and introduced himself. He thanked the = organisers=20 for controlling and guiding the peaceful protest, and requested = further=20 information regarding the Father Yusuf case. Printed news articles = from=20 www.assyrian-genocide.org were then handed to him, as he showed a = genuine=20 interest in the case and requested further information.
Mr. =20
Berro then continued, =93Assyrians have been persecuted for simply being =
Assyrian,=20
speaking a distinct language and being culturally and linguistically=20
different.=94 The crowd listened on as Brian Berro requested that a =
Consular=20
official approach the organisers and receive an official protest =
letter from=20
Melbourne=92s Assyrian community. The Turkish Consular officials were =
nowhere to=20
be seen, even after repeated attempts to have them greet the =
organisers. The=20
protest organisers then approached the police officers guarding the =
entrance=20
and gave them the community's protest letter, who promised to hand it =
to the=20
Turkish Consulate.
After two and a half hours of protesting, one of = the=20 protest=92s key organisers, Mr. Brian Berro, then shouted the = following words=20 into the megaphone, explaining to all on-lookers the reason why the = Assyrian=20 community of Melbourne, had finally awoken and expressed themselves in = such an=20 audible manner. =93Our protest, here today, is to stand up for those = who cannot=20 stand up for themselves. Our protest, here today, is to speak for = those who=20 cannot speak for themselves. Our protest, here today, is to defend = those who=20 cannot defend themselves.=94
With these words the Assyrian protesters applauded = Mr. Berro,=20 who then thanked them for their attendance and dedication to this = human rights=20 cause. Then as quickly as they had come they departed, packing up = their=20 banners and folding their Assyrian flags, they left the Turkish = Consulate and=20 returned to their homes.
David Chibo
Australia
=20
=20
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Zinda News From Northern=20 Iraq
?: =20 An article by Romeo Hakkari, head of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, = is=20 published praising "Immortal Barzani, Assyrian people's constant=20 supporter."=20
22: =20
On the invitation of the Chaldo-Assyrian Association in Paris, an=20
Assyrian-Chaldean delegation will travel to France.
27: =20
Jalal Talabani receives a delegation of the Assyrian Democratic =
Movement. =20
He strongly condemned the assassination of Franso =
Hariri.
The head of Turkomaneli =
Party receives =20
an Assyrian National Party delegation.
(ZNDA: Baghdad) Last week, His Holiness = Mar=20 Raphael Bidawid, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, condemned = the=20 recent bombings over Iraq on February 16 and 22. Two people died = and 20=20 were injured. "There are no words left to condemn this use = of=20 force against the weak," he said. "In the Second World War, the = Allies=20 accused the Nazis of using the law of force," he said. "However, what = are the=20 United States and Great Britain doing now against the Iraqi people? = They talk=20 about principles of humanity and human rights, but, where do they = apply them?=20 They must realize that we, Iraqis, also have the right to life and = dignity.=20 The Vatican, Italy, France and Russia have criticized the use of = force; and=20 we, the Baghdad Church, condemn these aggressive actions."
The bombing of Iraq does not help the Mideast peace = process, =20 Mar Bidawid said to the Vatican News Agency reporter. "The = reaction=20 against the Americans and English is now affecting the whole Arab = world," he=20 said. "All the Arabs are becoming fedayeen [guerrillas], prepared to = exercise=20 violence against the United States and Great Britain, in their own=20 territories...The time has arrived to begin a dialogue that is sincere = in=20 order to reach a solution. Blood and violence call for more blood and = more=20 violence. Our people, more and more crushed, are increasingly against=20 Americans and Englishmen. The more they are mistreated, the more = President=20 Saddam Hussein is exalted." He concluded his remarks by = stating: =20 "Think of the common good that peace could bring to all, to us and to = you=20 yourselves. If there is no return to dialogue, the ghost of war = is not=20 improbable, and the risk is run of a new chaos."
In the meantime, the Chaldean Church in Iraq = continues to=20 work so that John Paul II can make a pilgrimage to Iraq. The = news was=20 confirmed by Auxiliary Bishop Emmanuel Karim Delly, according to the = Italian=20 newspaper Avvenire. Bishop Delly assists Patriarch Raphael = I=20 Bidawid.
The Pope hoped to go on pilgrimage to Ur in =
southern Iraq on =20
the eve of the Jubilee Year. However, Saddam Hussein notified the =
Vatican that =20
his country could not guarantee the Pontiff's security, given the =
constant=20
U.S.-British military flights controlling the no-fly zone, where =
Abraham's=20
homeland is located. Bishop Delly said, "When the Pontiff's wish =
can be=20
realized, it will be a great occasion for us all, and the Pope will be =
well=20
received by all the Iraqi people. We have done everything possible, =
both here=20
and in the Vatican."
Courtesy of Zenit News Agency; March 2 =
(ZNDA: Vatican) Vatican spokesman = Joaquin=20 Navarro-Valls announced Saturday that Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, = Vatican=20 secretary for relations with states, had arrived in Iran the same day = to meet=20 with the country's highest authorities and with the Catholic community = to look=20 into the possibility of a papal trip to Iran. The visit is in = response=20 to "an invitation from governmental authorities and the local bishops' = conference," Navarro-Valls said. While in Iran, Archbishop Tauran will = give a=20 conference at the Iranian Diplomatic Institute.
The archbishop also will meet numerous Christian = communities =20 residing in Iran. Today, Archbishop Tauran offered Mass in St. Joan of = Arc=20 (Jean d'Arc) Church in Tehran.
Two years ago, John Paul II received Iranian = President=20 Mohammad Khatami, a moderate Muslim cleric, in the Vatican. The = meeting was=20 part of a first series of state visits of an Iranian leader to Western = Europe=20 since the 1979 Islamic revolution. President Khatami was = accompanied by=20 an Assyrian as his official Italian-Farsi translator.
In statements published by Associated Press, = Navarro-Valls=20 explained that Archbishop Tauran's visit is also to explore the = possibility of=20 a papal visit to the country. This nation of 65 million people has = only about=20 120,000 Christians, including 12,000 Catholics.=20
The following is the text of the report by Iranian News Agency IRNA,=20 translated from Farsi:
(ZNDA: Esfehan) = 6=20 March: Visiting Vatican Foreign Minister Jean Louis Tauran = arrived=20 in this central Iranian city Tuesday [6 March] for a short=20 visit.
Upon arrival, he was =
greeted by several=20
provincial top officials as well as Armenian =
bishops.
He will tour monuments in = Esfahan,=20 especially Vank Church, and meet Armenians residing in Esfahan. He = will=20 [leave] Esfahan Tuesday night.=20
Iran is more than 99 per = cent Muslim,=20 with Shi'ism the state's official religion. Iran has up to a quarter = of a=20 million Christians, but relatively few Catholics, most of whom are of = Armenian=20 origin. The majority of Christians are Chaldean, Assyrian or=20 Protestant.=20
Tauran arrived in Tehran = early Sunday=20 for a four-day visit, the first by a top-ranking Catholic Church = diplomat=20 since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the papal nunciature=20 said.
On Monday, he met with =
Iranian=20
President Mohammad Khatami and urged Christian Iranians to stay on the =
national scene in Iran as well as maintain dialogue with the country's =
ruling=20
Shi'i Muslim elite in the interest of their continuing peaceful =
coexistence=20
with their Muslim fellow countrymen.
Tauran noted an improvement = in=20 relations between Iran and the Vatican in recent years that culminated = in=20 Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's meeting with Pope John Paul II in = 1999=20 while on a visit to Rome.=20
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Courtesy of the The San =
Diego=20
Union-Tribune; March 1
(ZNDA: El =
Cajon) Architect =20
Michael Sitto sees El Cajon's new banquet hall as a proud tribute to =
the area's=20
large Chaldean-American community.
Touches of Mediterranean = architecture=20 and Chaldean culture are everywhere in the Crystal Ballroom, from the = columns=20 gracing the entryway to the eight-point stars embedded in the ceiling=20 glasswork.=20
While giving a tour of the=20 8,000-square-foot facility, Sitto pointed out the curved doorways at = the=20 entrance.
"These are a tradition of = our culture=20 in the Middle East," he said.=20
The former bank building on =
North=20
Magnolia Avenue was purchased by the Chaldean American Association in =
1999.=20
The group spent about $1.9 million to renovate and furnish the banquet =
hall,=20
which officially opens to the public March 15.
Sitto said some members of =
the=20
association were concerned about buying a building just a few blocks =
from El=20
Cajon's troubled downtown. But he thinks that by having a lot of =
people in the=20
area, there will be increased safety.
El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis = is glad the=20 association was willing to open the ballroom near the city's=20 downtown.
"They took a chance in = investing their =20 money in regards to developing a premier social hall," Lewis said. "It = shows =20 their faith in downtown that they're willing to put their money into = what they =20 believe in."=20
The ballroom, with a =
capacity of more=20
than 500 people, is available for rent to the public. It features two =
stages,=20
two bars and two elevated platforms where video photographers can =
record an=20
event unobtrusively.
The association, which has = about 450=20 members, had been meeting in a large hall behind an auto-parts=20 store.
Those quarters, which have = been sold,=20 were far less elegant than the Crystal Ballroom, where the dance floor = is=20 marble and 300,000 pieces of glass make up the ceiling patterns around = each=20 chandelier.=20
Rooms on the second floor = of the new=20 hall will hold about 200 people, so that association members can get = together=20 on nights that the ballroom is being rented. A restaurant on the first = floor=20 will serve Middle Eastern food.
COPTIC CHURCH INAUGURATED = IN=20 EGYPT, WALL PAINTINGS RETOUCHED
Courtesy of ArabicNews; March 1
(ZNDA: Cairo) This = week the Red=20 Sea's 13th Century Anba Antonius Church in Egypt will be inaugurated = after=20 three years of repair work. Egypt's Minister of Culture, Farouk = Hosni,=20 has delegated Gaballah Ali Gaballab, Secretary General of the Supreme=20 Antiquities Council, to unveil the resurrected paintings on the wall = of the=20 church.
The inauguration ceremony =
will be=20
attended by Minister of the Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid, the Red =
Sea=20
Governor, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Deniel Kurtzer; Abbot Anba =
Boutros; and=20
Willard Pearson, Director of the U.S. Gaballah. The repair =
work on=20
the wall-paintings were undertaken by an Italian group under the =
supervision=20
of the Council and the US Research Center in Cairo. The paintings are =
the work=20
of Coptic artists between the early and late 13th Century. Thick =
layers of=20
dust had accumulated over the ages, almost totally obliterating the =
original=20
colors of the wall paintings as a result of using the church as a =
refuge for=20
Copts fleeing persecution.
The following individuals were elected last week as = the new=20 officers of the Assyrian Academic Society:
Vice=20
President: &nb=
sp; =20
Firas Jatou
Standing Committee Chairs:
Ways and=20
Means: &=
nbsp; =20
Yokhana Alkass
Public=20
Programs: &nbs=
p; =20
John Michael
JAAS Editorial Board
English Language=20
Editor: Edwin Gania =
Technical=20
Editor: =
=20
Raman Michael
Assyrian Lang. Tech=20
Editor: Namrood Shiba
Arabic =
Language=20
Editor: Saad =
Saadi
JAAS Advisory Committee
=20
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=93I=20 am very happy to be able to contact you, and moreover of being able to = inform=20 the readers of the Zinda of the crisis and the socio-economic = conditions that=20 brutally dominate this poor country.
The Georgians are not alone as there are also = Assyrians=20 suffering in these same conditions. But we forget perhaps that = such a=20 change, incarnated in the history of the people, and for the good of = all and=20 all in the future, is brought about by the powerful and the rich = sovereigns=20 upon the poor and overwhelmed classes.
In Georgia it is the domination of one political = oppressors, =20 depriving the miserables. The rights of the man often come in all = shapes. This =20 fact naturally becomes greater for the ethnic minorities, the people of = little =20 or no concern. It is now for six years that with difficulty, but = pleasure=20 our people have been served in this community. They are living = witnesses=20 of the many economic, social, religious events that occur every = day.=20
I mean to say that the so-called "countries of the = first=20 world", continually send the humanitarian aids like medicine and the=20 provisions to Georgia. But the lack of an educated group- = morality,=20 religion, and political power- is currently dominant in this = country. It=20 does not leave a breath for the poor who is often abandoned. =20 Unfortunately there is also trafficking of these humanitarian aides = for one's=20 profit as they are sold with the highest prices in the black market,=20 controlled by the Mafia. The weak people do not have = simple kind=20 of living, food, a warm bed, a warm house, a school, a secure = job. They=20 lack everything. They die due to the lack of the basic material = of one=20 simplest life. They die because of hunger (as we are only = standing at=20 door of the 21st Century), because of the cold, the basic stuff like=20 influenza, pulmonary bronchitis, and skin infections. These ailments = can=20 easily be cured in the more advanced countries.
But in Georgia humans are not of importance, no = different=20 than it was in the previous communist dictatorial regime. In = fact in=20 those times people were used for the needs of the super Soviet power. = And=20 today they continue to be taken advantage of for the good of the rich, = the=20 powerful, the Mafia, and the corrupted ones.
I denounce this suffering, in defense of the poor = and the=20 overwhelmed ones. I denounce the luxuries, as it destroys the = values of=20 the mankind. I denounce the political power that lead the = people. I=20 denounce the indifference by the worthy men of freedom, of confession. = I=20 denounce the lack of the solidarity with the poor ones, of the friends = of the=20 Gentlemen.
Perhaps beloved friends, someone may think and = say: =20 "Benny is a clergyman and he must not involve himself in = politics?" I=20 answer that my mission in life is that I am and I must be consumed by = the=20 proclamation of the reign of the just, the merciful ones, for justice = and the=20 dominion of the One to reign over darkness. Therefore, they are = afraid=20 of my mission and my creed and I will sacrifice my life for the = defense of the=20 poor ones and the defense of their rights, and I will not calm myself = until my=20 life is extinguished. I say this because I believe in this. This = is not=20 an honor for me, but a duty. Everyone of us can guarantee the = peace and=20 the justice for the future of our people and all the people. May God = bless=20 us!=94
"Benny" =
Father Benny Bethyadgar is a Chaldean =
Catholic priest =20
serving the Assyrian communities in Georgia.
To=20
learn more about Father Benny and his mission click=20
here.=20
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SUMMER SYRIAC INSTITUTE=20 2001
Session I: June 19 - July = 6
Introduction to Syriac Grammar
M T=20
W H F, 9:00-11:10 (3 credits)
Instructor: =20
Joseph Amar
This is an entry level course that presumes no = knowledge of=20 Syriac. Daily lessons are based on Robinson's Paradigms and Exercises = in=20 Syriac Grammar supplemented by a specially prepared course = packet.
Intermediate Syriac Reading
M T W=20
H F, 12:20-2:30 (3 credits)
Instructor: Joseph=20
Amar
This is a new offering designed as a "refresher = course."=20 Emphasis will be on reading a variety of prose and poetic texts drawn = mainly=20 from the writings of St. Ephrem as the basis for review of grammar and = basic=20 structures.
Session II: July 9 - July = 27
Introduction to Syriac Reading
M T=20
W H F, 9:00 - 11:10 (3 credits)
Instructor: =20
Joseph Amar
This course applies the basic principles of grammar = and=20 syntax to actual Syriac texts.
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PROUD TO BE YOUR = FRIEND =20
Fridun=20
Nazaradeh
I always intended to become an engineer but a few = years=20 before the end of college, I thought a lot about the job my father = did, he is=20 a physician (gynecologist), too.
I thought, let's try this first. Maybe it's more = interesting =20 than engineering.
So, when I finished high school and college in = 1992, I first =20 started studying at the Medical School of the university of Dusseldorf = which =20 is located 30 miles from Bottrop.
But, Medical School itself didn't quite satisfy me = as it was =20 too much learning by heart and too little using your brain. I needed = something =20 where I could be more creative and where I had to use my brain a little = more =20 than in medicine which actually was nothing more than stupid learning by = heart.
As my first wish was to become an engineer, I = decided to quit=20 Medical School and start my career in end of 1993 at the School of = Electrical =20 Engineering and Electronics at the university of Dortmund which also is = located=20 about 30 miles from Bottrop.
When the time for signing up started at Dortmund = (September=20 1993), I couldn't stop Medical School as I did quite fine there and I = also had=20 passed some of my exams. Even the guys who really wanted to become a = physician=20 didn't pass the exams that I had passed so far.
And so I said, ok, let's try both Medical School = and=20 Electronics Engineering and let's see how far I can push this. =
If I should fail or if should no longer be able to = keep up=20 with both, I will quit my Medical School at Dusseldorf.
Well, the end of the story is that I was 27 years = old, when I=20 finished Medical School in May 2000 and the School of Engineering in = June=20 2000. I needed one more year than the average time that is needed to = finish=20 Medical School (usually 6 and a half years, I needed 7 and a half). = Now I'm a=20 physician and an engineer for electronics and computer science as = well. Right=20 now, I am working as a medical engineer for Nokia Mobile Phones in=20 Germany.
Here, we are developing tools to assist people with = e.g.=20 heart diseases or diabetes that make possible a monitoring of certain = blood or=20 heart values and sending them via a cellular phone to a hospital or = their=20 physicians.
But this actually is only a job for an engineer and = I miss=20 the hospital quite a lot.
So, I decided to return back to university. In May = 2001, I=20 will start a new challenging job at the medical center of the = university of=20 Essen. I will start at the department for radiology as both physician = and=20 engineer. From 7 am till 3 pm I will work as a doctor there and do my = job as a=20 radiologist. From 3 pm till 6 (7, 8 ?) pm, they want me to work as = engineer in=20 the research and development branch of the department of radiology. = The main=20 item is about image enhancements of MRTs (Magnetic Resonance = Tomographs) and=20 CTs (common Computer Tomographs using x-rays). This job is a = hand-in-hand=20 cooperation with Siemens Medical Systems and General Electric. =
They are giving us the projects and problems to = solve. I=20 think that this is rather the perfect symbiosis of my two studies than = only=20 working as an engineer. A lot of people forecasted my early failure. = They=20 said, I would never make it to finish both schools. If I had listened = to them,=20 I probably would never have finished both.
The thing is to listen to yourself and (I know this = is very=20 often said and is sort of a worn out empty phrase but...) believe in = yourself=20 and you will make it. Discipline is very important, too, as you have = to sit=20 and learn quite a lot.
But nevertheless, I never neglected my friends and = family=20 because of my courses of studies. I always knew when to stop learning = and when=20 to have fun and enjoy life.
Dr. Yousef Nazaradeh is the father of Fridun and = Denis=20 Nazaradeh and is a gynecologist in Germany. Even though he lived in = Germany=20 for many years and married Hulya in Germany, he was always a proud = Assyrian,=20 and always helped many Assyrians in many ways that they needed. = Dr.=20 Yousef Nazaradeh taught his sons to be proud Assyrians. Well done = Hulya and=20 Dr. Nazaradeh to raise such fine sons. I am so proud to be your = friend.=20
Marie St. =
Vincent=20
Germany=20
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NEW YORK GOVERNOR HONORS = SUBJECT OF=20 "NOT EVEN MY NAME"
The following is a press release from the =
office of Mr.=20
George Pataki, Governor of the State of New York who has chosen Ms. =
Thea=20
Halo's mother, Sano Halo, as one of the recipients of this year's =
Award of=20
Excellence in honor of Women's History Month, "Celebrating Women of =
Courage=20
and Vision." Thea Halo is the author of "Not=20
Even My Name", the story of her mother's survival of the 1915 =
Genocide=20
committed by the Turkish government against the Assyrians, Armenians, =
and the=20
Greeks in Turkey.
STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE=20
CHAMBER
GEORGE E. PATAKI, GOVERNOR =
Press Office
518-474-8418=20
212-681-4640
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
Governor's Award of Excellence To Be Given =
Governor George E. Pataki announced today that one = of the six=20 recipients of his 2001 Women's History Month "Award of Excellence" is = a=20 90-year-old woman who is the subject of a memoir detailing the tragedy = of the=20 Pontian Genocide. The awards are scheduled to be given during an = upcoming=20 Women's History Month Celebration at which 100 distinguished women = will be=20 present.
Sano "Themia" Halo, whose life was documented by = her daughter=20 Thea Halo in the book "Not Even My Name," will be present to receive = the=20 award. At the age of 10, Mrs. Halo and 700,000 Pontic Greeks, who = lived in=20 communities along northern Turkey near the Black Sea for three = millennia,=20 endured immeasurable cruelty during a Turkish Government-sanctioned = campaign=20 to displace them. An estimated 300,000 Pontic Greeks died while being = forcibly=20 marched without provisions across the Anatolian plains to the Syrian = border.=20 The estimated 400,000 who survived were exiled from Turkey and today = they and=20 their descendants live throughout the Greek diaspora. For example, as = many as=20 40,000 Pontic Greeks live among the many more Greeks in Astoria, = Queens=20 County.
Most people of good will are familiar with the = Armenian=20 Genocide of 1915-23, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 = million=20 Armenians by forces of the Turkish Government. The details of Mrs. = Halo's life=20 in her daughter's book, however, add to our growing knowledge of the = Pontian=20 Genocide, which occurred concurrently. "Not Even My Name" is one of = the few=20 English-language accounts of the Pontian Genocide and it is among the = most=20 thorough. Thus, Mrs. Halo's story of survival and resettlement in New = York=20 City adds greatly to our understanding of the Pontian Genocide and its = effects=20 on immigration.
"The Turkish perpetrators of genocide in Asia Minor = were=20 notably brutal when executing their campaign to displace Greeks, = Armenians and=20 Assyrians from their ancestral lands. Sano's touching story of = perseverance,=20 triumph and healing serves as an inspiration for all who face = adversity, and=20 makes an important contribution to the treasury of works that clarify = our=20 understanding of this dark chapter in history," said Governor = Pataki.=20
The month of March is traditionally observed as = Women's=20 History Month throughout the Nation. This year's theme, "Celebrating = Women of=20 Courage and Vision," underscores the wealth of character and strength = found=20 among American women of all occupations and at all levels of society. = Under=20 Governor Pataki's leadership, part of the State of New York's own = celebration=20 of Women's History Month includes the holding of an annual ceremony at = which=20 the achievements of women like Mrs. Halo are recognized.
Over 100 award recipients, former award recipients = and their =20 guests are expected. This year's ceremony will take place on Thursday, = March =20 8th at 2:30 p.m. in the Governor's New York City Office, located at 633 = Third =20 Avenue, 38th Floor.
The Governor's ceremony is by-invitation-only. All =
media must=20
R.S.V.P. with Anthoula Katsimatides at (212) 681-4569 or James V. =
Barcia at =20
(212) 681-4573.
=20
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BC (732)
A rebellion breaks out in Babylon when King =
Nabonassar=20
dies. King Tiglath-Pileser attempts to quiet the people, but=20
fails. He assembles an army and marches south and enters Babylon =
in=20
triumph. He declares himself King of Babylon.
AD (1310)=20
Mongolian army attacks and captures the Assyrian =
city of=20
Arbil, killing many and taking the survivors as slaves.
=
=20
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March 5, 1817: =20
First Assyrian School for Girls is founded in Urmie with four =
registered=20
students.
=20
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| Sat,=20
Mar = 17 |
DINNER & DANCE PARTY=20 The Assyrian Academic Society invites you to = attend a =20 dinner and dance party in honor of the newly elected = Executive=20 Officers. Bring your family and friends and dance the = night=20 away! Entertainment by Ogin Limited seating- call now to reserve your = tickets:=20 (773) 461-6633 AAS Email: staff@aas.net = |
| Sat,=20
Mar = 24 |
KHA = B'NEESAN=20 PARTY Assyrian American Association of San Jose=20
presents David's Banquet Tickets sold every Tuesday and =
Thursday=20
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| Sun,=20
Mar = 25 |
ASSYRIAN ACADEMIC SOCIETY LECTURE=20 The Assyrian Academic Society in conjunction = with the =20 Syriac Cultural Center proudly host a lecture = entitled: =20 "History of the Syriac Church and its =
People" =20
5:00 PM For more information, call AAS at: (773)=20
461-6633 |
| Sun,=20
Mar = 25 |
GILGAMESH CULTURAL CENTRE LECTURE = NIGHT =20 "The Aramaic Language, its origin and =
history" =20
"Father Abraham, Isaac and Ismail" =
6:00 PM For more info contact Alfred Mansour =
at=20
|
| Sat,=20
Mar = 31 |
AMERICAN ORIENTAL SOCIETY PANEL=20 DISCUSSION "Writing Syriac: From Stone to =
Bytes"=20
1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. 1. Marica Cassis, University of=20
Toronto 2. Amir Harrak, University of =
Toronto =20
3. Wolfhart Heinrichs, Harvard =
University =20
(Break) 4. George Kiraz, Syriac Computing=20
Institute 5. Wassilios Klein, Bonn =
University =20
6. Eden Naby, Harvard University =
Panel to be held at the 211th Meeting of the =
American =20
Oriental Society |
| Thurs,=20
Mar = 29 |
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES=20 LECTURE "Syriac Heritage at the Northern Silk Road: =
The=20
Archaological & Epigraphic Evidence of Christianity =
in=20
Kirghizia" Since the 1890s Kirghizia has attracted the attention of = scholars in =20 the field of Syriac epigraphy, when Daniel Chwolson = published about=20 600 Syriac funerary inscriptions found there. The=20 discovery of these inscriptions came as a surprise since = there=20 was little literary evidence that Christianity had = played any=20 important role in the lands located to the north of the = Tianshan=20 Mountains. In recent years archaeological = excavations in=20 the Middle Age capital revealed a church with three = naves and=20 the grave of a holy man. Taking into consideration = these=20 excavations, the other religions coexisting with Christianity = in=20 Central Asia, and the political history of that region at that = time, =20 we shall describe the role played by East Syriac (so called = Nestorian)=20 Christianity and the Syriac language in the daily = life of=20 the Sogdian and Turkish people. |
| Sun,=20
Apr=20 1 |
AKITU=20 ASSYRIAN FESTIVAL Organized by a network of Assyrian youth, the = Assyrian =20 community and the wider Australian multi-cultural=20 community AKITU ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR 6751 9:00 AM Games, rides, shows, drama, & =
Fireworks=20
For more info: Nina @ 0416041432 or=20
toomani@cba.com.au |
| Until=20
May = 6 |
TREASURES FROM THE ROYAL TOMBS=20 OF UR The=20
Detroit Institute of Arts Adults $8, Children $5: includes audio = tour and =20 museum admission |
| May = 24 |
This year marks the = 600th=20 anniversary of the remembrance of the men and women who = died in=20 1401 A.D. when Timurlane attacked the Assyrian villages = near=20 Nineveh. Each year children dress-up as brides and = grooms=20 and go to homes in the neighborhood to collect=20 sweets. Nakosha "Assyrian=20
Holidays" Calendar |
| M-F,=20
Jul = 2-6 |
XLVIIe RENCONTRE ASSYRIOLOGIQUE=20 INTERNATIONALE International Congress of Assyriology and =
Near Eastern =20
Archaeology Registration Form: clickhere=20 |
| Jul=20 22 |
A festival = celebrating the=20 descent of the god Tammuz to the Underworld and the end = of=20 spring in Bet-Nahrain. It is customary to sprinkle = water=20 on friends and family members, wishing for Tammuz' safe = return=20 to his beloved Ishtar. |
| Aug = 7 |
A day to commemorate = the Assyrian=20 martyrs throughout history. =20 |
![PARTY](3D"http://www.aas.net/images/flyer0102w.jpg"){kind=link}
![LECTURE](3D"http://aas.net/images/flyer0103w.gif"){kind=link}
=20
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Jacklin =
Bejan=20
(California)......Nadia Joseph (Chicago)......
= = SHARE YOUR INFORMATIONWITH = READERSIN 55=20 COUNTRIES BY INCLUDING ZINDA MAGAZINE IN YOUR COMMUNITYOR=20 ORGANIZATION'SMAILING LIST.
SEE=20 OUR MAILING ADDRESS BELOW.
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