ASSYRIAN WOMEN SPEAK OUT IN CHINA

"The Assyrian Women:  From Ishtar 6000 BC to
Elishbah 1995" was the title of the 2-hour
workshop held at the NGO Forum on Women in
Hauirou, China.  The workshop briefly covered
the history of the Assyrian people from the dawn
of civilization to today's refugee situation.
Sonya Aho and Adibe Younan from the Assyrian
Women's Federation in Sweden were the organizers
of this workshop.  I, on behalf of the Assyrian
American National Federation, was representing
the Assyrian Women from the United States.
 

Photographs depicting Assyrian women in the Syrian
and Turkish villages were displayed at the workshop.
Postcards, tapes, and pamphlets on the history and
the present conditions of the Assyrians in diaspora
were also on display.  In my report I focused on the
systematic mistreatment and oppression of today's
Assyrians as a displaced people.  In addition, some
insights on the Assyrian liberation were delivered
in respect to the status of the Assyrian women in the
United States.  I concluded my report with some future
perspectives on building an international Assyrian
women's movement.

                                             Sharokin Betgevargiz

Editor's Note:  Ms. Betgevargis is currently enjoying her
summer vacation in California.
 

W E L C O M E   T O   Z E N D A
===========================================
Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
 

[CORPORATE ACCOUNTS]

Lincoln Properties, Foster City, California
 

[UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS]

Cal State University, Los Angeles
 

[INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS]

Chicago, Illinois
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Detroit, Michigan
 

S U R F S  U P !
===========================================
"Thank you for including me in your mailing list.
I wish to commend you on your accomplishment ...,
it is a great way of communication between Assyrians,
and maybe non-Assyrians.  I only hope that you keep
an open mind as to opposing comments, articles, views
and ideas.  I am impressed with the opening statement
in your email and glad to hear that one will not be
punished for having differing or disagreeing view
from that of the publisher or other participants.
I believe that is the only way to grow and advance,
and not having to be attached to the traditional
thinking that has been the norm for decades if not
longer...I would also like to offer my contributions
from time to time and would like to know the process
by which I could indulge, please let me know."
 

             -Esha Emmanuel Tamras, San Jose, CA
 

"Your goal 'to become the official news agency
serving the Assyrian groups and communities around
the world' is commendable.  With your support we
will reach our goal -one email at a time." is
sublime and honourable.  We direly need such a
communication service which can serve Assyrians
in every area of our life.  We need to know about
everything concerning Assyrians everywhere.  Above
all, we need one coherent voice, one location, one
source where we can post our concerns and learn about
our nation.

Meanwhile, I think we can start with defining the
word Assyrian so that all of our brethern can think
uniformly and and in unison.  I have heard the
Assyrian translated as "Ashuraye"  which obviously
is named after King Ashur.  But we also hear the
word as "Attooraye" which came from "Attur".  In
Iraq where I hail from, the Arabic version is
"Asshooryeen" and are known as such.  I have also
heard the word "Atturee".  Perhaps you can think
about one single term to refer to our selves which
can be acceptable to all our people.
 
                                             -William Dinhkha
 

"I am very delighted to receive ZENDA at timely
or untimly publication intervals, as long as ZENDA
shows up at my computer MAIL_BOX at least it gives
me sense of anticipation that ZENDA would come
soon or later.

I was urged to reponse to the Volume I, Issue 10
"ROOMS WITH A VIEW". I believe at any situation
our young generation should participate in building
and supporting existing organization and making
appropriate changes to reflect present needs of the
Assyrian Nation without biased and with open
mindedness approach to enlithen poeple whom are
not fortunate to have such a visionary views.

I come to realize that My strongest belief is that
we can not operate our organizations political or
social on voluntary basis. If we do not operate
our organizations specially our political
organizations with full time salaried staff in the
countries that Assyrians live, we would not reach
our national goals. I would agree that we have
financial crisis in the majority of our organizations,
it is very easy to point at leadership and attribute
financial problems on the leadership, I would take
the position that apathy plays a big role in our
national arina with our general population.

In the Assyrian American National Federation has
existed democratic election for decades, it is
not any different than Republican Party or Democratic
Party in the American general elections. There are
people with different point of view create their own
slate to run for A.A.N.F. offices, it is the closest
thing you can get to free election.

I do not thing the issues is the election by itself,
but is the pool of people that we draw candidates
from. At some point we do confront unqualified
candidates running for offices. Yes they might
be very nationalist, but it takes more than that,
there are compound problems that organization like
A.A.N.F.,Inc. has to reckon with head on like;
 

1- Financial integrity
2- Fiscal integrity
3- Organizational discipline
4- Educational integrity
5- Organizational (Affiliates) financial Growth

The silent revolutionaries should express thier
dislike with determination and selfdiscipline with
respect to the people who have kept the light
to flicker.

Now it is time to do my own work (I am not done
with this topic yet). God bless the Assyrian Nation
since it has been the light for all nations
through ages.

                        -Atour Golani, Michigan
 

"As a non-Assyrian I wish to congratulate everyone
on Zenda for providing another forum for the Assyrian
people to discuss the problems and the prospects
for Bet-Nahrain. My only advice to you is to let
more non-Assyrians know about Assyria so that we
can all help you in the achievement of an
independent Assyria!"

                        -Marko Puljik
 

N E W S    D I G E S T
===========================================

AANF STRENGHTENS TIES WITH ZOWAA; AUA IGNORED

ZN (Chicago)  During the Sunday Banquet of the 63rd
Annual National Convention of the Assyrian American
National Federation in Chicago, the AANF delegates
announced that a total of $40000.00 was to be
donated to the Assyrians of northern Iraq. This
announcement was the culmination of a 3-day-long
tribute to Ninus Baitu, a leader of the Assyrian
Democratic Movement or Zowaa in northern Iraq.
Animosity toward the leadership of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance manifested itself in the
altercation between former Senator John Nimrod,
General Secretary of the AUA, and the AANF delegates.
Moreover, Yatroum Zia, president of the AANF, failed
to acknowledge the company of the AUA leadership
at the Banquet Headtable.  A formal discussion of
the AANF membership withdrawal from the AUA is
expected at the next National Executive Committee.
AANF has been a member of the AUA since 1968.
 

PAPER BANS PHOTOS OF CHALDDEAN-ASSYRIANS

ZN (Chicago) An article in the September 9 issue
of The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted unnamed
staff members of The San Diego Business Journal
who said the Journal'spublisher recently banned
photographs of Chaldean-Assyrian business people.
One of the publication's editors resigned, citing
the ban as the reason for her departure.

The issue came to light following a September 4
article in the Journal that featured local Chaldean-
Assyrian businessmen. The San Diego Union Tribune article
quoted unnamed staff members who said the Journal's
publisher considered the prominent coverage of the
Chaldean-Assyrians un-American.  One Journal staff
member is quoted as saying, We were basically told no
people that look Middle Eastern and Iranians and Iraqis
were specified.  Vietnamese were allegedly added to the ban.
Journal publisher Ted Owen said he objected to the
photograph of the Chaldeans because of its poor quality,
not because of the ethnicity of those pictured. Mr.
Owen has been asked to clarify both the details of the
incident and the Journal s stand on the issues raised
by the allegations

AANF PROJECTED BUDGET FOR 1995-96

ZN (Chicago)   According to the financial report
of the AANF Treasurer,Freidoun Babassi, as accepted
at the Chicago Convention, the projected budget of
the Assyrian American National Federation was
determined to be a little less than $ 75000.00, down
$15000.00 from last year's actual budget.  The
Education Committee received $7500.00 ($6000 in 1994).
Next year's income is projected to be around $76000.
 

MAR BAWAI SORO LECTURES ON THE CHRISTOLOGICAL DECLARATION

ZN (Yonkers) The Christological Declaration, recently
announced by the Assyrian Church of the East and the Roman
Catholic Church in Vatican will be the topic of  a
lecture by Bishop Mar Bawai Soro at Fordham University,
 New York.  The lecture is being sponsored by three
university departments and will be held on Thursday,
September 28, 1995, at the Faculty Lounge, McGinley
Center, Rose Hill Campus at Fordham.from 7:00 to 9:30 pm.
For more information contact Prof. John Entelis at
(718) 817-5879 or (718) 817-3953.  On Friday, September 29
(next day) Mar Bawai Soro will lecture on the same topic
at the Local Chaldean Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan.

CONVENTION SITE FOR 1997

ZN (Chicago)  The national convention of the AANF
in 1997 will be held in the city of Detroit, Michigan.
Next August's convention will be hosted by the Assyrian
American Civic Club of Turlock, and will be held in
the Red Lion Inn Hotel in Modesto, California.

THE FIRST ASSYRIAN CHILDREN"S EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

ZN (Chicago) Tareh o'Gawneh (Doors and Colors) is
the title of Hanna Hajjar's educational video for
the Assyrian children.  Using computer generated
graphics, live acting and animation Mr. Hajjar teaches
Assyrian alphabet, numbers, and basic vocabulary
in both Eastern (Swadaya) and Western (Turoyo)
dialects.  The videos were shown at the Assyrian
Arts and Books Exhibit of the Chicago Convention.
For more information contact Mr. Hajjar at (708)
678-7183.  Hanna is an Assyrian producer and
director at Channel 18 TV station (Continental
Cable System-Illinois).
 

ASSYRIAN CLASS OFFERED @ ORIENTAL INSTITITE
 

The Oriental Institute is offering a course about
Great Kings of Ancient Mesopotamia.  This course
will profile eight great rulers including Hammurabi,
Sennacherib, and Nebuchandnezzar. The course will
include several visits to the Oriental Institute.

The class will be taught by Jason Ur who is a
graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Mesopotamian
Archaeology.  His interests include Sumerian and
Akkadian language and literature.

This course will be offered on Wednesdays, 7-9
pm, October 11 to December 6 at the Oriental
Institute, 1155 E. 58th Street (north entrance),
Chicago, IL.  The fee for Oriental Institute
members is $95 and for non-members its $115.

A L L    J O K E S    A S I D E
===========================================
Zenda's top 10 reasons why the 1995 Chicago
Convention could be hailed as the most un-
forgettable event of the year:
 

10.  Extremely productive meetings of the National
     Federation
9.   Enkidu and Gilgamesh suspected to be a homosexual
     couple
8.   Harmonious gang gatherings
7.   Lincoln Tamraz
6.   Brilliant sales strategies at the bazaar
     (let's see how many different ways can we write
      ASSYRIAN UNITY on a black t-shirt)
5.   Concurrent Hawaiian floral male fashion theme
4.   Bargain food prices, practically free
3.   Nearby athletic fields (might as well held the
     games in northern Iraq).
2.   Not enough speeches at the Sunday Banquet
1.   The "Ninus-Leila" Contraversy
 

D I R E C T O R Y  OF THE  N E W S  S O U R C E S
===========================================
AA (AAA of San Jose Newsletter)

AP (Associate Press)

EB (e.Babylon BBS):     1-209-668-1827
        Hollister, California

JS (Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society):  Chicago
        P.O. Box 4102   Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-4102

NQ (Nebu Quarterly):
        P.O. Box 59422, Chicago  Illinois  60659

RU (Reuters)

ZN (Zenda Reporters):   zenda@ix.netcom.com
        Toronto, Germany, Chicago, San Jose
 

              C A L E N D A R    OF      E V E N T S
===========================================
       ------------------------1 9 9 5-----------------------------

Sept 8-Dec 31   "Nineveh  612 BC:    A Public Exhibition of
                Assyrian Art and Artifacts"
                Finnish Science Center, Heureha
                (northern part of the Helsinki metrop. area)
 

Sept 30-Oct 2   Third Annual National Convention
                Assyrian Australian National Federation
 
 

Oct 1-Feb 4    Exhibition:  Assyrian Art & History
                       (currently at the New York Metropolitan Mus)
                      Kimball  Art  Museum
                      Fort Worth, Texas
                      (817) 332-8451
 

------------------------1 9 9 6-----------------------------
 

June 9-11       The ARAM Conference
                       Harvard University
                       Cambridge, Massachusetts  U.S.

ENTERTAINMENT
 

Sept 13         End of the Summer Picnic
                    BETA, San Jose-California
 

MEETINGS
 

 Thursdays     Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
                      Modesto Junior College
                      1:00 pm,  Founders Hall 125.
 

CLASSES
 

Mondays        Assyrian History Class
                      8000-500 B.C
                      BETA:  AAA of  San Jose
                      8:00-9:30 pm
                      Instructor:  Wilfred Alkhas
 

A S S Y R I A N     S U R F I N G     P O S T S
===========================================
 

Ancient Mesopotamia
        http://sipparorinst.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZ
U/ABZU_REGINDX_MESO.HTML
 

Assyria On-Line
        http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jatou/./
 

Assyrian Youth Association of  Sweden
        http://www.cs.umu.se/~dprhi/assyr/assyr.html
 

Corpus Neo Assyrian
        http://www.helsinki.fi/science/saa/cna.html
 

e.BABYLON
        http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/babylon.htm.htm
 

Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society
        http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/jaas.htm
 

"Newsgroup"     soc-culture-assyrian
 

Syriac Comp Inst
        http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/gk105/syrcom/
 
 

P U M P  U P  T H E  V O L U M E
===========================================
ENGLISH         ASSYRIAN PRONUNCIATION with Examples
 

Satisfaction    "rwee-zoo-ta"
                Qamoodi le-wit rweeza b'aha qtde-ta?
                [Why are you not satisfied with
                 this decision?]
 
Towel          "koopra"
 
Psychology     "yoolpan-naphsha"
                yoolpan= "logy", naphsha= "spirit"
 
 

B A C K  TO THE  F U T U R E
===========================================
B.C.    (671)  Esarhaddon returns from his triumphant
caputure of the city of Memphis, placing Egypt under
Assyrian rule. Two years later, Pharaoh Tarqu retakes
Memphis. On his way to Egypt in 669, Esarhaddon becomes
ill and dies.

A.D.    (1256) Under the advice of the Assyrian
general, Khitboga, Hulago the Mongolian Khan's army
advances on Jerusalem.  His army was defeated, and
the Khan settled down with his Assyrian wife, Dokuz
Khanim, in the city of Maragha in Persia.

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
===========================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals:
 

Natali Aziz                Palo Alto, California
Mary Mirza              Turlock, California
Sharokin Bet-Givargiz   Burlington, Vermont
Ninus Isaac             Turlock, California
Sandra Gevarguize       Yonkers, New York
Pauline Jasim           Chicago, Illinois

Our Next Issue Is Due on September 25, 1995.