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THE L I G H
T H O U S E
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What is the vision of the future
as perceived by the
many Assyrian political organizations?
Is it the
creation of an independent state
of Assyria
in the Middle East or is it the
establishment of a
world-wide non-gevernmental organization?
Is it
cultural autonomy in a federation
of multicultural
state of Iraq that they wish to
recognize, or is the
status quo their hope for the future
of Bet-Nahrain?
The reality of our time is that
our unfocused political
wants are bankrupting our limited
resources. The
"leaderships" of the Assyrian nation
are ineffective
in effectuating a change.
The intellectuals remain
disgruntled and our youth apathetic.
Yet what seems
as an insurmountable problem, has
a simple solution:
empowerment of the youth, the rich,
and the
intellectuals. The authoritarian
elites, currently
running the social and political
affairs of the Assyrian
nation in diaspora, must allow
these three groups to
complete the design of a new society.
A true vision
of the future, as conceived through
the informed
decision of these three groups,
will shine the light
of courage and determination upon
the faces of our
frightened masses and remove the
fear of an uncertain
tomorrow.
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G O O D M O
R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I N
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SC (Toronto) Mr. Ninos Betyo,
the secretary General
of the Assyrian Democratic Movement
(Zowaa) and Mr.
Salim Toma Kako, the Deputy Minister
of Housing and
Public Works in Northern Bet Nahrain,have
completed
their official visit to Canda.
In a dinner banquet
held in the honor of the ADM representatives
over
$5,000 were raised to assist the
Assyrian needy of
northern Bet-Nahrain. Over 350
Assyrians attended
the political rally on Sunday October
29 in Toronto.
The Assyrian delegation departed
Canada on October 31
and continues on touring the Assyrian
organizations
in Europe.
RU (Baghdad) - Iran is contacting
the Iraqi rebel
groups in an effort to establish
a base in northern
Bet-Nahrain. At least one
brigade of the Iranian-backed
Shiite dissidents, formerly stationed
along Iraq's
southern borders, had moved to
the area, currently
outside the control of the Baghdad
government. The
Badr forces, whose strength has
been put at about
5,000, consist mainly of refugees
and Iraqi POWs.
One diplomat said the deployment
followed agreement
between Jalal Talabani, leader
of the Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan (PUK) and Mohammed
Baqr al-Hakim of the
Supreme Council of the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq
(SCIRI) during a visit to Tehran
last month. Talabani's
rival, Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan
Democratic Party
(KDP), has been courting Turkey
by pursuing Turkish-Kurd
guerrillas on his territory.
Most Iraqi Kurds are Sunni
Muslims who have little or
no religious affiliation with Shiite
Iranians. An allied
air-force based in southern Turkey
polices a no-fly zone
in northern Bet-Nahrain to guard
the area against possible
attacks by the Iraqi army.
U.S.-brokered talks between
the two factions held in Ireland
in September failed to
reach an agreement
RU (Ankara) - At least 30 people,
including four children,
died Tuesday when a bomb exploded
in northern Bet-Nahrain.
Four houses near the security office
were destroyed in the
blast. Iraqi Kurds have blamed
agents of Baghdad. One of
the worst bombings in northern
Iraq took place last February
when at least 73 people died after
a car bomb exploded on
a busy commercial street in Zakho,
controlled by the KDP.
There were no Assyrian casualties
in last week's bombing.
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S U R F S U P !
=====================================================
"I just wanted to say thank you
for sending me the
online newsletter. I hope to enjoy
and learn from all
the future online newsletters."
-Muna Yacoub, Chicago
"I have really enjoyed your newsletter.
I believe
that what you and many others like
you are attempting
to do, is very commendable.
I believe that the in-
formation superhighway is just
what the doctor ordered,
for the Assyrian people.
I believe this is a great
tool to use to unite our people..."
-Joseph Agassi, California
"The last time that I sat down and
addressed a letter
to an Assyrian body was almost
one year ago, when I
first moved to San Jose and mailed
in my membership
application and dues. Unfortunately,
it is with great
regret and disappointment that
I am addressing this
body [the Assyrian American Association
of San Jose]
once again. Upon receiving
the flyer for last
week's Halloween party, I was appalled
to read "Due
to limited space please bring Assyrian
guests only"
as a condition for attendance.
I understand that as a community,
it is important for
us to hold onto our culture, heritage
and language.
But does the AAA of San Jose honestly
believe that
hosting non-Assyrians at their
parties, parties that
play American, Persian, Assyrian
and Latin dance music,
will contribute to the fall of
Ashur and the demise of
the Assyrian population???
To find this sort of men-
tality among educated people is
quite simply ludicrous,
shocking, and above all, saddening.
It is only by welcoming non-Assyrian
guests at our
functions that we will be able
to present ourselves
as a nation united and proud, rather
than closed-
minded and threatened. We
live in a country where
we are a minority, where we will
undoubtedly cultivate
friendships with non-Assyrians.
If I choose to
bring my non-Assyrian friend as
a guest into my
community, it isbecause I am proud
of my heritage.
Out of respect for me and my judgment
,my community
should embrace rather than shun
my guest. Is it fair
for me to be ostracized from my
people because I have
friends and associates in non-Assyrian
circles that
I want to be exposed to and/or
included in the
Assyrian society? What happens
if one marries a
non-Assyrian? Will their
spouse be allowed to par-
ticipate in the dance party?
Ultimatums which stem
from ignorance will only drive
our youth further away
from their people. Ultimately,
it will be the Assyrian
community that will falter if it
does not alter its
rationale.
My friends, we are living, working
and paying taxes
in a non-Assyrian world.
By not allowing Assyrians
the right to share their culture,
whether it be a
Nisibin party, Club picnic or Convention
banquet,
we are forcing their hand and pushing
them away
towards other ethnicities.
Other cultures bring
in theoutsider and integrate them
into the community,
thereby strengthening their core
with new ideas as
well as securing that one member
of the clan from being
led astray. Can we say the
same?
Please examine the broader picture
here: we are
preaching cultural unity and oneness
by having
"Assyrian Guests Only" parties
that play maybe five
Assyrian songs the entire night,
a night that more
often than not ends in a fight,
verbal and/or physical,
involving the same proponents of
the "Assyrian Guests
Only" policy. It is simply
not logical to the educated
mind.
Cooperation among fellow Assyrian
organizations.
Stronger ties within and among
the churches. Coor-
dinated sporting events.
Educational programs.
Scholarship funds. Goodwill
and respect towards one
another. THESE sorts of happenings
will contribute
to the rise of Ashur and preservation
of our legacy.
Our ancestors learned and absorbed
from their neighbors
in order to strengthen their empire.
In turn, we must
continue to strive for intellectual
excellence...for
it is in knowledge that lies the
power to become a
nation united."
-Alina Sargiss, California
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N E W S D I G E S T
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THE ASSYRIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONVENTION IN CHICAGO
ZN (Chicago) The Assyrian
Chamber of Commerce will
hold its 5th Annual Assyrian Business
Convention from
November 23 through 25 at the O'Hare
Expo Center in
Chicago. Bazaar Tables will
be available for merchants
and individuals to display and/or
sell their products.
For further information contact
Mr. Edward Ishaya
at 312-743-2258. For hotel room
reservation,
call 1-708-696-1234. All
entertainment programs
will begin at 8 PM at the O'Hare
Expo Center -
East Ballroom.
For general information call
312-463-9000 or write to:
Assyrian Chamber of Commerce
6310 N. Lincoln, Suite 20
Chicago, IL 60659
ASSYRIAN GIRL KIDNAPPED IN TEHRAN
ZN (Tehran) Based on unconfirmed
reports, last week
an Assyrian girl may have been
kidnapped in
Tehran. No information on
the identity of this
individual was received at press
time. The
authorities have not ruled out
the possibility of a
deliberate escape from home.
ANCIENT TEMPLE FOUND IN SYRIA
AP (DAMASCUS) One of the oldest
temples found in Syria
has been unearthed in the northeastern
part of the
country. The temple, dating
from 4,000 to 3,000 B.C.,
was discovered by a Russian archaeological
expedition
at Tel Khazna in the country's
northeast corner. It
consists of a number of chambers
topped by a 25-foot-
high tower. A cemetery dating from
around 3,000 B.C.
was found in one of the chambers,
along with three
implements and a number of ornamental
tools.
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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)
P.O. Box 4102
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-4102
NQ (Nebu Quarterly)
P.O. Box 59422, Chicago Illinois 60659
RU (Reuters)
SC (soc.culture.assyrian)
WS (The Wall Street Journal)
ZN (Zenda Reporters):
zenda@ix.netcom.com
Toronto, Germany,
Chicago, Los Angeles, & San Jose
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C A L E N D A R OF E V
E N T S
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-----------------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)
Oct 1-Feb 4 Exhibition:
Assyrian Art & History
Kimball Art Museum
Fort Worth, Texas
(817) 332-8451
Nov 12
"Exhortation and an Assyrian Self-examination"
A lecture by Mr. Zomaya S. Solomon
Assyrian Social club
6313 N. Pulaski Avenue
Chicago, IL
Nov 23-28
November 23, 95
-23- Exhibit/Bazaar
O'Hare Expo Center
6 PM - 1 AM
Babylon Night
O'Hare Expo Center - East Ballroom - 8 PM
Admission: $7.00
-24- Exhibit/Bazaar
O'Hare Expo Center
6 PM - 1 AM
Nineveh Night
O'Hare Expo Center - East Ballroom - 8 PM
Admission: $12.00
-25-
ACC General Body Meeting
Hyatt Hotel
11-2 PM
Lecture (TBA)
Hyatt Hotel - 2 PM
Exhibit/Bazaar
O'Hare Expo Center - 6 PM - 1 AM
Assyrian Business Ball
O'Hare Expo Center - East Ballroom - 8 PM
Admission: $15.00
FEATURED ENTERTAINERS
Evan Aghassi
Linda George
Charles Tooma
Melis Ishaya
Fatin Shabo
Wisam Zaia
Oleen Rehana
...special appearance by Walid
Nov 28
The Simmons Family Lecture Series
at the Gindi Auditorium
University of Judaism
15600 Mulholland Dr
Los Angeles.
"The West Semitic Alphabet
and the Spread of Civilization"
by Dr. Dennis Pardee
of University of Chicago
Dec 5
The Simmons Family Lecture Series
"King of the Four Quarters of
the Earth: Art, Power and
Politics in the Assyrian Empire"
by Dr. John Russell
of Columbia University
June 9-11 (1996) The ARAM Conference
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts U.S.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Dec 31
New Year's Eve Party
Westin Hotel
San Jose, California
Entertainment: Ogen
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MEETINGS
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Thursdays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 125.
Nov 10
National Executive Committee Meeting
Assyrian American National Federation
Chicago, Illinois
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CLASSES
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Mondays
Assyrian Discussion Group
BETA: AAA of San Jose
8:00-9:30 pm
Topics
A History of the ASYN Language (11/6)
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SPORTS
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Tuesdays
Boys Soccer Practice
South Valley Christian School
Corner of Blossom and Shawnee
San Jose, California
5-6:30 pm
Sundays
Boys/Girls Volleyball
Campbell Community Center
Camden & Union
Campbell, California
6-9 pm
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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/ABZU/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 Project:
Helsinki, Finland
http://www.helsinki.fi/science/saa/cna.html
e.BABYLON
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/babylon.htm
Journal of the Assyrian Academic
Society
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/jaas.htm
"Newsgroup"
soc.culture.assyrian
Nineveh Kids Homepage
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/kidsweb.htm
Syriac Comp Inst
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/gk105/syrcom/
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P U M P U P T H E V O L U M E
=====================================================
ENGLISH
ASSYRIAN PRONUNCIATION with Examples
Weariness
"sghadta"
Tired, to be "sharsheta"
Boredom
"mal-iyoota"
-boring: maalya,maalta (fem.)
kma ktava maalya!
aha hamzamta eela raabaa maalta.
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B A C K TO THE F U T U R E
=====================================================
B.C.(2250) The city of Ebla
in Syria is destroyed by
fire, presumably in an Akkadian
attack. The palace
and temples of the city of Mari,
also in the present
day Syria, show evidence of similar
destruction at
about the same time.
A.D.(1975) Italian archeologists
identify Tell Mardikh
in Syria's northwestern plains
as the ancient city of
Ebla. The discovery established
Syria as an important
arena of ancient history.
Thousands of clay tablets
written in Eblaite, an early Semitic
language, were
uncovered.
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W E L C O M E T O Z E N D A
=====================================================
Zenda welcomes our new on-line
subscribers from:
[CORPORATE ACCOUNTS]
Environmental Protection Agency
[UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS]
California State University, Stanislaus
[INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS]
Chicago (2)
=====================================================
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
=====================================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following
individuals:
Pauline Jasim
Chicago, Illinois
Samir Khamis
Detroit, Michigan
Please limit your letters to no
more than three short
paragraphs. ZENDA will continue
to print your
comments and suggestions free of
editing, as they
were received in our mailbox.
All letters will be
printed in our PUMP UP THE VOLUME
section unless
directed otherwise.
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Our Next Issue will appear on Monday,
November 13, 1995.
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