ZENDA IS PLEASED TO SEND YOU OUR FIRST SPECIAL ISSUE.  WE ARE DEDICATING A
MAJOR PORTION OF THIS WEEK'S ZENDA TO THE COVERAGE OF THE "INTERNET
CONFERENCE" AT THE ASSYRIAN STATE CONVENTION IN CALIFORNIA AND THE HISTORIC CONCERT OF THE NINEVEH CHOIR IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.  DUE TO THE SPACE LIMITATION IMPOSED UPON US WITH OUR SYSTEM OF DEVLIVERY (NUMBER OF
CHARACTERS THAT CAN BE TYPED IN AN EMAIL MESSAGE) SOME OF OUR REGULAR
SECTIONS WILL NOT BE FEATURED THIS WEEK.  FURTHERMORE, MOST OF OUR READERS' RESPONSES TO OUR LAST ISSUE WILL NOT BE INCLUDED HERE.  WE WILL, HOWEVER, RETURN TO OUR REGULAR FORMAT.  WE HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL ISSUE.
 

                                                      Staff of ZENDA
 

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                                      THE   L   I   G   H   T   H   O   U   S   E
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                A REPORT ON THE NINEVEH CHORAL CONCERT
                                                  June 1, 1996
                                            San Jose, California
 
 

June 1, 1996 marked a new era in history of the Assyrian nation. On the
surface it seemed like another evening concert put together by the great
maestro, Nebu Juel Issabey, and a group of Assyrian vocalists that performed
in the city of San Jose. But, when I looked at what was being presented, I
realized that it was a beginning for our nation's cultural and historical
activities in the contemporary time. The event commenced with the
introduction of our political and religious figure heads:  the Assyrian
Congresswoman, Mrs.
Anna Eshoo, and San Jose's local clergymen from different "eetavate".
Additionally, we had the presence of one of our foremost cultural figure
heads, Mr. Issabey, and several other singers, musicians, poets, etc.  This
was a night of great achievements.  Here's why:
 

First achievement-  Our political, religious, cultural figure heads gathered
together in a show of strength uniting our people at a single forum. This
was in the presence of a sell out crowd of over 400 Assyrians with a hunger
for our cultural heritage. It marked a single event that so eloquently
brought our people together. This is Cultural fringe benefit at its best!!
 

The evening's Master of Ceremony introduced our Great Composer, Mr. Issabey,
and his Nineveh choir members as they entered the stage. An excited audience
rose to their feet and they cheered the entrance of the gray-hair composer
standing proudly at the podium.  The concert started with Roomrama, our new
"Assyrian National Anthem."
 

Second Achievement-  For the first time in our contemporary history our
official and newly composed national anthem was performed:
 

Assyrian:
        QA Roomrama D-shima Rama
        D-Umtan atoor Kalakh B-Shlama
        Ay D-Veela Dargooshta D-Mardoota
        Qa Eeqara D-Avahatan
        Aney D-Prisloon L-Mitamranita
        Aney D-Mhoodyaloon Ah Barnashoo
        D-Amrawa B-Shlama Hal Abadoota
        D-Khayo Oree'wa B-Rwakhaniyoota
        D-Yarmava B-Marya Go Elayoota.
 

English:
        We stand in salute of our great nation Atour.
        We stand in honor of our forefathers who,
        spread across the earth and guided nations,
        to live in peace, prosperity, and achieve greatness in God.
 

                                (translation by Dr. Arian Ishaya)
 

        Composition: Nebu Juel Issabey
        Lyrics: Yosep Bet-Yosap
 

This song is the best example of how culture in the form of music can bring
about a sense of nationalism and unity to our people.
 

At this point the continous clap of the audience went on for a long time.
What a sight!!!!!  This was just the beginning of a glorious night.  After
this Song we heard "Salute to the Assyrian flag", "The Spinning Wheel",
"Wald Blume", "Priase the Lord", "ZOWAA( the Assyrian Democratic Movement)",
"Onward Young Man", "Ashur", and more.
 

Third Achievement-  We saw great musical talent from our own people that was
at the caliber of great musical professionals of the world. Our great
singers not only performed manifestly in Assyrian but also in other
languages such as English and Latin. Congratulations  to all the hard
working people that put this special night together.
 

At the end of the show the audience's clap brought back the singers in the
hall and Maestro Issabey asked the audience to pick a song for the program
that they would like to hear again. The audience picked "Zowaa". I feel that
the words of this song had "boiled" the blood of the audience. This is why :
 

        Come and Behold the new Assyrian!
        The hero who will deliver his nation
        from misery and from burning fire.
        He will reclaim the ancient homeland.
        Unite with all your heart and all your will
        to bring freedom and sovereignty to great Atour!
 

It seems if we put political partisanship aside, we all yearn our own
homeland; and it flows in our blood the desire to- one, have a nation of our
own, and two, to urgently do something about it.
 

I truly believe the ZENDA audience is the cream of the crop of our people
that can be active in its own right and contribute to the Assyria's
greatness. Every small step from the heart counts. One small suggestion is
that if we are receiving this article in cities outside of San Jose, we
investigate the possibility of inviting/ arranging for these great singers
of our nation to perform in the amphetheatres of your cities.
 

In the conclusion, I would like all ZENDA readers to see this article at its
face value and provide comments from the perspective of how we can unite and
expand different Assyrian communities, political, religious and cultural
forms that we have to better serve our nation. I feel that with the new
technological tools at our disposal and the freedom that we enjoy in these
western countries we are ready to start the awakening of our nation. We are
ready; Are you??!!!!!!!!
 

Small but a proud Assyrian Voice
Jeanclaude Toma
California
 
 
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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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       COLLAPSE OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WORRIES ASSYRIANS
 

(ZNRU: Ankara) Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz quit on Thursday after
three months at the head of a conservative coalition government paralyzed by
bitter infighting and the powerful Islamist opposition. Yilmaz's coalition,
an acrimonious alliance with rival conservative Tansu Ciller to block the
Islamists, has been crippled by squabbling almost since its inception in
March. The minority coalition's troubles have boosted the Islam-based
Welfare Party (RP), which narrowly won inconclusive general elections last
December in the best showing by Islamists in NATO-member Turkey's modern
history as a secular republic.  The political turmoil has impaired Turkey's
ability to deal with a 12-year-old Kurdish rebel insurgency in northern
Bet-Nahrain, tense relations with neighbour Greece and deep economic woes.
On the other hand, Assyrian political parties are concerned about the rise
of the Islamists in Turkey & Lebanon.  Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in
Iran the population of Assyrians in Iran has declined from over 250,000 to
less than 30,000 as emigration of the Christian minority groups continuous
at an alarming rate.
 

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                                              S   U   R   F   S     U   P   !
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"The recent spat of rabid anti Assyrian prejudice and hatred on the usenet
should speak very loudly to the leaders of the western world about the
possible extermination and genocide that the last survivors of the world's
greatest civilzation now face. The truth is, it would be a far greater
victory for us if we could do it (achieve nationhood) in spite of the lack
of support and assistance from the west, which is solely interested in it's
own economic, polotical and military objectives. We Assyrians are truly on
our own. But that would give us the sweetest victory if we could accomplish
it just this way - on our own! What we need is a miraculous Divine
intervention, and a leader and unifier we can all follow."
 

Joseph Davida
California
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                                        N   E   W   S       D   I   G   E   S   T
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   SURFING THE NET AT THE ASSYRIAN STATE CONVENTION OF CALIFORNIA
 

[ZN: California]  The Assyrian Community Networking Conference took place at
the Fairmont Hotel, in the heart of sunny San Jose, on May 25, 1996.
 

This was the second such conference, the first one having been held in
Pasadena one year ago. Both conferences were organized under the stewardship
of Albert Gabrial of Hollister, California, best known as founder of Nineveh
On-Line, e.Babylon and various other internet activities on behalf of the
Assyrian community.
 

The Conference offered an eclectic program in the form of seven speakers.
The first one at the podium, Steve Cisler of Apple Computers got everyone's
attention with his audio-video presentation. He focused on the special
problems and challenges facing dispersed communities who want their voice to
be heard; at the same time, he illustrated the opportunities now provided by
the Internet, and he had some fascinating examples to make his case. Cisler
was followed to the podium by Abdulmesih BarAbrahem (Chris).
 

Abdulmesih was a member of the 5-person committee who organized the
conference, but his comments at the podium were designed to increase our
understanding of "Assyrian Community Networking". In the course of his
remarks, he also announced the forthcoming creation of the "Assyrian
Community Networking Society", a non-profit organization designed to further
encourage the development of an infrastructure intended to maximize Assyrian
computer  networking.
 

The third speaker in this first segment was Dr. Mark Mkrdichian, who is the
current president of the Assyrian Academic Society, Chicago, Illinois. To
our knowledge, AAS was the only Assyrian organization of its kind (being
neither political nor confessionally partisan) over the past ten years. Only
recently, an Assyrian Australian Academic Society (TAAS) has emerged,
presumably aimed in a similar direction. Membership in the Academic Society
includes some of the best educated Assyrians in the Chicago area. Dr.
Mkrdichian offered a blueprint for the Society's future, including his hopes
for increased interaction among Assyrian scholars and intellectuals.
 

At the close of questions and answers, this segment of the conference was
opened and closed by Vivian Hammi, a member of the organizing committee from
El Cajon, California.
 

Lena Mushell, of San Jose, yet another member of the organizing committee,
introduced each of the next four speakers. The first of them was Jon Sinon,
of EasyAccess (Sunnyvale, California). EasyAccess is a private company
running a pilot program in the San Francisco Bay area, whereby e.mail
service (up to one hour each day) is provided entirely free of charge to the
user, but the user has to see some commercials on his screen before he can
get to the e.mail usage. It was explained that if this idea takes hold in
the Bay area, it will then be exported to other parts of California.
 

The next speaker introduced was Gil Chamaki, the force behind Assyrian Link,
an e.mail distribution service, or a list server. Mr. Chamaki stressed the
need for developing multiple avenues of internet communication. His
hypothetical examples included a list server which would be accessed
exclusively by Assyrian physicians worldwide, and separate list servers
which could be used by particular Assyrian political organizations to
discuss sensitive or security issues. Mr. Chamaki is currently the moderator
of Assyrian Link, and he noted that all communications passing through it
are archivable (making old discussions automatically retrievable).
Individuals interested in subscribing to assyrianlink (free of charge)
should send an e-mail to list@allover.com; leave the Subject field blank;
and the body of the message should read simply:  subscribe assyrianlink.
 

The next speaker was Lawrence Namato of Chicago, who demonstrated his
newly-produced cd-rom program, "Teaching Yourself Syriac". Consisting of two
discs (one for reading, one for writing), Shamasha Namato drew raves from
the audience with each new graph he flashed on the screen.
 

Wilfred Alkhas, well-known publisher of the ZENDA electronic Newsletter, was
the final speaker. His presentation included a dramatic contrast between the
old way of conducting business, and the new methods and opportunities
brought on by the age of the Internet. Alkhas made a strong statement about
the need to establish an official Assyrian news agency, one that would be a
responsible central disseminator of news, in the tradition of Reuters, UPI,
etc. He pointed out that this was not intended to create an organization
with a point of view, but simply to rationalize the distribution of Assyrian
news in the age of instant communication.
 

At the conclusion of this segment of the program, Conference Chairman
Albert Gabrial distributed on the behalf of the AACNS Certificates of
Appreciation to the following individuals who have the distinction of
maintaining one site or another:
 

Wilfred Alkhas         ZENDA news letter  (San Jose, CA)
Firas Jatou            Assyria on Line Home page Project (Canada)
Robil Haidair          Assyrian Server Home page project (Sweden)
Sharokien Bet Gevargis Shamiram in Cyberspace Home page
(New Britain, CT.)
Geroge Mikael          System operator, e.BABYLON BBS (Turlock, CA)
Gil Chamaki            Assyrian link, and Church of the East home
page. (Morgan Hill, CA)
Safa Toma              Assyrian food home page. (Sacramento, CA)
Dani Daniel            Assyria page (Sweden)
 

The Conference wrap-up consisted of a panel discussion which included
several of the previous speakers. This was chaired by Francis Sarguis, the
fifth member of the organizing committee. The panel was joined by an
nexpected visitor, John Nimrod, of Chicago, Illinois, who is the Secretary
General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance.
 

A principal question put to the panelists was whether Assyrians needed to
establish a reliable data bank to be made available to all users. As
Abdulmesih noted, many statements are made by Assyrians on the internet
which are not necessarily substantiated by facts.
 

Since the comments of any person who identifies himself as an Assyrian
inevitably reflects on the credibility of the Assyrian community in general,
it is to our interest to provide as much reliable information as possible.
 

The issue is different from attempting to control the right of any
individual who wishes to participate in the internet. The issue here is to
provide that individual and any other, with as much raw but reliable data as
is possible.
 

Peter Jasim of Chicago indicated that one of the projects of the Academic
Society in which he has a principal role is to create such a data bank. John
Nimrod was concerned about the proliferation of too many political groups
proposing to represent the Assyrians, but it was pointed out that the
Networking Conference is not about any political point of view; it is about
providing a better engine to Assyrians, whether they wish to use it for
political, social, cultural or other reasons.
 
The conference as a whole was rated a great success by most of the
attendees. There have been a number of requests for a follow-up conference
to be held in conjunction with the Assyrian national convention in Modesto
at the end of August. Whether that date is too early to enable adequate
preparations has not yet been determined by the organizers. In their "Monday
morning" review of the Conference, the 5-member committee felt they had
accomplished their limited objective, namely, the gradual and increased
education of our people relative to the mysteries and opportunities of the
information super highway.
 

The only somber note was the issue of the conference no-shows. While late
registrants and last-minute arrivals more than filled the conference room,
it is unclear how the registration procedures should be modified to assure
some reasonable relationship between pre-registration and actual attendance.
 

Francis Sarguis
Chairman of the ACNC'96 Program Committee
Santa Barbara, California
 
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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
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ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNRU (Reuters):  ClariNet Communications Corp.
ZNSC (soc.culture.assyrian) newsgroup
ZNTN (Turkish News Agency)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE:      Elections of the Bet-Nahrain Inc. Directors
 
                                         Assyrian State Connvention Financial Report
 

                                          Winemaking around Lake Urmie in 5400 B.C.
                                         (New Archeological Findings)
 

                                         An Exclusive Article for ZENDA by Shamasha Yosip Zaya
 

 Our Next Issue will appear on Monday, June 17, 1996.
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