Shvadt 10, 6746 Volume II Issue 51 February 10, 1997
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A Weekly Online Publication of the ZENDA Assyrian Newsagency
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T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A
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The Lighthouse...................... Another Year is
Behind Us
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain............ No News
Surfs Up............................ "My eyes were filled
with tears."
Surfers Corner...................... Database of Assyrian-American
Veterans
News Digest......................... James Pritchard,
noted Archaeologist
AAS Public Meeting
INS Lottery
News Bits........................... Assad in Coma for
Two Weeks
Saddam and Sajida
US Increases Air Power in the Gulf
Calendar of Events.................. Hannibal Alkhas
Art Exhibition (2 days)
Entracte............................ AAS Party
Intelligentsia...................... Classes and Seminars
Assyrian Surfing Posts.............. The Tomb of Semiramis
Pump up the Volume.................. Scholar & Scholarship
Back to the Future.................. The Sumerian King
List
Drawing the Image of Christ
Literatus........................... William Daniel's
The Darling Lips
This Week in History................ Israel Younan
Bravo............................... Syriac Concordance
Program- English
The Directory....................... News Sources
Bshena.............................. Chicago & Fujitsu
Salute.............................. Adrin and Lena
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THE L I G H
T H O U S E
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ANOTHER YEAR IS BEHIND US
This week ZENDA begins its third year of serving the Assyrian
communities
around the world. During the past two years, we
succeeded in etching a
permanent path to the email folders of over 500 Assyrian
readers and
organizations from Finland to Uruguay, New Zealand to
Pakistan. The first
issue of ZENDA was sent out in February 1995 to less
than a dozen Assyrian
surfers. At an astonishing rate of 5 subscription
requests per week the
growth of our electronic magazine has also become the
most expeditious
among all other Assyrian periodicals. Moreover, ZENDA
remains the only
"weekly" Assyrian periodical among all current Assyrian
electronic and
paper-form magazines in the world.
When ZENDA's first issue was emailed the Internet was
a relatively new
concept. Today there may be as many as 8 to 10 thousand
Assyrian email
addresses on the Internet. Therefore, our rate
of expansion remains
insignificant relative to the number of Assyrian email
addresses installed
every day. As the Assyrian families continue
to move away from the denser
centers of Assyrian population an effective use of the
Internet becomes
necessary to maintain vital channels of communication.
With each new
subscription a new way of thinking is added to this growing
family of
online critics. Hence, ZENDA has and will continue
its tradition of
objective journalism, a notion rarely celebrated by the
earlier Assyrian
journals in diaspora.
Our journey has not been without pain and agony.
At times ZENDA has been
labeled "a Zionist instrument", "enemy of the people",
"anti-Christian",
and its publishers and staff accused of being "on Saddam's
payroll." Yet
since the first day of its inception only 6 subscribers
have requested to
be removed from our list of weekly readers. ZENDA
will remain true to its
initial commitment to objectivity, freedom of speech,
elimination of all
types of censorship, and respecting all Assyrian cultural,
political,
social,and religious ideas and achievements. If
a review, analysis or
critique is said or written by an Assyrian or for an
Assyrian then it is
likely to appear in ZENDA.
As one reader commented in a complimentary email, resonating
with emotional
inflections, ZENDA "listens...and never fails to surprise
its readers." "I
don't like surprises," replies Wilfred Alkhas, publisher
of ZENDA, "but I
like to know that every Monday morning Assyrians around
the world come
together to share a few tears, laughs, oohs and aahs."
ZENDA will continue
to do just that, simply because our readers continue
to believe in the
Assyrian cause, its glorious past and the promising future
of the people of
Bet-Nahrain.
As always, we thank you for your continued support!
Staff of ZENDA
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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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No News was received in the last week.
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S U R F S
U P !
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"I would like to thank you for putting the information
about the CASA
Valentine Bash in Zenda...Thank you once again for your
help and support!
Can you please post the following in your newsletter.
We greatly appreciate
your help in the past. The Valentine Bash sponsored
by the Chaldean
American Student Association at the University of Michigan-Dearborn
on
February 15 has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
We
apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Steven Kiryakoza
CASA President
Michigan
"When I read the article 'I give you America my son' my
eyes were filled
with tears. If I decide to write my life story,
I would probably name it
differently. I would call it 'I give you my Assyrian
legacy, Raqa, my
child'--a legacy of destruction, death and being refugee
of the world. We
inheritted this legacy from the time we lost our country
and became the
Gypsies of the world.
I remember all the stories I ever heard from my grand
father, my father, my
mother and all other relatives. Each one
of the them has his or her own
kind of experience, and we have our own.
My grand father was from the same village as the writer
of this article and
I bet if the writer is still alive he might even know
him. When he was
alive he used to tell us all different horror stories
of their life in
Zirine and in Russia. My grand ma who was a midwife
used to tell us
stories of pregnant women having children in the middle
of war where there
were no hospitals and no medical help. My grandfather
told us of the wars
with the Kurds and how they killed Assyrians and how
Assyrians retaliated.
Then they were just stories and I To me they were never
thought of them as
facts of life.
My mother's story was closer to home. In 1945, after
Russians left Urmie,
Iranian people began attacking and killing Christians.
My mother's
grandfather had cooperated with the Russians so his house
was rubbed and
then burned to ashes. My mom who was ten and her
5 sisters and brothers ,
,ages 5 months to 8 years, were left on their own in
the middle of
winter to make their escape to the neighboring village,
while everyone
else was running for their own life. To make the
story short it took two
years for my mother's family to return to their own village
and rebuild
their life from ashes.
Today it is our turn to taste the legacy of bitter immigration
or as we
say 'Raqa'. I think throughout our history we have
abandoned our homes as
many as 14 times. I wonder what history will call
our Raqa? Are we going
to leave our legacy to our children? Or is this the end
for us and our
legacy? I wonder if our children will understand
when we tell them about
our lives back in Middle East?
Unfortunately for us, this legacy does not end with us.
Our people back
in the Middle East are still experiencing it daily and
as long as they live
in the nest of the enemies they will inherit this
bitter legacy. For us
who have managed to end this story of bitter immigration,
mission has not
yet ended either. But we remain the hope for those
left behind. We are
the means of survival for them. We should teach
our children to remember
their
sisters and brothers back in Bet Nahrain and their obligation
to them. This
is the legacy we should leave them. Legacy of survival
and nationalism."
Lena Mushell
San Jose, California
"Your hard work and effort are quite evident in ZENDA
and I wanted to thank
you for serving Assyrians in this way. I'm sure
without you this
newsletter would not be possible and neither would the
charity and help
that Assyrians are getting from it. Please let
me know if there is
something I can do to help..God bless you and keep you."
George Ishaya
San Jose, California
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S U R F E R S
C O R N E R
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ZENDA readers are invited to respond to the following
request(s) by either
directly writing to the author or sending a reply to
ZENDA.
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A Database of the Assyrian-American Veterans
It is great pleasure to read your Zenda weekly.
Zenda is a window that has
opened outward into the world for Assyrians around the
globe to communicate
with one another. May God lead you in your work
always and may he grant
you and Zenda success always.
I would like to urge all Assyrian readers of Zenda to
help me in
establishing a database of Assyrian American Veterans,
or for that matter,
anyone outside the U.S. can also send in information
even though my project
at this time is US related, I will not dismiss any non-US
information
however I welcome it.
I'd like to ask for Name, Address, Telephone, E-mail,
of all those who
served or are presently serving, or that any of Zenda
readers know of. You
can send this information to my direct E-mail address
as follows:
ESHA_TAMRAS@NOVELL.COM.
I appreciate your assistance in this matter as I am working
on a project
specific to our Armed Services Men and Women that is
an important component
of our history.
Esha Tamras
San Jose, California
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N E W S
D I G E S T
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PUBLIC MEETING OF THE ASSYRIAN AID SOCIETY IN SAN JOSE
(ZNDA: San Jose) On Friday, 31 January 31 the Assyrian
Aid Society of
America held a public meeting at the Assyrian Church
of the East Hall in
San Jose, California. Dr. Alexander Malik introduced
the executive board
members as:
Mr. Narsai David, President
Dr. Lincoln Malik, Vice President
Dr. Alexander Malik, Medical Assistance Program Project
Leader
Mr. Sargon Shabbas, Treasurer
Mr. Ashur Yoseph, Special Projects
Mr. Youkhanna Youkhanna, AAS Chapters Liason
Narsai David indicated that this meeting was the first
step in establishing
a channel of communication between the Assyrian public
and the AAS. He
reported on the AAS projects including the building of
medical clinics,
housing, schools, roads, farming industry, publishing
of Books,
distribution of medicine and direct cash assistance.
The first issue of
AAS Newsletter "Tree of Life" was then handed to the
audience members. Dr.
Lincoln Malik, also the representative of the Assyrian
Democratic Movement
(Zowaa) in the U.S. commented that the U.S. government
is cognizant of the
accomplishments of the AAS in benefitting the Assyrians
in northern Iraq.
It is unreasonable to ask for item by item accountability,
he continued,
because we should not assume that in northern Iraq one
can walk into a
store, make purchases and receive a printed receipt.
The names of several
U.S. and world agencies which have closely monitored
the work of AAS was
then reported.
For more information contact Neil Karaman at 408-573-2808
or send email to:
nkaraman@clarify.com.
JAMES PRITCHARD, NOTED ARCHAEOLOGIST, DEAD AT 87
(ZNMN: Philadelphia) James B. Pritchard who lived
in Haverton,
Pennsylvania, and investigated the palace of King Herod
in Jericho and the
towns and villages of the Phoenicians died last month
at age 87. He was
the first to identify the locatio of Gibeon, a town mentioned
dozens of
times in Judeo-Christian Scriptures. James Pritchard
is the editor of
two-volume anthology of The Ancient Near East.
NEW ROUNDS OF MILITARY EXECUTIONS IN BAGHDAD
(ZNRU: Damascus) An Iraqi Shi'ite opposition group says
that several high
ranking officers have been executed in Baghdad after
an abortive coup
against Saddam Hussein. The Supreme Council of the Islamic
Revolution in
Iraq (SCIRI), which has support in Iraq especially in
the south, said in a
statement the officers belonged to Saddam's special protection
units and
the Republican Guards. There was no independent confirmation
of the report.
Those executed included Brigadier Khudair Jasem Mohammed
of the Republican
Guards, Brigadier Munaf Star Aidan, a pilot, and Colonel
Sultan Othman
Saddam of al-Rasheed air base, the statement said. The
other three were
Colonel Najm Abdullah of al-Muthana military complex,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Hisham Shaysh Hussein al-Tikriti from the Military Combat
School in Tikrit
and Captain Majid Abde al-Basri, director of the public
affairs at the
defence ministry. The SCIRI which has offices in Tehran,
Damascus, Kuwait
and London works with other opposition groups to try
to topple the Iraqi
government.
IMMIGRATION SERVICE LOTTERY
(ZNSC: San Jose) From February 3rd through March 5th 1997
the State
Department and Immigration Service (INS) of the USA will
hold a "lottery"
for 55.000 unrestricted Permanent Resident Visa (so called
"Green Cards",
actually they now are pink) which will allow the winners
and their families
to live and work anywhere in the U.S.A. without special
sponsorship of any
companies or individuals. Anybody can apply as
long as they have at least
a secondary education (equivalent to American "High School
Diploma" = 12th
grade) and at least 2 years of skilled labor training
or college/university
courses. In a family all members can apply singly
to increase everybody's
chances, because if only one wins spouses and children
are admitted too.
People born in any Middle Eastern country are eligible.
There is no
application form or fee. To enter, type or print
in the English alphabet
on a sheet of plain paper the following:
Your Full Name
Date of Birth (Day, Month, Year)
Place of Birth (Ex: Urmie, Western Azerbaijan,
Iran)
Your Mailing Address
Your Native Country (EX: Syria)
Your Signature
Enclose a photogrph of Yourself (1.5 inches by 1.5 inches)
For more information call 900-884-8840.
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N E W S
B I T s
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(ZNSC)
A new 6747 Assyrian Sports Calendar featuring the legendary
soccer greats,
Aram Karam, Ammo Baba, Youra, and many more will soon
be available.
To Orders yours contact Layth Jato at Ljato@aol.com.
(ZNRU)
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad fell into a coma for two
weeks late last
year and was revived by Russian doctors in January, a
British weekly
newspaper reported on Sunday.
Iraqi television Tuesday showed President Saddam Hussein
and his wife
Sajida -claimed by a U.S. military official to be under
house arrest
receiving well-wishers on the recovery of their son Uday.
The Pentagon is sending an Airpower Expeditionary Force
of about 30 planes
and support personnel to serve in Operation Southern
Watch.
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C
A L E N D A
R OF E V
E N T S
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Thru Mar 10
Art & Empire: Treasures from Assyria in the British
Museum
National Gallery of Victoria
Melbourne, Australia
Admission: $10.00
Thru Apr 6 The Ain Ghazal
Exhibit
Smithsonian Institute
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Washington D.C.
AAA of Southern CA (818) 506-7577
Feb 10 & 11
The Last Ziggurats: An Art Exhibition by Hannibal
Alkhas
Almaden Valley Fine Arts League
5945 Almaden Expressway (across from McDonald's)
San Jose, California
(408) 997-0964
Feb 10
CAPNI & GAD Political Rallies
Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock
Turlock, California
Mar 12
Guardians of the Gate: The Assyrian Winged Colossi
Lecturer: A. Harrak
Near and Middle Eastern Civilization
University of Toronto
St. George campus
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
April 9
Recent Excavations at Gordion, Turkey:
An Achaemenid Persian Imperial Town in Central Anatolia
Lecturer: T.C. Young, Jr.
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
Aug 26-Sept 2
Assyrian American National Convention
Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Fairlane Town Center
Detroit, Michigan
All Single,double,triple,quad rooms: $95 per day
Reservations: (313) 982-6880
Reservations must be made by August 7.
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E N T R A C T E
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Feb 22
Assyrian Aid Society Party
Church of the East AWANA
680 Minnesota Ave
San Jose, California
7:30 pm
Entertainer: Jenan Sawa
Donation: $15.00
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I N T E L L I G E N T S I A
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Fridays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 108
Modesto, U.S.A.
Saturdays
Nisibis School
10:30-1:30
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
Sundays
Assyrian Boy Scouts
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
9:30am to 12:30pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
Assyrian Student Union
California State University, Northridge
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
6:00pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 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
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The Tomb of Semiramis
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/tumba.html
Note: Visit www.nineveh.com for the latest schedule
of online guests on
Nineveh Cafe- a chat room for the Assyrian Internet surfers.
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P U M P UP THE V O L U
M E
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English Modern Assyrian
Scholar Spee/raa
[M]
Scholarship
shoo/ka/ma [M]
Note: Scholarship as an educational assistance.
___________________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine
P = Plural
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B A C K TO THE
F U T U R E
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B.C. (ca 2000)
According to the Sumerian King List the last two kings
of the First Dynasty
of Kish (a city in Sumer) reigned for 900 and 625 years
respectively.
<< Early Mesopotamia, Postgate >>
A.D. (451) At Chalcedon the orthodox church defines the
doctrine of ther
perso of Christ as "acknowledged in two natures without
confusion, without
change, without division, without separation."
Those who made an image of
Christ in their paintings were therefore declared heretics
and accused of
lapsing into Nestorianism.
<< The Spirit of Eastern Christendom, Pelikan >>
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L I T E
R A T U
S
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The Darling Lips
What is the magic
Of a whisper from you
That brings joys so big
As to rose does the dew?
Perking up the blossom
That was just about
To be crushed by awesome
Storms. A ray split the cloud,
Little words took the from
Of a hope - from distance
Tat blew off all the harm.
Rosy lips in a dance
Came breathing a message
Now they open, now they close
Do they span space or age?
Unlock the mystery
Of the heart of the rose?
Ever Ever Yours,
Never Never Otherwise.
William Daniel
<< Tapestry: Collection of Poems in Assyrian &
English, William Daniel>>
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T H I S W E E K
I N H I S T O R
Y
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February 9, 1956: dies Israel Younan, president
of the Assyrian American
National Federation; visited the kings of Iran and Iraq
to discuss the
conditions of the Assyrians in the Middle East
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B R A
V O
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SYRIAC CONCORDANCE PROGRAM
[An English Translation of Last Week's German Article]
Analysis of Syriac writings has always been an important
part of the EDP
Project of Gottingen University. Until now such analysis
was done using a
computer process called a "middle-data technology". But
since this approach
was outdated researches at Gottingen University decided
to relinquish its
use and develop a new data processing program.
This program allows the
Syriac researchers to easily analyze their findings.
In addition there is a
caveat for the Syriac language students: with this program
it is now
possible to teach Syriac text-analysis with a selected
learning material.
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the D I R E C T O R
Y
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ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
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W E L C O M
E T O Z E
N D A
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Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
Fujitsu USA
Integrated Circuit Systems
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Chicago, Illinois
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S A L
U T E
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Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals &
organizations whose
contributions appear in this issue:
Lena Mushell
San Jose, California
Adrin Takhsh
Berlin, Germany
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