Editorial...
Wilfred Alkhas
ZENDA
Most of our troubles in life stem from the crippling habit of neglect. A student who fails to attend to his scholastic duties will, more often than not, fall into trouble in the long run. Parents are inviting disappointments when the domestic duties and obligations are slighted. A society is bound to collapse if and when discipline, order and understanding are remiss. The human soul will gradually degenerate and suffer perdition through lack of spiritual nourishment. As Professor H. Drumond put it, "Where is a sharper arrow than the sting of unmerited neglect?" The social posture of our time observed from the vantage point of higher education, dictates that a spirit of grave concern be exercised in our ethnic relationships.
Neglect is the forerunner of forgetfulness, which I aver has its advantages at times, but highly and usually pernicious (hurtful). It would be futile to brood bemoaningly over past, sad experiences. Under the circumstances the best thing would be "Forget It" before anguish and nervous breakdown set in. Their constant recollection will neither mend the grief nor wipe away tears. On the other hand, there are events and episodes which should be remembered always lest their corrective significance vanish. One reason why I enjoy studying Assyrian history is because it reflects past incidents, good or bad. The good make me feel elated and proud of the accomplishments of our forefathers. The bad sides are lessons to ponder upon and learn not to repeat the blunders they committed, mistakes which we had to pay dearly for generations. Those are the things and scenes which should grasp our attention, like dusky mountains when twilight chases the day, even though they are lost to sight in the mist of time...
The precious experience of meeting our fellow Assyrians face to face in their respective homelands, has convinced us beyond doubt that their needs and desires, their ambitions and aspirations were very much like ours, if not more ardent, and yet not so easily attainable as with us. Let us eagerly examine our past, seriously study the present, and hopefully visualize the future with the idea of reinforcing the foundation of our ethnic structure. It is important that this structure be built on a solid and firm basis lest the mad winds of the times disfigure its entire architecture. Having survived the scythe of time, the Assyrians rightfully deserve credit and recognition for their perseverance in Faith, for their intrepid and iron will to live on, and for their unsurpassed loyalty everywhere. But credit and recognition call for a universal higher standard of unalienating, snob free education in professions and the fine arts, with training for the less fortunate in the crafts, technical arts and trades, and equally important, in maintaining a high code of citizenship to the admiration of the whole world.
Truly the Assyrians have the essence and the potential for greater things in life, but those ideals must be pursued steadfastly and in eanest, otherwise we will be fluttering around aimlessly like the extinct Dodo bird. Let us remember that our heritage and history provide the foundation for greatness. They are to be revered and not blasphemed. The future will come to naught if the strength and success of the past and the future are ignored. However, as Winston Churchill remarked, "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled."
Neglect not, Forget not, Regret not when comes the dawn.
Malcolm L. Karam
Chicago, Illinois
Mr. Karam is a former President of the Assyrian American National Federation and the former Editor-in-Chief of the Assyrian Star Magazine.
(ZNAF: Ankara) Turkish troops advanced yesterday along the frontier of the mountainous Khaqurk region in northern Iraq, in their offensive against separatist Turkish Kurd rebel bases there. The ground and air offensive, the third such large-scale military operation since May, was launched late Thursday in a bid to wipe out bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), concentrated in the Khaqurk region. The PKK had apparently reinfiltrated the region in recent weeks and was in the process of setting up camps for the winter in preparation for attacks on Turkish targets. Armored battalions of Turkish troops pushed along the Khaqurk frontier, wedged between Turkey and Iraq, after infiltrating. Iraqi territory Friday from south-eastern Turkey. The incursion drew Iraqi and Iranian condemnation, despite Ankara's assurances that it respects Iraq's territorial integrity and that the troops will return after completing the anti-PKK operations. Nearly 20,000 troops were involved in the operation and were being backed by 8,000 members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). KDP troops had discovered three caves in the Pirbela region full of food supplies, medication, arms and ammunition, abandoned by PKK fighters. The region of Khaqurk is one of the zones currently controlled by the Iraqi Kurd Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the party which Ankara claims is sheltering and collaborating with PKK activists. Inside Turkey, more than 27,000 people have been killed in PKK-related violence in southeastern areas neighboring northern Iraq since 1984 when the separatists launched their armed campaign. The Turkish army also cooperated with the KDP in fighting a rival Iraqi Kurd group, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), in violent clashes in October and November. But this fighting came to an end late last month.
"Please kindly note that my email address has changed...So, please ensure
that I am not deprived of the weekly dose of your
wonderful publication, Zenda, whose sparks ignite the emotions of many
across this vast world of ours."
Bellos Nisan
California
Karmela, received her brother's bone marrow close to 3 weeks ago, and after going through a torturous fight, last Sunday she came out victorious. Overnight her blood count started rising and she was moved from incentive care, returned to her room and this week, hopefully she will be sent home.
Her battle hasn't ended yet, but we are at point where we can gladly open the champaign bottles and drink to the health of our sister Karmela and congratulate each other for the great job we did. God bless each one of you and my God keep our nation safe."
Lena Mushell
San Jose, California
Sheghda, "good news"
I would like to let all fellow Assyrians know about a new website that is dedicated to Assyrian Teens! This site is run by Assyrian Teens and is for Assyrian Teens! That's their slogan. Its a very excellent site. They have only been up for a few days and they will be adding a lot of content. They currently have a chat room, pictures of Assyrian Teens from around the world, Assyrian and Arabic music in RealAudio and more! The address is: http://assyrian.simplenet.com
George Khawahie
Milpitas, California
Oscar Productions Press announces the future production of Missing Links in Assyrian History By Zaia Kanoon. This first of its kind ARABIC edition addresses questions often unanswered by available literature regarding modern Assyrians including the following:
(ZNUP: Ankara) A Greek Orthodox priest was
injured on Tuesday at an explosion at church premises in Istanbul, Turkey.
Church officials said the device, believed to
be a grenade, was thrown over a wall of the Fener Patriarchate in the Balat
district of Istanbul. The priest suffered arm
and shoulder injuries in the blast, which also caused extensive roof damage
and
shattered windows. Fener is the residence
of Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of some 250 million Orthodox
Christians. Officials said he was not at the Patriarchate at the time of
the blast. Nobody has claimed responsibility of the attack.
The Fener Patriarchate was the scene of bomb
attacks in 1994 and 1996, both of which were claimed by radical Islamist
groups. Bartholomew I visited the United
States in November and met President Bill Clinton. The United
States has condemned the attack. "We assume that the Turkish
government will take appropriate security measures for the protection of
the Patriarch," said State Department spokesman James Rubin. The US acting
consul general in Istanbul visited the injured deacon in the hospital and
met with the patriarch, the State Department said.
F = Feminine M = Masculine P = Plural
AD (1903)
Mar Khnanishu, a Metropolitan from Shamsdin, arrives at Qudchanis and
consecrates Mar Benyamin Catholicos of the Assyrian Church of the East.
One month earlier, Mar Shimun had consecrated his nephew Benyamin Bishop
and Metropolitan, thus indicating him as his successor.
Kurds & Christians, Heazell & Margoliouth
1 Cup Flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon warm water or milk
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
A pinch of salt
Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add the butter, rub together and knead using warm water or milk until a good dough is formed. Roll out and cut small rounds of dough. Fill with date filling or nut filling. Ford them over, firm down the edges, brush the surface with egg and bake in a quick over for fifteen minutes.
Date Filling:
1/2 cup shopped dates
1 tablespoon butter
2-4 powdered cardamons or 1 tablespoon rose water
Cook the dates with the butter for two minutes until it becomes soft. Add the powdered cardamon or rose water.
Nut Filling:
1/2 cup crushed nuts
1 tablespoon sugar
2-4 powdered cardamons or 1 tablespoon rose water
Mix the crushed nuts with the sugar and the powdered cardamon or rose water.
Nineveh Magazine, Vol 4, #1 (1981)
This year, the National Academy of Sciences has selected 18 individuals
to receive awards honoring their contributions to science. The recipient
of the award for Behavioral Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear
War is Dr. Alexander George, Graham H. Stuart Professor of International
Relations, Emeritus, department of political science, Stanford University,
Stanford, California. Dr. George is an Assyrian whose parents came
from Degala in Urmie, Iran in the pioneering days of the Assyrian migration
to the U.S. He was chosen "for combining theory with history
to elucidate the requirements of deterrence, the limits to coercive diplomacy,
and the relationship between force and statecraft." Dr. George is
the author or editor of thirteen books, and has received a five-year MacArthur
fellowship as well as grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York,
Ford Foundation, and National Science Foundation.
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