The Census 2000 forms have finally arrived at our doorsteps in America.  After reading hundreds of articles and listening to months of heated arguments, still a great confusion reigns in New Britain, Chicago, Turlock, and Phoenix.   It is now time to use our pens to make a mark in history.  Between now and April 10, over 300,000 Assyrians from many religious denominations (Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, and the Protestant congregations) will have the opportunity to identify themselves as individuals belonging to one united nation.  While denouncing the call for the elevation of a religious denomination to the status of a nation as perpetrated by a few religious authorities and misguided individuals, we, the publishers of Zinda Magazine, appeal to the members of the Syriac-speaking religious groups in the United States to be counted as ASSYRIAN only.   Please use the term "Assyrian" in responding to each person's RACE and ANCESTORY OR ETHNIC ORIGIN.  Most importantly DO NOT use "Iranian", "Iraqi", "Syrian", or "Arab" to indicate your race or ethnicity.  It is true that currently the Census Bureau's erroneous designation of our Syriac-speaking population in the United States as "Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac" remains in effect; but the final decision to rule out the 1990 classification has not been overturned yet.   Yes, we may have lost the battle due to major errors in both strategy and timing, but we can still win the war.

The Assyrian people are a mixture of different religious and social backgrounds.  Between 1890's and 1920's, the early Assyrian immigrants to the United States came almost entirely from the Middle East.  It was here in the United States that the Nationalist ideology created a widespread sense of Assyrian identity among all Neo-Aramaic or Syriac-speaking religious denominations.  The one dramatic event of this period was the election of two Syrian Orthodox Assyrians, Capt. Alexander Ameer and subsequently Dr. David Barsum Perley, JSD,  to the presidency of the Assyrian-American National Federation (then Associations) from 1933 until 1935.  This cultural pluralism culminated in the appointment of Assyrians from all religious denominations and cultural backgrounds to the leadership of other social and political groups.  Such unique sense of democratization dominated the Assyrian Nationalism until the coming of Baathism in Iraq in the 1960's.

The use of the term "Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac" is nothing new; it was first used by the Baathist regime of Iraq in the 1972 Decree # 251 (more on this in the next issue).  Here for the first time, the Assyrian people were referred as “the Syriac speaking people comprising Athouriyoon/Kildan/Siryan”.   To the Baathists Assyrians were simply Iraqi-Arab Christians who spoke a language other than Arabic, namely Syriac.

Enough has already been said about the disastrous consequences of accepting this historical inaccuracy.  It is now time to put an end to this havoc brought on by half-a-dozen individuals with personal repugnance against Assyrian Nationalism.  While claiming unity through "slashing" of our historical identity, these individuals favor division and the prominence of their churches over the general will of the Assyrian people.  Lately, the "Assyrian Only" activism has received major reinforcements from the political and cultural figures as well as certain Assyrian clergymen.  Undoubtedly, until a unified political leadership draws the blueprint of our new manifest destiny such debacles as the "Detroit Conspiracy" will continue to hinder our progress toward realizing a common future in Bet-Nahrain.

Wilfred Alkhas
Zinda Magazine

Thus far the strongest blow to the [Assyrian] national unity was the religious splits that were born among them and which annihilated whatever unified strength they had left.  Now they had nothing, not even a religious unity in favor of which they had abandoned all their earthly glory, military power and the severe discipline, which their forefathers had cultivated to the point of becoming their second nature.  The only surviving shadow of orderliness was a thin fiber that was retained from the strong old disciplinary fabric and now was loosely introduced into the texture of ecclesiastic system.  In a study of all important nations of the world we cannot fail to observe how much religious owes its growth to the political protection under the sunshine of which it thrives luxuriantly and under the refuge of which it reposes with security.  We can imagine the conditions of the Assyrian religious campaigns of which the success depended solely on the virtuous conduct of its members plus the indulgent but unreliable mood of non-Christian powers that dominated them politically.

The advent of religious schism afforded abundant cause for internal strife.  We might venture to say that the former warlike spirit was reborn and cultivated under a new banner.  Now the campaigns were transferred from former military battlefields to the present religious arenas, from former strategic moves against invading armies and revolting nations to quarrels with own brethren because of dogmatic differences in common faith.  Yes, the Assyrians had deliberately and imprudently submitted themselves to their last mortal blow.

During these times they identified themselves by their religious denominations.  Now they chose to be called: -first, the Church of the East; later, Nestorians, then came Jacobites, Maronites, Malakites, etc.  The terms Assyria and Babylon were obscenities not to be mentioned, leave alone not to be related to.  Those people were heathens for they had made war on God’s chosen people.

The differences in dogmatic details of religious doctrine as existed among these different factions, resulted in bitter mutual hatred and violent desire to differentiate themselves from each other so categorically, as to even deny any earlier national relationship.  The giant names of Assyria and Babylon sank into depths of oblivion and in their place schismatic appellations shot up like thorny bushes edging each other for self-prominence.  Subsequent centuries found these factions drifted so far apart that a national relationship was, not only denied, but actually unknown; neither was any racial affinity recognized among the followers of the different churches.  Probably, it would be more correct to say that they were so completely overwhelmed by religious domination that there was no room left for such a profane knowledge as ethnology.  Much, much later their descendants would have a tough riddle to unravel.

The more the religious fire was fanned, the less consideration was given to material things, which resulted in serious shortages of necessities of life.  The descendants of the two of the richest and mightiest empires often fed on misery and drank tears of bitterness.  What with rough handling, submission to plunder and pillage, often they were reduced to the lowest dregs of poverty.  So it is not surprising to learn what an easy prey they became to the hunters of Western World who filtered into the Middle and Near Eastern lands with their Christian missionary banners unfurled...

We paid the price of our ignorance and paid it dearly too, for we lost everything we had: -lives, homes, gardens, cattle and worst of all we lost footing with the powers in whose lands we had been living for centuries.  Casualties during [the First World War] were estimated to be about 45% of the then existing population.

...The experience opened our eyes; we learned to differentiate between religious fervor and national zeal.  Until then we had identified ourselves by our religious denominations plus a misnomer – SOORAYI – for which our thanks are tendered primarily to Greek historians and late to the foreign missionaries.  But now a National identity began to shine like the Morning Star.  Now the exhortations of personalities like Freidoun Atooraya, Benjamin Arsanis, Shlemon of Salamas and in the U.S. the fiery speeches of Yoel Warda and the revelatory pen of Yosep Malick began to make sense.  Now the seed of Nationalism, whether for good or for bad, had been sown; but it still had to fight for existence among the deep rooted poisonous weeds of religious fanaticism and ignorant strong-headedness...Later the names of Professors Ashur Youssef, Naoum Faik, Dr. A.K. Youssef and last but not least Dr. David B. Perley...were added to the list of torch bearers...

But the power and control of the churches over the people stayed as firm as ever.  The preacher's authority was not, in the least bit, diminished.

Whereas in all the Christian world, preachers and devotees have begun to interpret the scriptures in a more practical manner, a way more compatible with the time; the majority of Assyrians accept the holy book literally instead of symbolically.   The preacher's command today, as it was centuries ago, stands supreme.  Consequently, in spite of the awakening that caused a mild social upheaval, the power of Church is as firm as ever.   One small breath of its representative is enough to deviate the successful sailing of any new social project.  To the already existing chaos of religious split one other social one other social confusion had been added – a state of absence of purpose.  One more dissolving element had sprung up, for besides churches against one another, now we had added one organization against another, one club or group fighting the other.  But all these developments did not, in the least, interfere with the way of the preacher.  The more the social chaos the stronger his position became.

William Daniel  (1903-1988)
Excerpts from "Assyrians of Today, Their Problem, and A Solution"
Chicago, 1969

(ZNSO: Damascus)  According to the Syrian Orthodox News, on 2 April 2000, His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church will celebrate the liturgy of the divine mysteries in Antioch, Turkey.  According to this report, the seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch was in the city of Antioch until AD 518, when Patriarch St. Severus was deposed and forced by Justinian I to flee from the city.  The Church established by St. Peter in A.D. 37 is in a cave and is now maintained by  by the government of Turkey as a museum.

Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas will then visit Malankara, India between April 7 and 12. to preside at the consecration of the Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Qooberneeyto Hakeemo H.E. Mor Clemis Abraham.  Mor Zakka I Iwas previously visited India in 1982 on the occasion of the 50th Dokhrana of the late Patriarch St. Elias III.  The Patriarch will be accompanied by ten other Syrian Orthodox metropolitans from Middle East, Europe and the U.S.  The Patriarch is expected to visit the St. Thomas Church in North Parur the Mor Ignatius Monastery in Manjinikkara, where the remains of Patriarch Elias III are interred.   His Holiness will consecrate the St. Peter's Church, New Delhi before returning to Damascus.

Source: Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan

(ZNDA:  Los Angeles)  Mr. Rommel Eliah, the U.S. and Canada Representative of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa) was a guest speaker at the Iraqi Forum For Democracy Town Hall Meeting held on 26 February at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Anaheim, California.  The following is a summary of Mr. Elieh's speech as printed by the IraqNet report:

"We, at the Assyrian Democratic Movement, have expressed ourselves since the inception of our movement in 1990 toward a peaceful and democratic Iraq.  Peace and democracy is in our people's best interest, therefore we reject dictatorship and work with the rest of the Iraqi opposition to achieve our goals.  We have participated in the Beirut, the Vienna, and the Salahuldeen Conferences within the newly established Iraqi National Congress. Today, within part of the liberated Iraq, we organize our political, social and educational activities. We are struggling to maintain our identity through peaceful co-existence with the rest of the Iraqi people. We, the Assyrians, believe that we are the indigenous population of Iraq. We work together, in peace and harmony, with the other ethnic group in our country and believe that peace and democracy will serve the entire Iraqi population.

For the past 3 decades, Iraq has been subjected to a ruthless dictatorship that has destroyed the entire country.  No one has escaped persecution, discrimination and subjugation.   Every Iraqi ethnic group has suffered. The dictator is still in power inflicting more pain on his people.

The UN sanctions were imposed on the people due to reckless policy of its rulers. The sanctions are not working; they are punishing the people and sparing the perpetrator. The conflict between the two Kurdish parties has lost a real opportunity for the Iraqi Opposition to establish bases for its operations.  The Iraqi situation is miserable in light of the criminal gang ruling the country. The solution lies with democracy, where every Iraqi should enjoy equal rights and live in peace and harmony with the rest of the Iraqi people.

As we enter the 21st Century, I ask:  "Where are the Iraqi people abroad and what have they done to establish support groups through the Internet and today's communication age?"   Our goal remains the removal of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and the establishment of a civil society based on equality, freedom and justice for all."

Other speakers included Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati, Representative of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq; Dr. Hassan Akif Hammoudi, Member of the Politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party; Dr. Barham Salih, Representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan; Mr. Dhargham Kadhum, Representative of the Iraqi National Accord; and Frank Riccardone, Coordinator for the Transition in Iraq.

When asked about the Iraqi Opposition's successes despite its internal conflicts and whether it has agreed on a unified Constitution, Mr. Eliah responded:

"Politics is not about taking it all or leaving it all; it's about utilizing what is available but not forgetting what is desirable.  I hear plenty of complaints from the Iraqis about the Iraqi Opposition and how weak and fragmented it has become. The Iraqi Opposition is a means and not a goal.  In today’s world unity in position among all groups is an expression of dictatorship.  In a democracy, every group has its position and opinion, and each group is expected to respect other’s views and try to work on the common basis. I agree with you that the real heroes are the Iraqi people who are living under Saddam’s terror not me and you.  The Iraqi Opposition has not yet agreed on a practical field plan to remove dictatorship neither have they agreed on a unified constitution."

On a different occasion a member of the audience posed the following question to the panel:  "What is your plan for stopping the ethnic and political persecution of the Assyrian people in the future Iraq?"

Mr Dhargham Kadhum replied:  "It is secured in a democracy."   Dr. Bahram Salih also commented:  "Allow me to differ with Mr Dhargham that democracy is not the magical word that would solve all of Iraq’s problems.  Assyrians are entitled to seek assurance from the next government about their rights and treatment.  Therefore, we in the Opposition, need to study amongst ourselves the broad baselines in regards to securing the rights of the Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmen and all segments of the Iraqi population; their rights to education, publication, and the religious and cultural rights... If the Assyrians are indeed a small minority in Iraq, then it is extremely important for the majority to recognize and uphold the rights of the Assyrian people."   Dr. Hamid Al Bayati also commented: "I like to add that the rights should not concern the Assyrian people only, rather all segments of the Iraqi society so that the future Iraq is for all and represented by all Iraqis equally."

The Right of Every Assyrian

“Further to my article, The Importance of a Name, published in Zinda Vol. V, Issue 40, page 2 of 19, dated Feb. 1, 2000:   It is alleged that certain persons have so easily slandered me, within the Assyrian community, saying that as a Shamasha (Deacon) it was not wise to meddle in temporal affairs. It seems certain that those passing such undigested criticism are as yet not well trained in asserting their faculty, or, they are embryonic beings in need of further human rationalism. To refute the undigested criticism I would very respectfully say that there is absolutely no scriptural precept to prevent any clergy from writing adjustive articles because Christ came to adjust the wrongs of a people supervised by self-conceited teachers -- not unlike Assyrians who are steered by unscrupulous leaders (be they religious and/or secular). Also, the mere fact that I am Assyrian gives me every right to address any issue that affects the Assyrian people. It would not matter if I were religious or not. It would not matter if I were Catholic, Presbyterian, Nestorian, Jacobite, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, etc. The only thing that matters is that I am an Assyrian and I have every right as an Assyrian to address any issue or problem facing my people - and that includes the Census 2000 dilemma.

In 1929 I was ordained a Shamasha but with the advent of maturity and insight gleaned from so many sacrilegious dealings exercised by the Assyrian dignitaries, I very abruptly opted to be a constant spokesman of how to desist following harmful leaders including an absolutely fossilized church administration. The Indian prophet and liberator, Ghandi, commented on Christianity and said that the religion that does contribute towards a people's well-being is not the religion preached by Jesus Christ. Meaning Christianity is pro-active. Therefore, I would be going against my Christian beliefs if I refrained from commenting on the most damaging issue revolving around the legal designation of the Assyrian people by the U.S. Census Bureau. More importantly, I would be going against my Assyrianism if I sat back and did and said nothing.

In conclusion, every Assyrian regardless of occupation or church affiliation (if any) has the inalienable right to address issues affecting their nation. To say that a certain group or section of our people should not say or do anything due to impropriety is reflective of an exclusive, authoritarian and dictatorial mentality. These, being the very components that drove our people to the present state-of-existence.”

Shamasha Yousef Zaya
Chicago

The Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies at Macquarie University and the Department of Semitic Studies at the University of Sydney will be jointly hosting an international conference on the subject of the fate of the Assyrian people after the collapse of the Assyrian Empire (612 B.C. - 2000 A.D.).

Contrary to popular belief, the Assyrians did not disappear as a distinct group of people after the conquest of their homeland (the mountainous regions of northern Iraq, north-eastern Syria, and south-eastern Turkey). The Syriac-speaking Assyrians were amongst the first Christians and it is their faith that is in great measure due to their survival and the repeated attempts at their destruction over the centuries.

This unique conference, “Assyrians After Assyria”, held as part of the VIIIth Symposium Syriacum and the VIth Conference on Christian Arabic Studies, will be devoted to the history of persecution and massacre which the Syriac-speaking people of the Middle East (variously known as Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syrian Orthodox, Suryianis, Arameans) have endured, particularly in the Twentieth Century.

Date: Friday June 30, 2000
Venue:  Merewether Building, City Road, University of Sydney

Programme:

9:00 am - 9:05 am:      Official Welcome
9:05 am - 10:30 am:    Presentation of papers
10:30 am - 11:00 am:  Morning tea
11:00 am - 12:30 pm:  Presentation of papers
12:30 pm -  2:00 pm:   Luncheon
2:00 pm -  3:30 pm:    Presentation of papers
3:30 pm -  4:00 pm:    Afternoon tea
4:00 pm -  5:00 pm:    Conference Review and Resolutions

Amongst the speakers at the Conferences will be:

Most Rev. Dr. Mar Aprem, Kerala, India
Archbishop Julius Y. Cicek, Saint Ephrem Monastery, Netherlands
Archdeacon Dr. Wassilios Klein, Bonn, Germany
Prof. Edward Y. Odisho, Department of Teacher Education, North-Eastern Illinois University
Prof. Amir Harrak, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilisations, University of Toronto
Prof. J. F. Coakley, Department of Near Eastern Languages, Harvard University
Prof. Konrad Kwiet, Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney
Dr George A. Kiraz, New Jersey (presenting a video of a visit to Tur Abdin, filmed in April-May 1999)
Dr Abdul Massih Saadi, North Park University, Chicago
Panayiotis Diamadis, Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney

An exhibition of Syriac and Christian Arabic publications by renowned international publishing houses and booksellers is planned. Amongst them will be Peeters and Brepols (Leuven, Belgium).

A display of photographs on Syriac and Christian Arabic themes is also being planned.

We urge everyone with an interest in the Christian peoples of the Middle East to attend this once-in-a-lifetime triple conference.

To register for the “Assyrians After Assyria” conference:
call (02) 9850 8822; fax (02) 9850 8240; email panayiotis.d@usa.net;

Panayiotis Diamadis Pontos and Asia Minor Holocaust Research Unit
Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies
Division of Humanities
Department of Politics
Macquarie University, NSW, 2109
Australia

"Eastern Christianity in Relation to the Development of Nascent Islam"
Spring 2000
Instructor: Abdul-Massih Saadi, Ph. D.
Director, Institute of Syriac Manuscript Studies at the Lutheran School of Theology

Sponsored by the Assyrian Academic Society & the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, North Park University in Chicago

The goal of this history class is to distinguish between mythical and factual historical views of Eastern Christianity, Islam, and the Eastern Christian role (mostly Assyrian) in the process of the development of nascent Islam. A variety of documents will be studied and examined in light of content and historical context. Additionally, each religion and its theology will be studied from the perspective of the other religion in various political and historical contexts. Some of the key contemporary issues will be also be explored and discussed amongst the students and occasional Muslim and Christian guest scholars.

Reference Literature: Handouts provided
Classes Begin: April 13 to June 15
Day of the Week: Thursdays
Time: 7:00-9:00
Location: North Park University
Magnusen Campus Center
Room M-7
Address: 5000 N. Spaulding
Chicago, IL 60625
Class Fee: $70.00 ($50.00 for students)

Directions to Magnusen Campus Center
East to Foster and Kedzie
South one block to Carmen
Turn right on Carmen which becomes Spaulding
Look for 5000 N. Spaulding, MagnusenPlease
Class is held in the main lobby, first floor
fill out the form and mail to the address indicated below.

Make your check payable to:   Assyrian Academic Society
Send registration form to:

NAME:                 ________________________________________________
ADDRESS:           ________________________________________________
CITY, ST. ZIP     ________________________________________________
PHONE:               ________________________________________________
EMAIL:                ________________________________________________

• "Shall This Nation Die?" by Rev. Joseph Naayem, O.I.
• Syriac New Testament References
• Yakup Hidirsah's "Massacre of the Christians in Mesopotamia"

The horses and  the chariots were considered important resources in warfare and wealth in ancient Mesopotamia and the Near East.  Their essential role in maintaining a balance of power is illustrated in the following letter written by a local king to another equal ruler around 1500 B.C. :

To Kadashman-enlil, King of Karduniash (Babylon), my brother, thus speaks Nibmuarriya (Amenophis III), the great king of Egypt:  I am well; may you be well!  Your house, your wives, your sons, your nobles, your horses, your chariots, your lands, may they be very well.  I am well, my house, my wives, my sons, my nobles, my horses, my chariots, the numerous soldiers, as many as there are, are all well, and in my lands everything is very well.

The Ancient Near East, Amarna Letters, Kuhrt

B

According to the latest issue of the Tree of Life, the newsletter of the Assyrian Aid Society of America, over $100,000 of the total $224,000 have been used so far to fund 8 educational and construction projects in northern Iraq.  The AAS was one of the eight Assyrian organizations that shared the late Benjamin Adams' bequest of $1,130,000 in 1998.  The bequest is to be used for the sole purpose of helping the needy Assyrian families and students.  The 8 funded projects are as follow:

Medicine for Dohuk Pharmacy                 $  10,486.00
Arabic-Assyrian Dictionary                      $    1,000.00
Assyrian High School Text Books            $    5,500.00
School Buses for Nisibin High School      $    9,500.00
Bagarat Village Irrigation Project               $  26,339.00
Enishki Village Irrigation Project               $  14,546.00
Two Complete Computer Laboratories     $  10,060.00

BC (1350)

The statue of the goddess Ishtar is sent to Egyptian Pharaoh, Amenophis III to help heal the ailing ruler of Egypt with the following well-wishes:  "May Shaushga (Hurrian word for Ishtar) Mistress of Heaven, protect you, my brother and myself, for 100,000 years and may our mistress grant us great joy and may we behave like friends."

Vorderasiastische Bibliothek 2, Die El-Amarna-Tafeln, J.A. Knudtzon

At 33, Hakim Freidoun Atouraya, Assyrian nationalist, socialist, and physician, is arrested and one year later murdered in a Russian prison.  Better known as the composer of "Ya Nishra d'Tkhumi" song, Dr. Atouraya along with two other activists founded the first Assyrian political organization in the Middle East in 1915.

March 17, 1903:   Born, William S.D. Daniel, author, poet, composer and political observer.  Rabbie Daniel's works include musical compositions such as "Nineveh" and "Khamta d'Khelmaneh", and "The Epic of Qatineh Gabbara".  (See this week's THE LIGHTHOUSE)

 

THANK YOU!
Joseph Adlun....................Paris.............Calendar of Events
Jacklin Bejan................San Jose..........Calendar of Events
Sheren Jasim...............Chicago...................Surfs Up!
Nadia Joseph...................Chicago................Surfers Corner

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