11 Khzeeran
6754

Volume X

Issue 13

31 May
2004

W h e r e....A s s y r i a n s...G e t...T h e i
r...N e w s...&...I n f o r
m a t i o n

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Assyrian painter, Hannibal Alkhas,
standing next to one of his creations, was last week recognized as one of
the most influential modern Iranian painters at a State-sponsored event in
Tehran, Iran.

This Week in
Zinda

The
Lighthouse

Village of Meer Celebrates Mart Shmoni
Ascension Day

Ekrem Kas and Jacques Kas (France)

Good
Morning Assyria

Ambassador Bremer Joins Minister of
Transportation Behnam Z. Polous

News
Digest

A Tribute to Hannibal
Alkhas
Assyriologist, Jeremy Black, Passes on in
Oxford
Legislative Council Highlights Assyrians in Australia

The New Executive Committee of the Assyrian American Association
of San Jose
$23 Million Chaldean Center to Open in December

Irish-Assyrian Student Awarded $40,000 Scholarship to Notre Dame

Surf's
Up!

The Practice of Middle East Method
of Communications
Our Expectations Are Much More!
Typical
Responses to a Challenge
Memorial Day Is Not Shaikhani Day

Victims of Genocide Share a Common Destiny
Our Duty to
Debunk Those Myths

Ivan Kakovitch (California)
Alfred Alkhas
(California)
Romina Khananisho
Shamasha Dan Daniel
(California)
Bailis Yamlikha Shamun (North Carolina)
Jean Paul
Sliva (France)

Surfer's
Corner

Human Race Walkathon, A Smashing Success

AAS - Santa Clara Chapter (California)

Literatus

The Assyrian Christians' Dilemma
in Iraq: Outlook and Solution

Fred Aprim

Bravo

Nuri Keeno - Assyrian Journalist Awarded the
Golden Spade Award

The
Chariot

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Ninos Isaac

The
Lighthouse
Feature Article(s)

The Village of Meer
Celebrates Mart Shmoni Ascension Day

Ekrem Kas and Jacques
Kas
France

Every year the Chaldo-Assyrians of the
village of Meer in south-east Turkey, presently living in the suburbs of
Paris, France, celebrate Saint (Marta) Shmoni's festival of the Ascension
Day, as they did when they lived in Turkey.

It was one of the most important days of
the year for this Christian village. The feast (named Shaara) began in the
morning when each family gave a sacrificial animal - a sheep or cock for
example- to prepare the day's lunch for all. After enjoying their lunch
together, the villagers prayed to Mart Shmoni and asked for her
protection. The day finished with joyous activities as everybody danced
and paid homage to Christ who ascended to the sky !

Why does this village celebrate the Ascension Day
more seriously than the other Chaldo-Assyrians villages and who was Mart
Shmoni? Let us look at the origins of this holy feast.

It is told said that 300 years ago, when the
village counted for hardly 10 families, a young Meeryaya (resident of
Meer) perched on a tree, saw some ghosts (our parents said Djine) walking
to the village with the intention to hurt the villagers.

On the
road to the village, the boy told that he saw a woman and seven boys
standing in the way of the ghosts’ plans and ordered them to
U-turn and leave this village in peace.

The ghosts refused to obey this order and
one of the seven boys killed a ghost with his sword. Frightened, the
ghosts promised they would never come back in this village if their friend
could be brought back to life. The woman agreed and rose the ghost from
the dead. Curious, the ghosts asked her about her identity: "I am Shmoni
and these are my sons " she answered. Then, she questioned the group about
its plans. They answered her they planned to go to the village of Piran to
kill the village chief’s son.

Having just witnessed this incredible
scene, the boy runs to the village and tells his friends. Of course nobody
believes him...until the following day when Agha’s (chief) son of Piran is
discovered dead.

Who is Mart Shmoni? Her story is counted in the
second book of Maccabees (Old Testament) which does not appear in the
Jewish Bible, but is included in the Greek and Latin canons and in the
Protestant Apocrypha. It is told that a woman, Shmoni, preferred to give
her life and that of her seven sons rather than renouncing God. Shmoni and
her sons were sentenced to death by King Antiochus. The story is dated to
approximately 130 B.C.

The residents of Meer pray to this Saint to ask her
for continue protection. It was decided 25 years ago that homage would be
paid to Mart Shmoni every first Tuesday of the month of May. The new
village priest, Qasha Awraha from the village of Herbol, proposed the
celebration of this Saint on the Day of Ascension, a holiday. The name of
Mart Shmoni was also given to a Church not very accessible because of its
location in the Mountain of Meer (Tdura d' Meer).

Living in France, the Meeryayees continue to
celebrate this Saint as they did it in Turkey. After the Mass in the new
church of Mar Toma (St. Thomas), the Chaldo-Assyrian natives of the
village of Meer, danced
and performed a representation of the book of the Maccabees when King
Antiochus killed Mart Shmoni and her sons. There is but one difference
between the celebrations here and that celebrated in Turkey: many other
Chaldo-Assyrians from other villages and elsewhere in France attended the
festivities and everyone equally enjoyed with tremendous
happiness.

Good Morning Assyria
News from Homeland

Ambassador Bremer Joins
Minister of Transportation Behnam Z. Polous

(ZNDA: Baghdad) On 25 May, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA)
Administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer congratulated the Chaldo-Assyrian
Iraqi Minister of Transportation, Mr. Benham Z. Polus, for reaching a
milestone as the Ministry officially transitioned to full
sovereignty.

“In just 37 days, the Iraqi government will be in the
hands of a fully sovereign Iraq. But today, the Ministry of Transportation
is officially in the hands of the Iraqi people. This transition of
authority marks another milestone on Iraq’s road to democracy,” Ambassador
Bremer stated.

“We celebrate today the delivery of the Ministry into our
responsibility, and we are careful to continue the sharing cooperative
work with our friends at the CPA to proceed straight to completion of all
of the Ministry’s plans,” Minister Polus stated.

Under the leadership of Minister Benham Z. Polus and his staff together
with the CPA’s Senior Advisor and staff, the Ministry of Transportation
has made important progress in the rebuilding of Iraq’s transportation
infrastructure with significant results throughout the system,
including:

The recovery of wrecked ships located at Umm Qasr port have been
salvaged and key channels have been dredged to operational depths.

Power has been restored to the electrical grid in the North Port of
Umm Qasr.

Commercial and reconstruction cargo has been accepted at Umm Qasr
since 16 June 2003.

Umm Qasr is also equipped to handle passenger ferry service. There
are currently two regularly scheduled ferry services operating four
vessels. The service is carrying Iraqis between Dubai and Iraq, and
Customs is handling both customs and immigration services at the port.

In cooperation with the coalition forces, the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO), neighboring states, and other key
stakeholders, Iraq's airspace was opened to civil over flights on 22
August 2003, restoring important routes used by flights between Europe
and the Middle East.

The first new systems needed to reestablish Iraqi Air Navigation
Services (ANS) were delivered by Raytheon to Baghdad International
Airport on 7 May 2004 and have now been installed. The new systems will
establish the backbone for the modern, safe ANS infrastructure needed to
support Iraq's civil aviation system.

The number of locomotives in Iraq available for service has more
than doubled with an additional twenty new locomotives received in the
past year.

Passenger coaches are being repaired and renovated.

New international freight traffic flows have been developed
delivering greater resources for the Iraqi people, including; grain from
Syria, diesel fuel, LP gas and general merchandise from Turkey and fuel
Oil from Bayji to both Syria and Turkey.

International passenger service has been introduced between Mosul
and Aleppo.

The inter-city public transportation system has been successfully
mobilized providing enhanced bus and taxi service for Iraq’s citizens.

In an official press release the CPA notes: "The Iraqi Ministry of
Transportation has re-gained full authority by completing short and
long-term strategic plans, a budget and an administrative reorganization.
Fundamental management systems have been put in place and a system of
checks and balances has been implemented to deter and root out corruption.
Ministry functions have been realigned within the organization to
facilitate more accurate and timely decision making. Ministry
organizations have also been created to house the new functions of Policy
and Regulatory Enforcement that were previously the responsibilities of
the State Owned Enterprises."

News Digest
General News & Information

A Tribute to Hannibal
Alkhas
without the Presence of the Event
Organizers

Courtesy of
BBC
21 May 2004
by Ladan Parsi
Translation from Farsi for Zinda
Magazine by Homer E. Younan

(ZNDA: Tehran) Friends and
admirers of Hannibal Alkhas gathered at the "House of the Artists" for the
acknowledgment ceremony in honor of the Assyrian artist, despite the
absence of the organizers of the event.

Starting months in advance, the Iranian
Ministry of Culture had designated 17 May 2004 as the scheduled day for
this event. Although, the function was broadly advertised in the Iranian
media, its cancellation was announced only a day before it was to take
place. The organizers blamed the cancellation on an unexpected change in
the schedule of the former Minister of Culture (Mohammed Beheshti) and
announced a new date of May 20, 2004 for the function.

Despite the official cancellation and in an utterly unorganized
fashion, the function however, did take place. And the few Alkhas
enthusiasts did manage to deliver their message of appreciation for the
work and dedication of the artist.

In the beginning of the program, the Master of the Ceremony explained
his unexpected and sudden appearance, and then continued on to introducing
Hannibal Alkhas. Shortly after, it was Mr. Hossein Sayfizadeh, a long time
admirer of Alkhas, who opened his speech with a piece of poetry in Farsi
(Persian) and went on to describe Alkhas as a true mastermind/philosopher
for the modern age. Sayfizadeh closed his notes with an excerpt from a
poem by Alkhas:

"What are you after, Alkhas?
You, the Painter of Temperament and
Disposition.
What are you seeking
In this drought of love and
affection?"

Next in the program roster were three short films dedicated to Alkhas.
The first film, by Mohammed Reza Sharifi, portrayed Alkhas' colors caught
in a lovemaking collage. Present in this film is the artist as he gives
life to the portrait of Forough Farokhzad (the celebrated 20th century
Iranian Poetess). The second film shows Alkhas in a classroom with young
children where he is pursuing his on-going passion and determination in
trying to foster and support the young talent. The third film titled
"Yellow, Red, and Blue". This film portrayed Alkhas next to his over-sized
canvases that tell the very Assyrian legacy through time.

Mohammed Reza Firouzeh (president of the Art Association), also began
by expressing his sudden insertion in the quickly-formed program and
honored Alkhas for his ingenious and dedication to art. Then, Mohammed
Nosrati (Superintendent of the Iranian Museums) accompanied by Faramarz
Talebi (Chairman for the Iranian Cultural Week) presented Alkhas with a
life time achievement award. Ironically, even the award only noted 50
years of service instead of 60 that have been dedicated by the humble
Artist.

The event was late and unorganized. As
fluent as some admirers might have tried to make it appear, this function
still screamed to be utterly undeserving of the maestro. But the man
himself was there to say a few words, and a few words in the name of
justice for art, he did say! When Hannibal Alkhas took the stage, the
dismay in his voice was more than apparent: "I don't know why Mr. Beheshti
is not present here? I can't understand why everyone is apologizing for
not being informed on time, or being asked to appear out of roster? This
cannot possibly be the way to honor an artist who has given so much to his
country. Please know this, I am not disappointed because this has been
done to me, I am only grieving for a man who has dedicated 60 years of his
life to painting! If I were a European baker for 60 years, undoubtedly,
they would present me with an oven of my own at the end of my ropes! I
thank God for I have a basement to call home today, and it's the kind and
admiring looks of many of you who appreciate me through my work".

Alkhas went on to note Nima (known as the father of the Iranian
contemporary poetry) and demanded that his dedication to Nima and other
contemporary poets be kept in the Nima Museum of Iran. He also asked that
the Cultural Ministry of Iran establish a museum in his name in the city
of Urmia. Alkhas wished that the many Assyrian paintings that he has
donated to the Iranian Irshad (Ministry of Spiritual Instructions) to be
displayed in those museums.

The ceremony also marked Alkhas' last day of gallery displays. As
always, he brought a new and innovative idea during this showing... he
closed the viewing by displaying his incredible wooden statues in each
corner.

Alkhas was born in 1930 in Kermanshah, Iran. So far, he has held over
100 private and more than 200 public viewings in Iran, Europe, Canada,
USA, and Australia. Alkhas has taught art for nearly 35 years.

Assyriologist, Jeremy Black, Passes on in
Oxford

Courtesy of the Independent

25 May 2004
by Irving Finkel and Stephen Roe

(ZNDA: London) The famed Assyriologist, Jeremy Allen Black, born in
Isleworth, Middlesex (United Kingdom) on 1 September 1951 died in Oxford
on 28 April 2004.

In 1988, the Assyriologist Jeremy Black was appointed University
Lecturer in Akkadian (the principal ancient language of Mesopotamia) at
Oxford University.

In addition to grammar and lexicography, Black was concerned with
literature, his thinking culminating in Reading Sumerian Poetry (1998). In
partnership with A.R. Green, he produced Gods,
Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia (1992), while other
fruitful collaborations resulted in A
Concise Dictionary of Akkadian (1999, with J.N. Postgate and A. R.
George), and the standard cuneiform publication Literary Texts from the
temple of Nabû (1996, with D.J. Wiseman).

He served Oxford University as Senior Proctor
in 1995-96, and from 1999 until 2001 was Chairman of the Faculty Board of
Oriental Studies. He also found time to administer the innovative and
much-appreciated online corpus of Sumerian literature, for which he was
awarded outside funding, which enabled him to establish a research team,
whose work will continue in the Oriental Institute in Oxford.

Black was born in 1951, the only son of a tea taster. His early
childhood was hard. Isolated in hospital for a year at the early age of
two as a polio victim, he had then to contend with the death of his mother
when he was five. Jeremy was educated at Slough Grammar School, and went
up as Exhibitioner in Classics to Worcester College, Oxford, in 1969.

After finals he then changed to the study of Sumerian and Akkadian
under Professor Oliver Gurney, and grew to become an exceptionally able
cuneiformist and a careful editor of inscriptions, with a particular
concentration on Sumerian. His Oxford BPhil of 1975 was followed by a
DPhil in 1980 on Sumerian Grammar in Babylonian Theory, partly supervised
by Edmond Sollberger. Before completing this he left Oxford to work at St
Catherine's Foundation at Windsor Great Park.

From 1981 to 1982 he was Research Associate at the Oriental Institute
in the University of Chicago, and between 1982 and 1988 was successively
Assistant Director and Director of the British Archaeological Expedition
to Iraq, where his many years surveying archaeological digs while pursuing
philological work left him with a deep love and knowledge of the country.
He was not always practical, and a typical Baghdad episode describes
Black's grumbling at the poor nature of a white cheese he had spread over
toast and put under the grill, oblivious to the fact that it was vanilla
ice-cream.

Black's ability for friendship and talking to people on many levels on
a wide range of subjects was one of his greatest gifts. He had a great
love of music, was adept at the flute and recorder and loved playing music
of the Baroque and Classical eras. He also sang in many Oxford choirs. In
company he was immensely engaging, a connoisseur of good food and drink,
and well-polished, hand-made shoes.

Jeremy Black's 1987 marriage to the archaeologist and fellow Near
Eastern scholar Ellen McAdam ended in divorce, but they remained on
friendly terms, and indeed had been planning together an exhibition on the
Sumerians. At the time of his death, he was also planning to return to
Baghdad.

Legislative Council Highlights
Assyrians in Australia

(ZNDA: Sydney) On 12 May His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia and leaders
of the Assyrian-Australian community were invited to meet with David
Clarke at the New South Wales State Parliament House in Sydney.

The following is a copy of an adjournment speech given by Mr.
Clark in the Australian Parliament last week. In a letter to His Grace Mar
Meelis, Hon. Clarke writes: "As adjournment speeches arc restricted to
five minutes there was not time to say more in my speech, however I am
sure that other opportunities will arise in the future that will enable me
to place more information pertaining to the Assyrian Community on the
Parliamentary Record."

The Hon David Clarke on the Australian Assyrian Community:

"Tonight I highlight the contribution being made
to Australian society by the Australian Assyrian community. Sadly, I feel
it is also necessary to highlight the persecution, intimidation and
discrimination that Assyrians have faced over the years, and are still
facing, in the Middle East and particularly in Iraq. We hear little about
the Australian Assyrian community. It does not set out to draw attention
to itself, but it is a community with many fine achievements. Not too long
ago I had the honour of attending the official opening of the new Assyrian
church community schOol at Fairfield. It is a magnificent school, and
great credit is due to His Grace Bishop Ma MeeIis Zaia of the Assyrian
Church of the East and the Assyrian community generally for this
achievement. This is a school in which Australian values and Christian
virtues are taught, and where the ancient and culturally rich Assyrian
language is preserved.

The Assyrian nation goes back to ancient times, and the
Bible makes many references to the Assyrian empire, which at its height
extended throughout Mesopotamia Into modern day Iraq. Iran, Turkey and
Syria. The Assyrian cities of Nimrod and Nineveh were centres of
civilization and culture in ancient times. The ancient Assyrians are
recognised as pioneers in medicine, astronomy, science and mathematics.
Their achievements in agriculture and irrigation are well documented, and
their contribution to art and music and their building of libraries stand
as a testament to their lasting gifts to mankind. The theories of Job of
Edessa rivalled those of Aristotle. The fourth century University of
Nisibis was the prototype for future universities. Through the missionary
efforts of the Apostle Thomas, the Assyrian nation was one of the first
nations to convert to Christianity; in turn the Assyrians sent
missionaries as far ahead as China, India, Japan and Korea.

However, history records that by the fourteenth century
the Assyrian people were facing perilous times. With the spread of Islam,
Christian Assyrians were compelled to either convert to Islam or suffer
persecution and added taxes. Further severe persecution was instigated by
the Mongolian Timurlane. Over the next few centuries the Assyrians faced
continuing cycles of persecution, pogroms and uprooting from region to
region. The Assyrians have fared little better in the twentieth century.
During the First World War the Assyrians sided with the Allies but their
reward was further genocide, this time at the hands of the Turks, among
others More then two-thirds of their population perished Despite promises
of self-determination by the League of Nations, genocide against the
Assyrians continued unabated,. With the rise of Saddam Hussein, Assyrian
Christians face renewed dangers. Measures were imposed to destroy their
cultural identity. Their families were divided and whole communities were
displaced.

Hundreds of Assyrian villages were destroyed and
history was rewritten to eliminate’ any reference to the Assyrians Of four
million Assyrians, more than half have been scattered outside Iraq.
including tens of thousands now residing in Australia, The Australian
Assyrian community rejoiced at the fall of Saddam Hussein They support
Australia’s role.in Iraq with great enthusiasm. It is their heartfelt wish
that Assyrians in Iraq have restored to them their cultural identity and
the right to practise unhindered their Christian faith, free from violence
by extremist fundamentalist Islamists, which they currently face. They
hope that Assyrians in Iraq Will gain the political rights that all
peoples are entitled to: the right to administer their own affairs, end
the right to live their lives in freedom without intimidation and
discrimination. I hope that the pleas of the Assyrians in Iraq are heeded.
I wish the Australian Assyrian community well in its continuing record of
positive achievement in our State and our nation."

The New Executive Committee of the Assyrian
American Association of San Jose

(ZNDA: San Jose) On Thursday, 27 May,
members of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose (AAASJ) elected a
new Executive Committee at their new "shotapota" building in the Willow
Glen neighborhood of San Jose, California. The following members were
elected:

Mr. George
Zaia.........................................President
Mr. Roomil
Baba........................................Vice President
Mrs. Mary
Pavel........................................Treasurer
Ms. Dorina
Golphashin...............................Secretary

Elected Board
Officers...............................Mrs. Arbella Babaei and Mr.
Jonathan Baitmansour (the E.C. will appoint three other
officers).
Board of Advisors......................................Mr.
David Benjamin, Mr. Hubert Varda, Mr. Jonathan
Isaac
Parliamentarian...........................................Mrs.
Rachelle
Daryoush
Auditor.......................................................Mr.
Wasil Petros

Mr. George Zaia succeeds two-term
president of the AAASJ, Mrs. Jacklin Bejan. The by-laws of the AAASJ allow
only two consecutive terms for the presidency of this Association. Local
and national Assyrian observers anticipate greater involvement for Mrs.
Bejan in repeating the successes of her last 4 years in San Jose within
the arena of the Assyrian national and/or global politics in the United
States. Reliable sources to Zinda Magazine in Chicago indicate that
California may otherwise hold the key to winning this year's elections of
the Assyrian American National Federation held in late August. The State
of California will be hosting this year's national convention.

$23 Million Chaldean Center to
Open in December

Courtesy of the Detroit News
27 May 2004

by Jennifer Chambers

(ZNDA: Detroit) Adhid Yousif Miri studies the entrance of the new
Chaldean Community Cultural Center and sees his ancient homeland of Iraq.

“If you look at the Babylonian Entrance in Iraq, it’s just like it,”
Miri says, pointing to four pairs of giant stone pillars rising from the
earth, part of a grand entrance to the center — the first of its kind in
Michigan and the United States — which is expected to open to the public
in December 2004.

Visitors walking through the doors of the massive brick-and-stone,
92,000-square-foot building should expect a serious history lesson on the
last 5,000 years of culture and contributions by Chaldeans, a people who
trace their history to ancient Mesopotamia.

“This is going to be our hallmark,” said Miri, president of the
Chaldean Iraqi-American Association of Michigan. “We expect this to be a
huge draw for schools, other community groups and visitors to the city of
Detroit.”

And at a time when the war in Iraq dominates the news, local Chaldeans
are hoping the museum and cultural center will educate and remind everyone
of their rich history.

“This was the cradle of civilization, where the wheel was invented,
where astronomy and mathematics began. The first schools, the first
library, the first law,” Martin Manna, spokesman for the association said.
“This gives us a chance to tell our story.”

Metro Detroit is home to the largest population of Chaldeans — about
100,000 — outside the Middle East. About half of that population lives in
Oakland County, center officials said.

The association, which has 1,000 member families, is spending $23
million to build the sprawling center on the grounds of the Shenandoah
Golf Course on Walnut Lake Road, a property it purchased in 1993. The
building will also include a new clubhouse and pro shop for the 18-hole
course and restaurants and a conference room.

The focus of the community center will be
its art gallery, museum and cultural center and a banquet hall that seats
750.

Association officials are collecting pieces of Chaldean art by working
with scholars and historians from around the world and members of the
Chaldean community who may have pieces packed away in their homes. Part of
the center’s mission is to acquire, exhibit and serve as a permanent home
for the artwork.

Museum organizers hope to reproduce part of the Hanging Gardens of
Babylon and craft a time line of the entire 5,000-year history of the
Chaldean people.

Rosemary Antone, chairwoman of the center, is actively negotiating with
the Berlin Museum, the Louvre in Paris, the Detroit Institute of Arts and
Cranbrook to acquire artifacts or copies of artifacts for the center.

“The Berlin Museum has a lot of the original artifacts of Iraq and
Mesopotamia. They have casts of the Hammurabi Code and the original tablet
of writing. We are hoping to purchase a copy of the original,” Antone
said.

Another source of artifacts comes from local Iraqis who are cleaning
their closets and attics, retrieving stored books, fabrics and silks,
hand-woven straw baskets and fans.

As part of the museum, the association plans to re-create an Iraqi
village with figures, pottery and other items to show what life was really
like in a Christian village more than a thousand years ago.

The lower level of the building will contain a gymnasium, where
youngsters and adults can play basketball or soccer and swim in an outdoor
pool, and classrooms where people can learn to read, write and speak
Aramaic, the oldest continuously spoken language in the world.

“With what’s going on in Iraq, it is a language that may become
extinct,” Manna said. “We are trying to do everything to preserve it. We
have a lot of people who are here now who still speak it.”

The association has formed partnerships with school districts and other
community groups such as the Jewish Community Center and area temples to
encourage others to learn about the Chaldean community. The Chaldean
community of Metro Detroit has changed, Miri said, and is attaining higher
education levels, demanding higher standards of living and increasing in
size.

“This really reflects the pride and progress of the community,” Miri
said. “The aspiration and needs of the new generation have grown as well.
We need to create something to preserve this culture or people will
disperse."

Irish-Assyrian Student
Awarded $40,000 Scholarship to Notre Dame

Courtesy of the Navajo-Hopi
Observer
31 May 2004
by Rosanda Suetopka Thayer

(ZNDA: Phoenix) Daniel O'Connor, a
senior at Tuba City High School was this year's Salutatorian at the
graduation ceremony held last week. Daniel is of Irish and Assyrian
descent and the son of Ann and Dr. Pat O'Connor.

He is a Top Ten Senior and member
of the National Honor Society. Daniel won a full scholarship to Notre Dame
University worth around $40,000. Notre Dame University has a longstanding
history of teaching, research, scholarship and community service. Daniel
is also a member of his school's basketball team.

Tuba City is a city of about 8,500 people of whom 95 percent
are American-Indians.

Attention Class of 2004 Assyrian
Graduates!

Zinda Wants You!.......It's
that time of the year - graduation gowns, tassels, diplomas, parties and
the end of perhaps the most eventful years of one's youth. Are you
graduating from high school, college and university this year? Zinda
Magazine wants to know. Send us the information requested below to [email-masked] before June 12 and we will include you in our prestigious
list of Zinda Magazine Annual Assyrian Graduates. We encourage the
parents, friends, and relatives of this year's graduates to contact their
loved ones also. We hope that your profile will also include your favorite
photo from your years of study. Here's the information we
need:

Your Full Name
Residence (City and
Country only)
Your School Name
Degree (i.e. B.A. or
PhD)
Major (i.e. Art History, Nursing)
Honors &
Achievements (Academic, Athletic, etc)
Moving on to a
college/university? Where to?
Say something about yourself,
your dreams, years in school,
etc.

You certainly deserve a big
celebration and what better than sharing your success with thousands of
our readers in over 60 countries around the world.

Congratulations from all of us
at Zinda Magazine!

Surfs Up!
Letters to the Editor

The Practice of Middle East
Method of Communications

Ivan Kakovitch
California

The paragraph below is an excerpt from the article published in the
Zinda Magazine of May 24, 2004: "Archbishop Giwargis Sliwa, the
Patriarchal vicar of the Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq, spoke next.
He thanked the U.N. special envoy for meeting with the Chaldo-Assyrian
group, who represented various institutions. He stated that the
Chaldo-Assyrians look forward to an important role for the U.N. and that
it should draw the major outlines for the upcoming critical period facing
Iraq. Following the Archbishops' speech, others participants were given a
chance in the discussion on the importance of the guarantee to the
Chaldo-Assyrians of a fair share in the upcoming government and all its
agencies."

Mar Giwargis Sliwa, the Archbishop of the Assyrian Church of the East,
or any other Priest, Bishop, Archbishop or Patriarch would never
contemplate to apply the subjective nomenclature 'Chaldo-Assyrian' in
their statements, no matter when, where, and to whom they are
addressed.

Margiwargis Sliva did not address the UN Representative on behest of
the 'Chaldo-Assyrians'.

Mar Giwargis Sliva used the nomenclature 'Atourai' (Assyrians) and
'Chrassiani' (Christians)-on two occasions for the first, and on one
occasion on the latter, when confronted with the UN Representative in
Baghdad.

It is irresponsible for the Editorial Staff of Zinda Magazine to
publish such fabricated and reconstructed article, without
investigating.

However, it is also despicable to advance, a political strata upon its
readers, since it tends to be a journalistic rather than a political
toy.

Zinda Magazine ought to have known better than painting words into the
mouth of a revered servant of the Church of the East.

Just like Mr. Bush would not speak on behalf of the safety of the
Communists of North Korea, inasmuch as Mr. Kim would not do likewise on
behalf of the Capitalists of Wall Street, neither Margiwargis Sliva nor
his counterpart the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church would
sidestep their faiths on behalf of each other.

I had high regards for Zinda Magazine, and I cherished and respected it
by providing some contents to be published in it for a while. I am sorry I
have been associated with it at all.

Zinda Magazine proved not be affiliated with journalistic approaches,
but rather with political aims.

[Zinda: The article in question carries no personal
commentary or opinion by Mar Giwargis Sliva.. Zinda Magazine will continue
to use the term "Chaldo-Assyrian" in relating information and events that
pertain to the Syriac-speaking population in Iraq. We appreciate our
readers' politically-movtived opinion on this matter and their
constructive criticism in helping us improve the quality of our
reporting.]

Our Expectations Are Much
More!

Alfred Alkhas
California

I must say that you are doing a great job and I must commend you on
your extraordinary efforts in covering all the Chaldo-Assyrian affairs
around the world.

Having said that, I think that great part of your mission also is to
examine any news before posting them in this respectful and important
magazine we ever had. On this regard, I would like to bring your attention
to the article about Mr. Lbramimi’s meeting in Baghdad with several
Chaldo-Assyrians representing various institutions or, to be more precise,
“political, civic, cultural, professional and vocational groups in
Iraq”.

It does not say who attended this meeting in addition to His Grace Mar
Gewargis, what was the context of the meeting nor the topic of the
discussed issues except “to obtain their feedback and prepare for the
transfer of power on 30 June 2004” and for few vague words from His Grace
Mar Gewargis about ‘Chaldo-Assyrians look forward to an important role for
the U.N. and that it should draw the major outlines for the upcoming
critical period facing Iraq.’

I think we need to provide much more details on such important news
other than Lbrahimi’s great declaration! "We are not going to kidnap
Saddam Hussein from his prison and bring him back to the presidential
palace."

Did this Chaldo-Assyrian group present any specific demands to the UN
regarding their share in the future Iraqi government? Did they discuss any
precise concerns regarding the current and future situation of the
Chaldo-Assyrian people in Iraq and in North or South regions
specifically?

I don’t think that such meetings are deemed fruitful or even worth
mentioning without our demands for national rights and our concerns being
discussed and addressed properly. We don’t have such luxury time and
opportunities meeting frequently with high-ranking officials, whether from
the UN or else where, and we must take full advantage of such occasions to
best serve our national cause.

Typical Responses to a
Challenge

Romina
Khananisho
Arizona

Steve Enwia is a strong supporter of
ZOWAA and I respect him for that. However, do not ask me what I have done
in my life for my own country, because my daily bread is provided by my
work in the American governmental process.  I would also be
happy to sit down with Fred Rustam and discuss my concerns. Mr. Supporters
of Zowaa as these two men should not tell those that disagree to be quiet.
That is not what brings upon excellence. They are supporting an effort by
the Coalition Forces to give people of Iraq the rights of Democracy, yet
they tell those that >have a different opinion than theirs to shut up.
Doesn't sound like Democracy to me.

I am sure I have upset more
than a few people by my comments posted a few weeks ago. That is expected
since I introduced a challenge of excellence to those who are working to
give the Assyrians of Iraq the rights they deserve. There is no reason to
be defensive. Understand that my concern is that not enough is being done
in Iraq. Just like you, I want the best for my people. I have the right to
express my concerns and I have a right to criticize my leaders. I am an
American and that is what we do. If I don’t challenge my leaders and I
don’t question their ability to perform, they will be content with status
quo.

It is not necessary to judge an individual for their comments.
Personal attacks are not professional and not warranted. For the past few
years, I have watched events unfold. I have been to ZOWAA functions and
have ALWAYS supported them through their efforts and will continue to do
so. But just as I provide the moral and financial support to our dear
President Bush, I expect nothing but the best from him as my leader. If I
feel he is not performing to the best of his ability, I will express my
concerns. I will vote for someone else or I communicate my concerns with
Congressional members. Like President Bush, Mr. Kanna is a LEADER. He is
not just a worker. He is the ONLY leader we have out there. The difference
is that we are not able to vote him out, we are not able to complain to
anyone about him and now you are saying we should not express our
concerns. Well guys that is not what we like to call in this country, Free
Will. He is the only one that has the ability to fight for what our
families in Iraq deserve. They deserve MUCH more than what they are being
given.

I am not in Iraq and never will be. In fact, if land were
given to the Assyrians of Iraq, it belongs to them. I would never want a
piece of the pie. I am and American, born, raised and educated in this
wonderful country. I just want for our people to have what we are blessed
to have here. The fact is, no matter how much representation we have,
majority rules. The majority of Iraq is Muslim. We are such a small
percentage that it just won’t make a big difference in the everyday rule
of law. We will always be overruled, we will always be outvoted and we
will always be treated as second class citizens on their soil. After all
the hard work in the past 25 years ZOWAA has put forth, why settle for
anything less than sovereign land for the indigenous people of Iraq? That
will remain to be my question. No need to respond. In the mean time, I
will continue to provide moral and financial support to ZOWAA. I must do
what is best for those people out there and that is supporting the only
organization that has a voice for them.

All of those that are
involved in this personally, you must understand that with responsibility
of leadership comes criticism as well as praise. I will praise Mr. Kanna
and ZOWAA for many accomplishments, including ALL those that my friends
Steve and Fred mention. But I will criticize for those missed
opportunities and hope that they expand their fight to what I believe is
rightfully ours. You can attack me personally all you want, but that does
nothing to me or my character. My wonderful friend Steve knows that
personal attacks mean nothing to me.

It is great that there are so
many supporters of Mr. Kanna’s work however, you must always expect more
from our leaders than what they give. We have had many great Presidents in
this country and each one has been criticized. If you are going to play in
the game of politics be ready to be challenged and questioned. It comes
with the territory. I have never acted as if I know more than the person
next to me about what is happening in Iraq. My specialty is not Foreign
Policy. I do however know American Politics and I do know the rights that
come with a Democratic government. I live, breath and pay my bills working
the governmental process of behalf of the top corporations in Arizona.
U.S. domestic policy is my life and I know that what is being given to us
in Iraq comes with the territory.

Mr. Steve Enwia whom I may meet
many times in the near future and Mr. Fred Rustam will find that I am not
against what ZOWAA is doing. I am in fact expecting excellence from the
ONLY representation we have in Iraq. If ZOWAA does not reach for the stars
and fight for what should be ours than who is going to do it? This is the
ONLY opportunity we will ever be given to fight for a home for our
families out there.

Memorial Day Is Not Shaikhani
Day

Shamasha Dan
Daniel
California

"Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that
knows not breaking,
Dream of battled fields no more.
Days of
danger, nights of waking."

~Sir Walter Scott

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance
for those who have died in this nation's service. But most Assyrians
nowadays do not know the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many
cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, and
neglected. Assyrians do not know the proper flag etiquette for the day.
Many think this day is for filling convention halls, and dancing
Shaikhani.

To help educate and remind Assyrians of the
true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance"
resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time,
for all Americans (that is including Assyrians) "To voluntarily and
informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect,
pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening
to Taps." To observe this day one can take a lead from General John Logan
"...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds
above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn
presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left
among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and
sailor's widow and orphan." --General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5
May 1868

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who
are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we
do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember
our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our
friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice by:

• visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of
our fallen heroes.
• visiting memorials.
• flying the U.S. Flag
at half-staff until noon.
• flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well
(Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
•
participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause
and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

• renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our
fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

Victims of Genocide Share a
Common Destiny

Bailis Yamlikha
Shamun
North Carolina

I read the responses of Messrs.
Benyamin Dinkha and Alfred Alkhas (Armenian and Assyrian Genocide). I
agree that detaching our case from that of our Armenian brothers is unwise
and rather detrimental in more than one respect. The tragic events of
World War I had major negative consequences for two peoples that have a
lot in common and, to a great measure, share a common destiny.
Undoubtedly, our united efforts will be more effective in bringing this
matter to the attention of those who hold the reins of power.

As to dealing with Turkey, I urge caution in our approach. Regardless
of past Turkish behavior, we are living in a time that is entirely unlike
that of nine decades ago and under a different world order. With the trend
of democratic ideals and human rights spreading throughout the globe, it
behooves us to employ diplomacy. While making the point of the genocide,
our objective should be to realize certain advantages diplomatically
rather than confront this powerful adversary. I believe, securing the
return of our people to their former lands would, in fact, be a major
accomplishment. I also believe that Turkey's intentions to join the
European Union and its attempts to alter its former image, should play in
our favor. Indeed, there are recent indications that the Turkish
authorities are leaning in that direction.

Our Duty to Debunk Those
Myths

Jean-Paul Sliva
France

Thanks again and still more congratulations for
your esteemed efforts for the promotion of Assyrianism.

I want to congratulate Ninos Isaac for his article "Assyria in the face
of History" in which he refutes the unscholarly description of Assyrians
in History books.

I personally endorse Ninos's opinion and wish to extend my warmest
greetings.

To bring grist to his mill, I would say that I have read that a clay
tablet has been translated that shows Assyrians consideration for the
welfare of captives.
The tablet is from the King of Assyria to the
Governor of a province where captives were sent.

Well the letter
read something along that line:" captives are being sent to your province,
... see to it that they are well treated otherwise you shall
die...". Such an order does prove that the welfare of others
(including prisoners) was uppermost in the mind of the State.

It is our duty to debunk myths about Assyrians being "cruel".

Shame on self-styled "professors" who are actually ignoramuses of
Assyrian History !

Good work to help honest researchers to probe beneath the surface as
Ninos and your magazine are doing.

All the other interventions are great too (especially the one about the
History of
"Newroos").

Surfer's
Corner
Community
Events

Human Race Walkathon, A Smashing
Success

AAS-Santa Clara Valley
Chapter
California

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the
Assyrian Aid Society of America again participated in this year's Human
Race Walkathon on Saturday May 8th at Shoreline Park in Mountain View. The
Walkathon is a festive annual occasion where thousands of people run or
walk to support honorable causes through charity organizations of their
choice.

Due to the overwhelming response by our community this year, we had two
teams with a total of 120 people registered for the 5K walk. National
Semiconductor sponsored our teams again and matched the donations.
Walkathon 2004 was a smashing success, it raised a total of $12,730
including the $6000 matching funds donated by National Semiconductor.
Silicon Valley Volunteer Center which organizes the Human Race Walkathon
takes a 25% share of the proceeds, thus the net amount raised for our
chapter is $9630. This money will be used through the Assyrian Aid Society
of Iraq to help displaced Assyrians return to their villages in
Bet-Nahrain.

Our most heart-felt thanks to all of the people who supported us either
by donating money or participating in the 5K walk. We very much appreciate
your generous support. Let's do it again next year.

[Zinda: The Assyrian Aid Society of America
(www.assyrianaid.org) is a tax exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization ·
Federal ID # 94-3147517 · All contributions are tax
deductible.]

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Literatus
Editor's
Choice

The Assyrian Christians'
Dilemma in Iraq: Outlook and Solution

Fred Aprim
California

Introduction

The United States and the United Nations continue
their efforts to establish the foundations for what they envision as a
federal, free, democratic, and pluralistic Iraq. However, there are those
opinions that realize that the experiences of the last 83 years make it
impossible for the various ethnic and religious groups, especially the
Assyrian Christians, to live in peace in Iraq.

The latest events in
Iraq have opened old wounds and reminded the Assyrians of certain
realities that could not be ignored. They have begun to express many
concerns, especially after the rise of the Islamist groups and Kurdish
influence, the inclusion of Islam as the official religion of Iraq, and
the making of Shari'aa (Islamic Law) a source of legislation, as
instituted in the newly published Transitional Administrative Law of Iraq,
also known as the Iraqi Fundamental Law. Article 7 - A of the this law
states:

"Islam is the official religion of the State and is to
be considered a source of legislation. No law that contradicts the
universally agreed tenets of Islam, the principles of democracy, or the
rights cited in Chapter Two of this Law may be enacted during the
transitional period. This Law respects the Islamic identity of the
majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of
all individuals to freedom of religious belief and
practice."

These events worried the Assyrian Christians. The
Assyrians base their concerns on realities on the ground and a traumatic
history. They feel that only an Assyrian administrative enclave in
northern Iraq could stand a chance of guaranteeing their survival.

Assyrians and the Making of
Iraq

In 1921 and as the mandated power over Iraq post
World War I, Great Britain played a significant role in creating this
artificial country called Iraq. Still, it was not until 1926 that Great
Britain, Turkey, and Iraq agreed on the present Turkish-Iraqi frontiers.
In October 1932, the extraordinary efforts of Great Britain paved the road
for Iraq to enter into the League of Nations (Replaced by the United
Nations after World War II) as a sovereign and independent state. However,
reality on the ground was something completely different. Dodge explains
that Iraq was a territory inhabited by a diverse and divided population
run by a small clique of mainly Sunni politicians who could not control
the country without the help of British airplanes [1]. The British relied
on certain tribal leaders and Baghdadi politicians to run Iraq while
ignoring the rest of the ethnically and religiously diverse population.
Many of the Baghdadi politicians were members of the fallen Ottoman
military and political institutions, who were the reason behind the
Assyrian massacre few years later.

The British mandatory obligations, writes Dodge,
were based on Article 22 of the League of Nations Covenant. The article
stated that a Mandate could be terminated only when a "Community shall
be able to stand alone without the rendering of administrative advice and
assistance by the Mandatory" [2]. The British failed miserably in
establishing a true democratic and stable state before leaving Iraq;
therefore, subsequent problems throughout the history of Iraq fall on the
shoulders of the British failed policy.

Historians agree that the Assyrian national
awakening verged among the Assyrians by the end of nineteenth century [3].
It was during World War I (1914 – 1918) that the Assyrian national
movement was at its peak. However, the 1933 Simmel massacre of 3000
unarmed Assyrians (including women, children, and old men) in north of
Iraq by the Iraqi army and the looting of Assyrian villages by Arab and
Kurdish tribes crippled this movement and forced the Assyrians into
cultural and political isolation. The massacre was the work of Iraqi army
with the approval of Iraq's Minister of Interior [4]. Assyrian nationals
realized that the Iraqi authorities would not hesitate to use ruthless
force against innocent and unarmed civilians on any pretext.

Others argue that aside from the Simmel massacre,
acts of oppression and persecution against Assyrian Christians (also known
as Chaldeans, Nestorains, Jacobites, and Suryan) in Iraq were isolated
cases, occurring at certain times or locations, until the coming of the
Ba'ath regime in 1968.

Ba'athist Ethnic Assault on Assyrian
Identity

After 1968, Ba'athis policy turned toward the
repression of ethnic groups in Iraq. Three events directed at the
Assyrians profoundly effected the position of the Assyrian Christians:

1. Consider the followings:

a)...In 1970, the Late Mar Eshai Shimun, exiled
Assyrian patriarch since 1933, was invited officially to visit Iraq and
was treated as a head of state. Later, a presidential decree restored to
the patriarch his Iraqi citizenship that was revoked in 1933. In doing so,
the Iraqi government expected to accomplish something in return. It asked
the patriarch to establish an Assyrian army to fight the Kurds in northern
Iraq. The Iraqi Army, made mainly of Arabs living in plain land and
southern marshes, has proven that it was neither capable nor fit to
decisively win a long war against the Kurds. The battle zone was north
Iraq mountainous region, not familiar to Arabs. However, the patriarch
refused. He was assassinated in San Jose in 1975 under very controversial
circumstances. Many Assyrians point at the Iraqi government as the
instigator of the assassination plot.

b)...The Iraqi government did not give up on the idea
of using Assyrians to stop the Kurdish revolt. In 1972, the government
invited one of the earlier Assyrian freedom movement leaders, malik Yaqu
Ismael, who had escaped Iraq since 1933 as well. However, he too refused
to take part in such an enterprise. Coincidentally, he too died in 1974,
quite suddenly.

c)...The government's
efforts continued along this course. In the 1980s, the Iraqi army created
a special battalion (Malko Force) headed by few government loyalists and
tricked many Assyrians to join the force; however, the plan failed and
many Assyrians were killed in battles in northern Iraq.

2. When these attempts, meaning pitting Assyrians
against Kurds, showed signs of failure, simultaneously the Iraqi
government began a carefully planned Arabization policy of the Assyrians.
The government continued a zealous policy of dividing the Assyrians along
denominational lines, something previous government practiced but to a
much lesser degree.

3. The third threat to Assyrians rose from the
ascent of the fundamental Islamic reaction in Iraq in the aftermath of the
Gulf War, even among the Kurds, represented by Ansar al-Islam group.
Saddam's Ba'athist regime began to institute measures to placate Muslim
extremists. These measures were detrimental to secular and moderate
Muslims but most damaging to Assyrians, Yezidis, and other non-Muslims.

The Effects of Ba'athist Ideology on
Assyrians

The ideology of the Ba'ath regime is manifested
from its two most popular mottos: a) Umma 'Arabbiyah wahidah dhat risalah
khalidah (One Arab Nation with Eternal Mission), and b) wahhdah,
hurriyyah, ishtirakiyyah (Union, Freedom, Socialism). In the Ba'ath
ideology, there are only Arabs (whether Moslems or Christians) in the
Greater united Arab region that extends from the Persian Gulf to the
Atlantic Ocean.

The Arabization policy articulated by the Ba'ath
regime included the implementation of policies that were to slowly but
surely Arabize the younger Assyrian generations. Some of these policies
included, only for example, forcing Assyrian teens into Arab youth groups
and into certain Ba'ath youth camps for indoctrination. Other policies
included prohibiting parents from giving their newborns Assyrian names and
forcing these parents to give these newborns Arab names.

The Iraqi government went on to nationalize private
Assyrian schools where Syriac (Assyrian) language was taught, and in
certain cases abolished the right to teach the language. Furthermore, the
government tricked youngsters into talking about what their parents
discussed at home, a policy that built psychological and communicational
barriers between many parents and their young children. Parents became
terrified to discuss political matters in front of their children at home.
Last, and quite significantly, but not least, the Iraqi government began
to force Christian students to attend Islamic religious classes that
taught the Koran.

Despite the presence of the freedom of worship that
existed during the first twenty years of the Ba'ath rule, the situation
changed later. After the Gulf War and during the embargo, the Ba'ath
regime became increasingly isolated, especially after the establishment of
the No-Fly Zones in the north and the south. The Ba'ath regime had to find
a powerful and effective denominator that will help it to gain much needed
support. The Ba'ath government found the answer in the use of Islam
through the following steps:

- Modifying the Iraqi flag by adding
to it the most venerated expression in the minds and hearts of many
Moslems: alahu akbar (God is Greatest).

- Systematically promoting
Islamists policies through government agencies, which were secular in
nature previously.

This gained the regime popularity with many
Islamist groups, a few inside Iraq but mostly from neighboring regions,
including al-Qa'ida, as certain reports claim. Whereas before the early
1990s the regime had been a threat to the Assyrians primarily as an ethnic
group, in its later years it turned into a threat for the Assyrians as
Christians as well. Thus, the threat was complete, ethnically and
religiously. Saudi Arabian money poured into Iraq and many regions in
northern Iraq that had never seen mosques before were now venues for
extensive mosque constructions.

The Effect of Islam

Before I proceed, it is necessary to define the use
of the two words: Moslems and Islamists. Few make the mistake of using the
two words analogously; however, that is not necessarily the case. A Moslem
and a Christian could live side by side, as many argue; however, it is
impossible for a Christian to live in peace with an Islamist (fanatic
Moslem) because of many fundamental differences and issues, which some of
them are addressed in this article.

It is a well-known fact that the East has been
always a spiritual place with clerics who play a major role in society. If
we look around us, whether in Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, India,
Pakistan, Philippines, or Indonesia, we could learn many lessons about the
Islamists/Christians modern conflicts. In fact, this conflict is wider
than many think; it exists in African countries as well, countries like
Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, and others. Even Europe could not escape the
hatred; one can never forget the atrocities committed by extremists in the
Balkans under the name of Islam and Christianity.

The fundamentalists are behind this much
hatred, especially when they emphasize on certain verses in the Koran to
legitimize their propaganda. The Koran states in the Dinner Table chapter
(5:51): "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians
for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes
them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not
guide the unjust people." This is popularized despite being told for
example that Hind, the daughter of al-Nu‛man, expressed her wish to Khalid
Ibn al-Walid, a great Moslem army leader during Islamic conquest of
Mesopotamia and Syria, that he protects the Christian community. He
responded by saying, "This is our obligation, and our Prophet has asked us
to do so" [5]. When the Islamists argue that a Christian cannot rule over
a Moslem; the essence of democracy is challenged and threatened. If a
Christian cannot nominate himself/herself for a high position in the
Moslem world, without living the risk of losing his/her life, the
fundamentals of democracy are lost. Now that Kurdish Ansar al-Islam and
the Wahabi Bin Laden's al-Qaida are inside Iraq, the future for Christians
is gloomier than ever.

Other chapters in the Koran include sayings that
are discomforting to Christians. The Koran, for example, denies the
Christian's concept of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. The Koran
in the Women chapter (4:171) says: "O followers of the Book! do not
exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah,
but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle
of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from
Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three.
Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His
glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever
is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector." Of
course, by followers of the Book it is a reference to Christians and Jews;
Allah is God; Isa is Jesus; and Marium is Mary. The Koran's general
position is that Jesus was just another prophet and basically a good man.
In fact, the Koran looks at the core of the Christian belief, i.e. the
crucifixion of Christ and his glorious rise, as a lie. The Koran (4:157)
says: "And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of
Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they
crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those
who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge
respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for
sure."

The Islamists promote feelings that destabilize any
society that include diverse ethnic and religious groups. In my opinion,
nothing on paper (including a constitution) could stop the oppression and
persecution of a Christian in Iraq as long as the Shari'aa is made
officially "the source" or "a source" of the constitution. I believe that
liberal interpretation of the Shari'aa enjoys far more acceptance among
moderate Moslems than that of the Islamists' dovish interpretations. This
becomes extremely crucial when interpretations of certain somehow vague
Surah or Surat (chapter in the Koran) or Hadith (narrative relating deeds
and utterance of Mohammed and his companions) are left in the hands of
fundamentalists to interpret the way they see suitable without strong or
loud opposition. There is potential for great danger represented in any
cleric who could cause chaos, destruction, and wholesale massacre with one
simple fatwa (religious edict).

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the Islamists would not
hesitate to cause damage to their own mosques and use propaganda to blame
the "Christians" (represented here in the United States) in order to
arouse passion and hatred against both the helpless indigenous Christian
population and the occupying "Christian Crusaders." The hatred mounts
despite the fact that the indigenous Christian population in Iraq is more
Iraqi than it is American. Many Iraqis look up to America because of its
laws of personal liberty, justice, and freedom that are offered to all its
citizens. The April 27, 2001 issue of the Detroit News (www.DetNews.com)
reported about the largest and most comprehensive survey of mosques in
America that was released at the time. "The Mosque in America: A National
Project" had reported that there were 1,209 mosques in America in 2001.
Additionally, the Constitution of the United States does not declare
Christianity as its official religion. Still, Islamists will refer to the
United States as the "devil state."

Despite the fact that Article (7-A) of the Iraqi
Fundamental Law grants the freedom of religion to non-Moslems; however,
that same article declares Islam as the official religion of Iraq.
Therefore, the law allows certain rights for Christians to exist, however,
they are never equal to the rights of Moslems. Christians therefore will
remain as second-class citizens with reduced legal rights that are subject
to the Islamic State and the interpretation of certain individuals of the
Shari'aa. The loophole in the Iraqi Fundamental Law is in article (7-A),
where it states that Islam is "a source" of drafting legislations. It did
not need to say that it was "the source," because Islamists could always
argue based on certain specific interpretation of the Koran to win their
arguments about any unfair issue that could be raised by Christians. This
in itself defines the limits of the Christians' religious freedoms very
strictly, including for example building of churches; ringing the
churches' bells; or as simple matters as related to women's dress. This is
possible because article (7-A) is clear that: "No law that contradicts
the universally agreed tenets of Islam … may be enacted during the
transitional period." It is obvious that there are fundamental issues
in Islam that contradict with Christianity. If that is the case, how can
Christians of the Middle East, the Cradle of Christianity, survive under
such provisions?

Government's policies in connection with
construction of sanctuaries that belong to different religions are unfair
in many countries. This includes necessary permits and government grants
or assistance to erect mosques and churches. This unfair practice is very
old and a simple look at one set of data explains it all. According to
Ottoman documents, there were 32 mosques and 13 churches in Mosul's urban
area during 1892-1893. By 1894-1895, the mosques have increased by 97 to
129, meanwhile the churches increased by only 4 to 17 [6]. This happened
despite the fact that the Christian population in Mosul region was still
significant in the latter parts of the nineteenth century.

We have many warning signs for the rise of
Islamists threat in Iraq:

- Many Assyrian Christian families throughout
Iraq have received letters ordering their women to wear the Hijab
(woman's veil) [7].
- The threatening of many Assyrians who owned
liquor stores in southern and central Iraq to close their business
[8].
- The killing of Assyrians who own liquor stores in Basrah
(southern Iraq) and Ramadi (central Iraq). Hundreds of Catholic Assyrian
families have escaped the southern Iraq city of Basra already and
returned to the original villages of their forefathers in the Mosul
(Nineveh) plain [9].
- The killing of nuns and priests [10].
-
Attacks on Assyrian Christians while celebrating their traditional
rituals, such as the recent attack on Assyrians celebrating Kaalu Sulaqa
in Kirkuk [11].
- Attack and intimidate of Christian communities
throughout Iraq [12].
- Attack churches in north of Iraq using
machine guns and plant bombs in schools run by churches in Mosul
[13].

Many Moslem countries today continue to impose
heavy penalties and fines on top of prison terms for proselytizing a
Moslem to another religion. In fact, repudiation of Islam is considered a
crime worthy of death, whereas the Moslem has the right to proselytize
Christians. The Koran states in the Family of the Imran chapter (3:118):
"O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others
than your own people; they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you;
they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from
out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still;
indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will
understand." This scares many Christians who have to live, or are living,
among Moslems (Muslims).

To understand the fears of Christians from living
in an official Islamic state, we must understand a very important
principle of Islamists, which is Jihad (holy war against non-Moslems). The
aim of jihad, writes Ye'or, is to subjugate the peoples of the world
to the law of Allah, decreed by his prophet Muhammad. Mankind is divided
into two groups, Muslims and non-Muslims. The former compose the Islamic
community, the umma, who own the territories of the dar al-Islam governed
by Islamic law. Non-Muslims are harbis, inhabitants of the dar al-harb,
the lands of war, so called because they are destined to come under
Islamic jurisdiction, either by war (harb), or by the conversion of their
inhabitants. According to the jurisconsult Ibn Taimiya (fourteenth
century), the property of non-Muslims must revert legitimately to the sole
followers of the true religion (Islam) [14]. The message is
clear.

Despite the call of the Koran to protect the People
of the Book (meaning Christians and Jews), still, there are realities of
life in many Middle East and other countries in Asia and Africa. It is
almost impossible to change 1300 years laws and practices by simply
issuing passive constitutions that sound impressive on paper. The state
has to set example by issuing strict and unbiased penal codes in its laws
and implement such laws against all those who transgress on the liberties
of others. This seldom happens in the Moslem world, as Christians and
Moslems are not treated equally in courts of law. Furthermore, the
testimony of a Christian is never considered in the same level to that of
a Moslem. If a court case came down to the word of a Christian against
that of a Moslem, chances are the Christian will lose. Indeed, many
countries in the Moslem world promise personal rights, almost a copycat of
those granted under the constitution of the United States. However, how
many countries prepare the healthy atmosphere to allow people to practice
those rights freely and without fear? Words on paper cannot change the
mentality of people. Iraq needs time; at least two generations to
rehabilitate the society that has been brain washed, if, that is, all
conditions on the ground were accommodating. Meanwhile, Assyrian
Christians cannot sit idle, an easy prey for the fundamentalists' frame of
mind.

Assyrian National Perspective in Twentieth
Century

During World War I and the ensuing years, Ottoman
Turkey massacred some 2,500,000 of its Christian population (1,500,000
Armenians; 750,000 Assyrians; and 300,000 Greeks) and committed the first
genocide of twentieth century. The members of the Committee of Union and
Progress (CUP) in their October 1911 Congress had already defined their
policy towards the Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks. According to renowned
historian Arnold Toynbee, the congress declared:

“Sooner or later the complete
Ottomanisation of all Turkish subjects must be effected; it is clear,
however, that this can never be attained by persuasion, but that we must
resort to armed force… The nationalities are a quantité négligeable. They
can keep their religion but not their language. The propagation of the
Turkish language is one of the sovereign means of confirming the
Mohammedan supremacy and assimilating the other elements” [15].
Ottoman Turks did not stop there; they changed the northern Iraq
demographic picture as well. Toynbee writes: The Ottoman Government,
desiring a barrier against Persia, encouraged the Kurds to spread
themselves over Armenia; it welcomed less the Shammar and Anazeh Arabs,
who broke over the Euphrates about the year 1700 and turned the last
fields of Northern Mesopotamia to desolation; but it was too impotent or
indifferent to turn them out [16].

When the Kingdom of Iraq was established in 1921,
many of its government officials were of Turkish and Kurdish background.
On top of that, many of these officials were previously employed in the
Ottoman Turkish civil and military services. These same officials took
part in the Christian genocide in Turkey during and after WWI. The
massacre of Assyrians in Iraq in 1933 was therefore coming; it was only a
matter of time. These officials, and subsequent officials, continued
practicing earlier policies by attempting to Arabize, Turkify, and Kurdify
the Assyrian population. Some world leaders and international groups
envisioned this reality. They lobbied throughout the first quarter of the
twentieth century for the Assyrian cause and a small Assyrian
administrative region: The "Assyrian Triangle" or "Little Assyria"
(defined as the triangular region with the following boundaries: the
Tigris River to the west; Upper Zab River to the East; and the
Iraqi-Turkish borders to the north).

The settlement of Assyrians in a homogenous enclave
has been an unresolved issue since the conclusion of World War I;
meanwhile the promise itself of the Allied Forces predates the state of
Iraq. Nisan writes that in 1918, the Anglo-French Declaration referred to
indigenous government for the Assyrians as part of postwar principles of
settlement [17]. The official United States government report by the
Inter-allied Commission on Mandates in Turkey, American Section, also
known as the King-Crane Commission Report, issued August 28, 1919,
guaranteed special considerations not only for Kurds but for Assyrians as
well [18].

The Assyrians threw in their lot with the Allied
Forces during WWI. Later, Great Britain, a significant member of the
Allied Forces, represented the mandatory power over Iraq. The Assyrians
took this step because they were given guarantees for future safeguarding.
One of these assurances is quoted by Sir Henry Dobbs, His Britannic
Majesty's Government representative in Iraq or High Commissioner (1923 –
1929) at the time of the Iraqi-Turkish frontier dispute and Assyrian
settlement were being negotiated. According to Gertrude Bell, who had
great influence in the shaping of present Iraq, Dobbs had stated that in
order to assure the Assyrians their future, assurances were to be made by
Iraqi government. Dobbs added that these assurances were present as two
successive Iraqi cabinets (of Ja'far Pasha and Yasin Pasha) officially
pledged to provide lands for Assyrians and to establish a system of
administration for them that will ensure their utmost possible freedom
from interference [19].

Next was Article 62 of the 1920 Treaty of
Sévres that granted protection and safeguarding for the Assyrians (also
known as Chaldo-Assyrians or Assyro-Chaldeans) in their ancestral lands.
However, Turkey did not ratify the Treaty of Sévres and the 1923 Treaty of
Lausanne replaced it.

Still, article 39 of the Treaty of Lausanne
states that: "Turkish nationals belonging to non-Moslem minorities
will enjoy the same civil and political rights as Moslems." Moreover:
"All the inhabitants of Turkey, without distinction of religion, shall
be equal before the law." Article 40 states: "Turkish nationals
belonging to non-Moslem minorities shall enjoy the same treatment and
security in law and in fact as other Turkish nationals." Article 41
states: "In towns and districts where there is a considerable
proportion of Turkish nationals belonging to non-Moslem minorities, these
minorities shall be assured an equitable share in the enjoyment and
application of the sums which may be provided out of public funds under
the State, municipal or other budgets for educational, religious, or
charitable purposes." Articles 42, 43, 44, and 45 are all provisions
to guard the non-Moslems in future Turkish Republic.

However, none
of these promises, provisions, or treaties that looked good on paper was
honored. In fact, within weeks from the conclusion of Lausanne, thousands
of Assyrians of southeastern Turkey were even deported from Turkey towards
Syria or killed in 1923. There is precedence here because just after the
promises of the Iraqi government, 3000 innocent Assyrians were massacred
in northern Iraq few months after the promises of the Iraqi government
were issued [20].

Yet later, the League of Nations Frontier
Commission that was formed to address the disputed issue of the borders
between Iraq and Turkey and the settlement of the Assyrian Christians who
lost their lands during WWI, recommended the following in its report:

"Since the disputed territory will in any case
be under the sovereignty of a Moslem State, it is essential in order to
satisfy the aspirations of the minorities—notably the Christians, but also
the Jews and Yezidis—that measures should be taken for their protection.
It is not within our competence to enumerate all the conditions which
would have to be imposed on the Sovereign State for the protection of
these minorities. We feel it our duty, however, to point out that the
Assyrians should be guaranteed the re-establishment of the ancient
privileges which they possessed in practice, if not officially, before the
war. Whichever may be the Sovereign State, it ought to grant these
Assyrians a certain local autonomy, recognizing their right to appoint
their own officials …" [21]

These recommendations were ignored because Great
Britain did not want to disturb its relations with the Arabs and the new
Iraq Kingdom. It sacrificed the Assyrian Christians for its own oil
interests in Iraq. The Assyrians, meanwhile, and despite betrayal by the
British and massacre by the Iraqi Army, remained loyalists to the
legitimate Iraqi throne. In April and May 1941, during World War II, it
was the predominantly Assyrian Levy force in Habbaniya (west of Baghdad)
that saved Iraq from falling into the hands of Nazi Germany [22]. History
has taught us that no matter how hard the Assyrians tried; how loyal they
remain; and how peaceful and law abiding they behave in their ancestral
lands in the Middle East, they will always be oppressed and persecuted
simply because they are ethnically and religiously different from those
around them.

Solution

Therefore, if the United Nations was to be involved
in Iraq, it must finds the ways and means to protect the helpless and
smaller religious and ethnic groups in Iraq, like the Assyrian and
Armenian Christians, Yezidis, and Mandeans, until that time arrives when
Iraqis prove worthy to rule themselves under a fair and just law. The
United States must not leave Iraq before securing the future of these
non-Moslem indigenous groups and minorities. The United States must not
repeat the 1932 mistake of the British as the latter helped Iraq enter the
League as a sovereign state without securing the future of the already
troubled Assyrians. It took only months after Iraq became completely
independent and member of the League of Nations when the 1933 Assyrian
massacres, wholesale looting, and lost of Assyrian lands and villages took
place. It is outrageous to realize today that it was a matter of
expenditures and economical pressure on Her Majesty's government that the
British sacrificed the fate of the Assyrian race in Iraq. Dodge hopes that
Ambassador Paul Bremer would not succumb to the temptations of cutting
corners in Iraq while facing congressional worries about expenditure and
public concerns about casualties [23].

Assyrians have survived constant and unremitting
attacks on their very existence in Iraq, from the beginning of the
establishment of the state in 1921. The pressure increased after the power
seizure by the Ba'athist regime in 1968. Nor do the years of surviving in
a state of intimidation and coercion in northern Iraq persuade most that a
Kurdish government in its initial stages of formation would have the
experience, foresight or respect for the rights of anyone who does not
proclaim himself or herself 100 percent Kurdish [24]. For many Assyrians
the record of the past twenty years (or perhaps going back to the murder
of Assyrian freedom fighter Margaret George on April 26, 1969) of trying
to work with Kurds has shown amply that the immaturity of the Kurdish
polity is such that, unchecked by international standards, it would be
incapable of treating Assyrians fairly.

There are big problems facing the Christians in
Iraq. The indigenous Assyrian Christians have no chance to survive in Iraq
under a constitution that declares Islam as the official religion of the
State and the Shari'aa as a source for its laws. They have no chance to
survive in a country ruled with the influence of Islamists, pan-Arabs, and
Kurdish separatists' dreams. The Assyrians cannot survive under a
constitution that suggests that Iraq is made of two "major" ethnic groups
Arabs and Kurds in addition to other "minor" ethnic groups like Assyrians
(Chaldo-Assyrians) and Turkomen. All ethnic groups of Iraq must be treated
equal.

We must understand the roots of the Middle East Islamic
societies in order to realize that even in a fair election, secular and
women groups have little chance facing the fundamentalists. The Islamist
groups have two crucial advantages. First, they speak a simple language
that is familiar to the common Moslem. Political or secular groups, on the
other hand, speak a language that is to some extent alien. Second, the
Islamists have a powerful medium through which their message is
effectively propagated on consistent basis, and that is the mosque during
the Friday prayers.

The indigenous Assyrian Christians must be granted
safe haven within a federal Iraqi state, in which they can administer
themselves and live in peace as proud Iraqi citizens. Kurds must be the
only favorite group to have such privilege. What is more suitable than to
live in the Nineveh plain (Mosul region, in north of Iraq), the holy land
of their forefathers, Assyria?

References:

[1] Dodge, Toby. Inventing Iraq: The
Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied. New York: Columbia
University Press, 2003. P. 31.
[2] Ibid, p. 38.
[3] Nisan,
Mordechai. Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle and
Self-Expression. North Carolina and London: McFarland & Company,
Inc. Publishers, 1991. P. 162.
[4] Khadduri, Majid. Independent
Iraq: A Study in Iraqi Politics since 1932. London: Oxford University
Press, 1951. P. 44.
[5] Inati, Shams C. "The Iraqi Christian
Community." In Iraq: Its History, People, and Politics. Shams C.
Inati, ed. New York: Humanity Books, 2003. p. 135.
[6] Shields, Sarah
D. Mosul Before Iraq: Like Bees Making Five-Sided Cells. New
York: State University of New York Press, 2000. P. 70.
[7] Information
received from people visiting Iraq lately.

Read also:
a) http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2003/December/Yanar_Dec03.htm
b)
http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=3918

[8]
http://www.hrwf.net/html/iraq_2003.html#ChristianFamiliesTargeted
[9]
http://www.keepmedia.com/ShowItemDetails.do?itemID=366687&extID=10032&oliID=213
Read
also:
a) http://www.hrwf.net/html/iraq_2003.html#Christiansmurdered
b)
http://www.sotaliraq.com/file/article_2003_12_30_44158y.html
[10]
http://aina.org/releases/2002/cecilia.htm
[11]
Attacks in Kirkuk revealed to this author in recent contact with relatives
in Kirkuk.
[12] http://www.hrwf.net/html/iraq_2003.html#ChristiansinNorthern
[13]
http://www.atour.com/news/assyria/20031119a.pdf
(Read az-Zaman Newspaper, Nov. 19, 2003 issue).
[14] Ya'or, Bat.
The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam: From Jihad to
Dhimmitude. London: Associated University Presses, 1996. P.
40.
[15] A. J. Toynbee. Turkey: A Past and a Future. New York:
George H. Doran Co., 1917. pp. 25-26
[16] A. J. Toynbee. Turkey: A
Past and a Future. New York: George H. Doran Co., 1917. p.
13.
[17] Nisan, Mordechai. Minorities in the Middle East: A History
of Struggle and Self-Expression. North Carolina and London: McFarland
& Company, Inc. Publishers, 1991. P. 163.
[18] First printed as the
"King-Crane report on the Near East" in Editor & publisher.
[New York, Editor & Publisher Co., 1922] v. 55, no. 27, 2d section
(Dec. 2).
[19] Letters of Gertrude Bell. Part II, p. 552.
Statement by Sir Henry Dobbs.
[20] http://www.hrwf.net/
[21] League of
Nations document C. 400. M. 147. 1925. VII. P. 90. In "The Assyrian
Tragedy," by Annemasse. 1934.
[22] Dudgeon, A. G. Hidden
Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941. Great Britain:
2000.
[23] Dodge, Toby. Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation
Building and a History Denied. New York: Columbia University Press,
2003. P. 159.
[24] http://www.atour.com/news/assyria/20030617a.html.
Visit
also http://www.aina.org/releases/releases.htm

Bravo
An Editorial

Nuri Keeno
Assyrian Journalist Awarded the
Golden Spade Award

(ZNDA: Stockholm) The Swedish Radio
Institution has presented the Assyrian-Swedish journalist, Nuri
Keeno, the Golden Spade Award for his part in uncovering the
identities of the individuals involved in spying for the Iraqi
regime against their own Assyrian people in Sweden
.
Mr.
Keeno has been the recipient of this award for three consecutive
years. He is well-known among the Swedish journalists and in the
Swedish media. Mr. Keeno, 38, was born in the Assyrian city of
Midyat in the region of Tur Abdin, southeast Turkey. He left Turkey
when he was four.

After fleeing Turkey with his
family, Mr. Keeno attended schools in Germany and Sweden. In Sweden
Mr. Nuri worked in various jobs including teaching and pizza making
and finally settled for freelance journalism. In 2000, Mr. Nuri
along with Wolfgang Hansoon won his first 'Golden Spade' award for
investigating human smuggling in Europe.

The
Chariot
Back to the Future

The Greatest Story Ever
Told

Ninos Isaac
California

I am Tiglath-Ramsin, and here in the chambers of the palace at Harran,
we sit in wait of word from Nineveh of the developments after the takeover
by the enemy forces. We have sent missions to all of the major world
leaders to see where they stand whether they are with us or against us, as
we try to recapture Nineveh. The initial reports are grim. Only Egypt, the
Phoenicians, and the barbarian Scythians wish to stand with us. Our army
is scattered. It’s no surprise that there was little loyalty left in the
ranks. A thousand years ago, maybe even 500 years, ago, the Assyrian
military consisted of the pureblooded Assyrians who were ferocious and
fearless, who loved God, King, and County. But Assyria had grown into a
huge empire, and the army had changed along with it. The Royal Assyrian
Army was now a combination of international conscripts and volunteers from
all parts of the world. By the time of Ashurbanipal’s death – may Assur
rest his soul – the soldiers cared not for the nation but only for their
salaries and their safety. Ashurbanipal became so proud of the size of his
army – it was the largest it had ever been – that he forgot to question
its true prowess and its loyalty. However, as long as the soldiers’
pockets were dilled with shekels and opposing armies stayed away from our
lands, this new model army could remain loyal. But when the massive unrest
began in the south of the empire, the army could no longer be counted upon
to deal with it. It could not respond with the requisite intensity of
retribution. In fact, in every bloody battle prior to the Great Siege of
Nineveh, in those epic battles where we repelled the invaders prior to
Nineveh’s fall, it was the pureblood Assyrian generals and foot soldiers
that fashioned all sorts of victories! In the end, as the fickle fled, and
the vastness of our enemy numbers overwhelmed us.

So here we find ourselves in Harran, at the corner of our country. We
are several thousand pureblood strong. These are the most fervent of
Assyrians, ones who will never surrender. We are the dying lions and dying
lionesses of Assyria. Wounded, even paralyzed, we will strike with our
very last breath because we are God’s chosen race, the work of God’s hands
and his blessed inheritance. We have a contingency plan to take back our
capital city, but our leaders at this very minute develop a plan to
retreat to the safest place in the world, the Hakkiar Mountains. At the
very least, we will hide our royal house there for the time being. That
means that the princes and princesses that retain Sargonid and
pre-Sargonid blood lineage may go and live there indefinitely. Also, the
Phoenicians may take some of us across to the small islands of the Lebanon
Sea.

To preoccupy our time the generals, princes, and princesses have
organized a large event in the Temple of the Moon. There, the royal family
would present one of their ‘Winged White Horses’ from the Royal Akkadian
Stable. We would each pick the story that we felt would become the
greatest story to come from Assyria in generations to come. Princess
Adrinanna, a favorite of the patron god of Harran, Sin, a few days ago
asked us to submit our vote. The nominations were as follows:

1. The Creation of Advanced Engineering under Sennacherib.
2. The
Advancement of Astronomy and the discovery of the planets under
Esarhaddon.
3. The Conquest of Egypt.
4. The destruction and
rebuilding of Babylon.
5. The Discovery of the Archipelago and
Etrusca.
6. The Rise to Power of Esarhaddon.

We all voted, and Adrinanna announced the winning event, and those who
had chosen the most popular event, were subsequently drawn into a raffle
where the winner was to keep one of the Akkadian horses. What a prize that
was – a horse that belonged to the King’s private stable was perhaps the
most coveted thing in the land. What splendid creatures. Each seemed to
embody thousands of years of our glorious history.

So, which event won? Well, it was the rise to power of Esarhaddon. Over
60% of the people there including myself chose this as the most inspiring
story.

If there is one story that each Assyrian should know, it is how
Esarhaddon became king of Assyria. Esarhaddon's rise to power is nostalgic
because it is the classic story of legendary hero: a prince-regent
(Esarhaddon) falls into disfavor with the king, his father, (Sennacherib)
as a consequence of the slander of three wicked brothers (ArdaMulissi,
AssurSumausabsi, and AssurMuballitsu). Esarhaddon, the youngest of all the
brothers, is banished but returns to Assyria with his small following of
fiercely loyal troops after his brothers disgracefully murder their
father. Against all odds, Esarhaddon then wins the day in battle and
triumphantly assumes his rightful place on the throne. This is the legend
of Esarhaddon. The King himself in his royal inscriptions attests to the
account of his rise to power:

King Esarhaddon says:..“I was still a youth,
when at the command of Assur, Shamash, Bêl and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh and
Ishtar of Arbela, the father who begot me [Sennacherib] ... solemnly
lifted up my head and concerning my right to succession to rulership, he
inquired of Shamash and Adad. A positive answer they gave him, saying: "He
is your successor." He honored their weighty word and gathered together
the people of Assyria ... my brothers ... before ... the gods of Assyria
... [and] he made them take solemn oath, in their name, to guard my
accession to power.” But later “a firm determination fell upon my brothers
and they forsook the gods and turned their deeds to violence, plotting
evil. Evil words and deeds, contrary to the will of God, they perpetrated
against me. They planned and conspired behind my back. Then to gain the
kingship they killed Sennacherib, our own father. But Assur, and all the
other patron gods – Sin, Shamash, Marduk, and Nabu, Ishtar of Nineveh and
Ishtar of Arbela, looked with disfavor upon the deed of the villains … The
People of Assyria who had taken an oath to God through water and oil rites
to accept my crown-princeship, went to their side, and they all opposed
me. But when in Armenia, I received word of their murder of my father, I
dressed in my war costume, I raised the cry of lamentation, I roared like
a lion, and my passion was aroused. I raised my hands in prayer to God,
and I was told, “Go, Esarhaddon, do not give up. We will go by thy side
and we will slay thy foes.” So I did not delay, not one day, not two. I
did not even wait for my armies to gather. I did not look back. I did not
harness the horses, I did not gather my battle equipment, and I did not
gather provisions for my journey. I did not fear the bitter snow and cold
of January, but like a swooping bird of prey, I made my way towards
Nineveh. Before me in the Great Plains, all of my brothers’ mighty
warriors blocked my path. But the terror of God overcame them when we met,
and they became as insane men. Ishtar, queen of war and battle, stood by
my side broke their bows and shattered their battle line. The soldiers on
their side then spoke up shouting” Esarhaddon is our King!” They then came
over to my side. They followed me like lambs, and the people of Assyria
who had sworn allegiance to me as a youth, came into my presence and
kissed my feet. As for the villains, my brothers they fled like cowards!
At the word of Sin and Shamash, I then marched to the city, my armies
scrambling over the dykes of the Tigris. In the month of March, I entered
the city of Nineveh, and took my seat upon the throne of my father in
safety. The south wind blew, the wind whose blowing is favorable for
exercising kingship. As to those who rebelled against me, I spared their
lives but I imposed upon them the harshest punishment … I destroyed their
ability to create offspring. I am Esarhaddon, I am King of Assyria, king
of the universe, mighty warrior. I am the Son of Sennacherib, grandson of
Sargon, a Creature of Assur, and the object of Queen Ishtar’s affection. I
am the great restorer of Babylon. I have no rival in the world.

So spoke Esarhaddon. His was the greatest story ever told. As to the
Winged Akkadian Horse, well I didn’t win that prize. The lucky winner was
a priestess from the Temple of Ishtar at Arbela, NinervaSharishta. Lucky
woman, and she cannot even ride a horse, let alone this winged animal of
the heavens! Perhaps I will speak with her tomorrow to see if she will
trade with me …

Thank You

Zinda Magazine
thanks the following individuals for their contribution in the preparation
of this week's issue.

Dr. Matay
Arsan (Holland)
David Chibo (Australia)
Ramin
Daniels (California)
Rev. Genard Lazar (Australia)

Tomas Isik (Sweden)
Petr Kubalek (Czech
Republic)
Fred Rustam (Arizona)

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