Z E N D A A S S Y R I A N N E W S M A G A Z I
N E
A Weekly Online Magazine Vol III, Issue
26
Tdabaakh 25, 6747
August 25, 1997
T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A
The Lighthouse.............The Assyrian Youth Excellence Pageant
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain...Recent
Attacks on Assyrians in Baghdad
Surfs Up..................."such an article to be long overdue!"
Surfers Corner.............Edu. &
Cultural Activities at Detroit Convention
News Digest................Syria to Participate in the
Babylon Festival
Syrian Official Calls for
Elimination of Border
Iran's Majlis Approves Khatami's New Cabinet
Calendar of Events.........No New Events
Khudra.....................September Through November 1997
Entracte...................Annual Party at San Jose St.
Mary's Church Intelligentsia.............Regular
Meetings and Classes Assyrian Surfing Posts.....Assyrian
American National Federation's New WWW
Pump up the Volume.........News & Reporter
Back to the Future.........Shalmaneser's Siege of
Tyre
Zenji's Siege of
Edessa Literatus..................Honeymonth
This Week in
History......."Neesha"
Bravo......................KSBV-AssyriaVision on the Web
The Directory..............ZENDA News
Sources Bshena.....................Gary, Los Angeles, & San Jose
Salute.....................Arbella, Pauline, Ramin,
Francis, & Rita
---------------THE L I G H T H O U S
E------------------
THE ASSYRIAN YOUTH EXCELLENCE PAGEANT AND ITS
IMPACT ON OUR PEOPLE
The time is 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning during the annual
Assyrian American National convention. Many Assyrians who traveled
thousands of miles to participate are still in their hotel rooms
recuperating from the late social simultaneous gatherings which took
place the night before. Others are casually conversing over a hot cup of
tea with old friends and relatives at the local coffee shops and the
hotel lounge. The busy organizers are still active in their two-day
quest for an hour of sleep between events and surprises.
Meanwhile, a small group of young energetic Assyrians who have come
from various parts of the country are gathered in a small quiet room
completing a test. Yes, a test! Questions such as "what is the meaning
behind the name of the great `Tur Abdin' and where is it located?" or
translate the following sentences from Assyrian into English...
This is only the start of a series of contests to be performed over
the next few hours to choose the winners of the year's youth Excellence
pageant. An annual contest designed by the Assyrian American National
Federation to highlight the achievements and talents of some of the
brightest and most talented young Assyrians around. The three year old
contest which premiered during the San Jose Convention of 1994 has proved
to be one of the most successful and sought after events of the AANF
convention. This is mainly due to its profound impact on the
contestants, the Assyrian public, and other Assyrian youth in general.
It's impact on the young contestants is achieved naturally through the
event itself. The feeling that the Assyrian nation is appreciative of
the academic, and social achievements of it's youth provides these
youngsters with pride and the drive to further reach new heights in their
quest for excellence. In addition, the contest serves as an indirect
invitation to the contestants to interact with the community by
introducing them to the public, hence using our raw talents for the
betterment of our nation. Several past contestants have since become
active in the community. A fine example of this is Sharoukin
Bet-Gevarguis who represented Assyrian women on numerous public and
international appearances. She is also well on her way of becoming a
successful film maker with plans to make documentaries relevant to the
Assyrian nation and its people. The contest also serves as a small
scholarship which many past winners have used towards their university
expenses.
It also has a profound impact on the Assyrian public to witness the
fact that the future of Assyrians is bright with such talent and
dedication that such youth exhibit. It gives the Assyrian people hope
that assimilation has not taken its toll on the new Assyrians to the
degree assumed. It gives them hope that the Assyrian legacy will not
disappear as long as our youngsters are brought up in a manner similar to
that which brought such contestants.
In addition, other young Assyrians benefit by having Assyrian role
models presented to them to look up to and follow in their foot steps
towards achieving excellence. Some may also decide that they will strive
to compete in the following contest as evident in this years
contestants.
As a previous contestant of the first AANF youth excellence pageant, I
would like to take this opportunity to thank the AANF for creating this
annual event and to wish all the 1997 contestants much luck, wisdom and
happiness. Remember that regardless of the outcome of the contest, you
must do as King Ashurbanipal asked of us over 2,600 years ago by
writing:
"Among you, my sons and great grandchildren, in distant days, for long
epochs, years without number, let praise of Assyria not be forgotten."
King Ashurbanipal
Firas Jatou
Chicago, Illinois
----G O O D M O R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I
N-----
BAGHDADI ASSYRIANS ALARMED BY RECENT MURDERS
(ZNAI: Chicago) A series of murders and violent attacks on Assyrians in
the Baghdad area has left many Iraqi Christians deeply concerned for
their safety and well being. According to the Assyrian International News
Agency report, on 25 July the Arabic-language newspaper, Al-Hayat,
reported that Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, has shot and killed an Assyrian
girl earlier in June. The Assyrian girl, Asil Salman Mansour, was last
seen walking home within the predominantly Christian district of Doura in
Baghdad. Witnesses report that Asil was stopped by a “presidential”
vehicle, forced in by Uday’s bodyguards and taken to the Presidential
Complex at al-Jadiriya. Uday, angered by Asil's resistance to the
attempted rape, shoots and kills his victim. Al-Hayat reports that since
the failed assassination on his life and his subsequent paralysis Uday
has become embittered, depressed, and easily angered. Following the
murder of Asil Mansour, Uday ordered the payment of $700, an Oldsmobile
car, and a fifty dollar monthly stipend to her family as compensation for
her loss. The grief-stricken family was then instructed not to report
the incident.
On the morning of 27 July, three armed men entered the home of Polus
Younan, a 62-year-old Assyrian member of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Mr. Younan, born in Habbania, resided in the N’eriya w’Gayra section of
Baghdad with his wife, Medina Shinoel, and their 16-year-old son, Mattai.
Mrs Shinoel survived the attack and reported the incident to the police.
She had witnessed the repeated stabbing of her husband in the back, with
a large knife, until the blade of the knife protruded through Mr.
Younan’s chest. Upon death, Mr. Younan was rolled into sheets by one
assailant as the other two attackers turned their attention to Mrs.
Shinoel. The attackers began striking her with the butt end of their
rifles until most of her teeth were broken. Throughout the attack, the
assailants demanded information regarding the family’s money and savings.
The attackers then begin slashing Ms. Shinoel’s deaf and mute son,
Mattai. They proceeded with his torture until he was consciousness at
which time he was carried to and placed in a bathtub.
Yousif John Yacoub, 35, was brutally stabbed to death on 12 April in his
Baghdad home. Three Arab men, employed as guards in a nearby school, were
allegedly instructed by the school's cleaning-lady to attack and rob Mr.
Yacoub. According to Mr. Yacoub’s neighbors who witnessed the attack, Mr.
Yacoub was stabbed in the back, neck and abdomen. Mr. Yacoub lived long
enough to name his attackers and furnish the name of a nearby relative.
Neither contacting his family nor seeking medical help, the police kept
Mr. Yacoub at home for further questioning while he was bleeding
uncontrollably. When Mr. Yacoub’s relative arrives the victim's home was
ransacked and the police had removed any valuables or evidence of murder.
Two weeks later, Mr. Ameed Shurta, a high ranking police officer and
member of the ruling Ba’ath party, along with his wife and children,
occupied Mr. Yacoub’s residence. The police has since refused to return
any of Mr. Yacoub’s possessions to his family. Mr. Yacoub’s sister, a
Sumerian and Akkadian scholar residing in London, England, has requested
that her family’s photo albums which be returned to her. The police has
so far refused her wishes. Mr. Yacoub’s family believes that governmental
and police personnel are accomplices in this crime. The police have since
released the cleaning-lady and claimed that one of the attackers has
escaped. The other two were reportedly held for questioning but no recent
information is available regarding their whereabouts.
-----------------------S U R F S U P
!----------------------
"Thank you for publishing the moving article by Dr. Zaineb Istrabadi. It
moved me very much and I found such an article to be long overdue! Dr.
Istrabadi has done much to bridge the gap between Assyrians and the
Arab/Muslim community and I wish her continued success in all her
endeavors."
Elki Issa
California
-----------------------
"We are a group of active members of the Assyrian American Association of
San Jose. The recent events which resulted in the resignation of the
Association's president, has promoted us to write this letter. This
Association being in the heart of the Silicon Valley with a large group
of Assyrian professionals and business owners has tremendous resources at
its disposal. Unfortunately the Executive Board of this Association one
after the other have failed to utilize this resource and have occupied
themselves with petty issues such as who will sing in the next party.
As soon as the members are elected to the Executive Board, they forget
the mission statement of the Association. Instead of creating programs
to promote and preserve the Assyrian language, culture, and heritage,
most of their time and energy are spent on organizing parties and
picnics. This is exactly what the Assyrian American National Federation
has been doing for the last 60 years, for what purpose it was created,
and what has become of it. There are no language and history classes;
parties and picnics have become the main events. There are no special
programs to educate our younger generation on Assyrian issues. Our young
are the key to our nations' success or failure in the future. Ironically
they are the most neglected.
For us the Assyrians living afar from the Middle East, having our
children and teenagers to speak our language has become a daily struggle.
The fear of their being drifted apart of our heritage and culture keeps
many parents and nationalists awake at night. This is a very serious
problem. Our nation is slowly dying in the western countries especially
in the United States. All other minorities who have been able to voice
their needs and struggles through the channels available to them, have
been able to obtain a much higher level of national identity and
economical power. Yet our Association has failed to recognize the
intellectual and economical power of the Assyrians of San Jose. This
economical and intellectual power would have enabled it to have formal
and continuous language and history classes. Instead of relying on a
group of volunteers, it would have had salaried teachers ensuring a more
reliable and sustainable level of education for the younger generation.
Our Association, in neglecting the concerns and needs of all the
Assyrians of San Jose, has fallen pray into the hands of a small group of
Assyrians who are mainly from Iran and are in the same economical and
educational class. As a result most of the activities and programs are
planned to attract and please this special group. Instead of creating an
atmosphere of unity, an environment of division and discrimination has
been creeping in. The Association is being viewed as a club with special
members. The majority of the Assyrians of San Jose do not see themselves
belonging, cared for, or listened to. Surprisingly, the Association
still ignores this important fact and complains why more people do not
become members or help pay the mortgage of the property it purchased a
couple of years ago. It is forgetting a simple principle that the bigger
the number, the greater are the strength and capability.
One of the examples that proves this Association caters to this special
group, is their decision to hire a Persian band to perform in the
upcoming Association's New Years Eve Party. The Association's reasoning
behind this decision is that the so called popularity of this Persian
band will attract more people to attend the party and as a result more
money will be raised. The Association has repeatedly ignored the success
of the groups who have been able to raise funds through more systematic
means e.g. monthly donations and has insisted on its old principle which
is raising money through entertainment only. One does not need a college
degree to figure out that the overhead of parties (specially New Years
Eve) is around 90%, but on the other hand the overhead of donations is
almost zero. Let's not forget that the main profit takers from such
practices are the non-Assyrian hotels and entertainers
We believe this recent behavior of the Association's Executive Board is
an insult to our national unity, culture, and language. When parties and
picnics have become our only source of preserving our language and
culture, hiring non-Assyrian entertainers cannot be tolerated. We
believe such issues would never arise in any other minority group who
share similar national problems as we do in Diaspora. This should not
have been an issue to begin with. No Assyrian association should promote
non-Assyrian culture- period. We would like to advise our Association's
Executive Board to reverse its recent decision immediately and to present
to the members their plan of action for the remainder of their term."
-Concerned Members of the Assyrian American Associatin of San Jose
San Jose, California
-----------------------
"Recently an entire two-hour Assyrian radio program in Toronto was
dedicated for Mrs. Karmela Darmozade, a young Assyrian mother on the edge
of life and death, suffering from extremely rare disease affecting the
production of her blood cells, called 'Aplastic Anaemia'.
The Assyrian Voice of Canada Organization conducted its August 16th radio
program as a 'live' telethon show while connecting listeners to the
studios and Karmela in London via telephony. This regular weekly
Assyrian program airs on AM 1430, from 10 PM until 12 am (midnight).
The 'live telethon', a first of its kind in Canada, brought together
callers from London, Chicago, Toronto and California and helped its
listeners realize how agonizing Karmela's fight for her life is and how
desperate she is for our financial support.
Karmela Darmozadeh and her brother, Mr. Emil, spoke from London-England.
Mr. Ashur Youlous Malek, the representative of Bet-Nahrain Democratic
Party in Chicago; Mr. Ashur Shamoun, representative of Assyrian Voice of
Canada Organization in Toronto; and then, Mr. George Maragoluf from San
Jose, California, joined our discussions. Mrs. Karmela spoke softly in a
weak and low voice, full of suffering and pain. She thanked all
Assyrians and organizations who had come forward and collected money to
pay for her life- saving operation.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance of Canada initiated a fund rising. Mr.
Emmanuel Yalda, Chairman, of AUA in Canada, and Mr. Ashur Simon Malek,
non
affilated, joined in going door to door and getting donations from our
Assyrians in Hamilton. The AUA collected $1000.00 from 56 (fifty six)
Assyrian homes for the mission called "Together we can save Karmela",
from
Aug. 19, till August 22.
On August 22 Mr. Yalda wired $904 (Canadian) to London, and the mission
still on. A complete report of total money received will be listed in
Zenda
by next issue. The AUA of Canada have donated $100 Canadian from the
total of amount received.
A high official of the Assyrian Aid Society in Canada, operated by the
local branch of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), was asked to
contribute on behalf of the Assyrian Aid Society to Karmela Darmozadeh's
Fund. His respond was that "we only help the Assyrians in north of Iraq;
I can't do anything until I call our U.S. head-Office and discuss the
matter."
Let it be known to all Assyrians that if the Assyrian Aid Society in
Canada
will not help I will personally take legal action and have them charged
with every criminal offenses that may be encountered in Canada.
If any one wishes to purchase the two-hour tape of the program, 'Karmela
You
are not alone' along with a special magazine 'Together we can save
her life', produced by The Assyrian Voice of Canada Organization, send
your donation of $10 and up to The Assyrian Voice of Canada at the
following address:
The Assyrian Voice of Canada Organization
C/O Mr. Ashur Shamoun
30 Elm Dr., suite 1618
Mississauga, ON L5A-4C3
Tel. (905) 279-6206 Fax (905) 279-7347 E-mail: ashour@ican.net
All donations will be forwarded to Karmela's Fund in England.
Any Zenda reader who wishes to talk on our live Assyrian Voice of
Canada radio program, Saturday from 10 till 12 PM Toronto time on issues
related to Karmela please call (416) 864-1809 or send your questions or
opinions by faxing us at (905) 279-7347."
Ashur Simon Malek
Ontario, Canada
[For more information on all donations collected for Karmela see:
http://www.mirage-mmc.com/karmela/core.html#donation ]
-----------------------
"I am sending this note to clear up a donation figure of $10,000 to
Karmela's fund that was listed in your Vol 111, #25;8/18/97 Zenda. There
has been no trace of this amount as to where it has been generated from
and what account has been deposited to. As of today this amount has not
been deposited in Karmela's account. I had a talk with Mr. Ashour Shamoun
the president of the Assyrian Voice of Canada and he confirmed that such
an amount does not exist. I have personally deposited the amount of
$4540.00 Canadian, raised through the Assyrian Church of the East in
Canada, in Karmela's account early in July and since then we have not
wired any amount into her account.
Could you please provide me with any information in regards to this
amount and the possible source in order for us to follow up on it.
In the end, on behalf of Karmela and her family I would like to thank
every single Sister and Brother who made donations and came through in
this life saving mission. Also, just to update you, Karmela's brother
Joseph will spend 3 days in hospital starting today to prepare for the
Bone Marrow extract which will get done on Thursday Aug 28/1997. He will
be in and out of hospital these 3 days but will be admitted for the
actual procedure on thursday. Karmela's operation is scheduled on Monday
September the 1st. Please keep her in your prayers.
I also wish to be a subscriber of Zenda weekly. Please let me know how I
can help this newsletter financially. This is the least I can do."
Midet Yadegar
Toronto, Canada
[Ms. Yadegar is a first-cousin of Karmela Darmozadeh's and was recently
contacted by ZENDA to verify the receipt of the donations shown in last
week's issue.]
-----------------S U R F E R S C O R N E
R------------------
The following is a revised schedule of educational and cultural
activities at this week's Assyrian National Convention in Detroit,
Michigan. For more information see: www.aanf.org
Thursday, August 28
1:00-2:30 PM Workshop Room Assyrian Dance Workshop
2:45-3:45 PM Lecture Room Film: "The Sumerian Kingdom of
Ur"
Friday, August
12:00-1:00 PM Workshop Room Assyrian Art Workshop
1:00-2:00 PM Lecture Room A Brief History of Assyrians
2:00-2:45 PM Lecture Room Film: "Babylon: The Gate of the
Gods"
2:45-3:30 PM Lecture Room New Assyrian Language Software
3:30-4:15 PM Lecture Room Assyrians in the Computer Age
5:00-6:0 PM Lecture Room The History of the Syriac Churches
and
Encounter with Muslims
6:00-7:00 PM Lecture Room Syriac Churches Contributions to
Christian Missions
Saturday, August 30
12:00-1:00 PM Workshop Room Assyrian Art Workshop
1:00-2:30 PM Workshop Room Assyrian Dance Workshop
1:00-2:30 PM Lecture Room The Historical Influence of
Assyrian
Music in the Western
Chant 2:30-3:15
pm Lecture Room Film: "Ashurnasirpal: The Assyrian
King"
3:15-4:00 pm Lecture Room The History of Assyrian Law
4:00-5:00 pm Lecture Room History of the Assyrian Tragedies
5:00-6:00 PM Lecture Room Assyrians and Maronites Throughout
History
6:00-7:00 PM Lecture Room "Assyrian National Leadership:
History
and Necessity"
Sunday, August 31
4:00-6:00 PM Lecture Room Surfers Gathering
4:00 pm Workshop Room Ancient Art: Station 1: Hieroglyphs
Station 2: Cylinder Seals
Station 3: Making Amulet
-----------------N E W S D I G E S
T-------------------
SYRIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BABYLON FESTIVAL
(ZNAF: Baghdad) Iraq said today that Syria will participate in the
annual Babylon cultural festival in September for the first time, amid an
improvement in Syrian-Iraqi relations. According to the official
Ath-Thawra newspaper, "a major Syrian delegation" including song and
dance troupes will take part in the festival which opens September 22 in
the ancient city of Babylon, 90 kilometers (145 miles) south of Baghdad.
Iraq has been holding the festival every year since 1987 except in 1990
and 1991 when Baghdad invaded Kuwait and was driven out by allied
forces.
Syria's participation is an indication of the growing warmth between the
two neighbors, which have not had diplomatic relations since 1980. Since
May, the two countries have been exchanging visits by business
delegations and in June re-opened their mutual border, closed in 1982. A
private company has begun advertising on Iraqi television air-conditioned
bus trips to Damascus for businessmen. Iraqi officials said several
times in recent days during a visit here by a major Syrian trade
delegation that they are determined to
strengthen relations with Syria. Earlier this month, the United Nations
authorized Iraq to import goods through its border with Syria.
SYRIAN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR REMOVAL ELIMINATION OF SYRIAN-LEBANESE
BORDER
(ZNAF: Damascus) Faez Sayegh, head of the official SANA news agency,
called Wednesday for abolishing the border with neighboring Lebanon,
saying the Syrians and Lebanese were one people divided into two
countries. "We must
work to eliminate the border between Syria and Lebanon and to quickly
implement all the decisions made by the two countries," wrote Sayegh in
an article published in Ath-Thawra Newspaper. Syria has 35,000 troops
and intelligence agents stationed throughout most of Lebanon and is the
main power broker there. "The Syrian and Lebanese parties are convinced
that we are one people in two neighboring countries, but what has been
accomplished
so far, especially in economic cooperation, remains below our
aspirations," Sayegh wrote. The article appeared the day after Syrian
Prime Minister Mahmud al-Zohbi and his Lebanese counterpart, Rafik Hariri
held economic
talks in Damascus and decided to "progressively" open Syrian and Lebanese
markets to each other's products. Syria and Lebanon have been linked
since 1991 by a "friendship and cooperation treaty," which stipulates
close political, economic and security cooperation.
IRAN'S MAJLIS APPROVES KHATAMI'S NEW CABINET
(ZNAF: Paris) The following is a list of the cabinet of Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami approved by the 270-member parliament or
Majlis on Wednesday:
Oil: Bijan Namdar Zanganeh
Foreign Affairs: Kamal Kharazi
Economy: Hussein Namazi
Health: Mohammad Farhadi
Defence: Ali Shamkhani
Commerce: Mohammad Shariatmadari
Culture and Islamic Guidance: Ataollah Mohajerani
Interior: Abdollah Nouri
Energy: Habibollah Bitaraf
Housing: Ali Abdolalizadeh
Intelligence: Qorbanali Dorri Najafabadi
Higher Education: Mostafa Moin
Road Transport: Mahmoud Hojjati
Communications: Mohammad Reza Aref
Mines and Metals: Eshaq Jahangiri
Education: Hussein Mozafar
Construction: Mohammad Saidi Kya
Cooperatives: Morteza Haji
Industries: Gholamreza Shafei
Labour: Hussein Kamali (retained)
Agriculture: Issa Kalantari (retained)
Justice: Esmail Shushtari (retained)
Also, Iranian ex-foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati was appointed
international affairs advisor Thursday by the Islamic Republic's supreme
guide, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Radio Tehran said. On Saturday Mohammad
Khatami, named a woman Saturday as vice president for the first time
since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Massumeh Ebtekar, 36, was appointed
vice president in charge of environmental protection, the official IRNA
news agency reported. A former journalist, specialist in immunology and
a university professor, Ebtekar is fluent in English and French and
represents
Iran in several international organizations. Married with two boys,
Ebtekar spent her first years of studies in the United States.
--------C A L E N D A R OF E V E N T
S------
Dec 11-13 British Association for Near Eastern Archaeology
1997 Annual Conference
University of Durham
United Kingdom
0000,0000,fefehttp://www.dur.ac.uk/Archaeology/confs/BANEA.html
Through In the Presence of the Gods: Art from Ancient Sumer
Mar 8,1998 The Smart Museum of Art
5550
South Greenwood Avenue
Chicago
Free Admission
----------------------------K H U D R
A--------------------------------
Sep 8 Virgin Mary (Birthday)
Sep 14 Festival of the Holy Cross
Oct 10 Dokhrana 'd Mar Elia (Elijah the Prophet)
Oct 17 Anniversary of Mar Dinkha IV's Consecration
(1976)
Patriarch of the Church of the East
Oct 31 Dokhrana 'd Mar Elia (of Hirta or Khirata)
Nov 1 Dokhrana 'd Mar Mikha d'Alqosh
Nov 3 Dokhrana 'd Mar Gewargis, Sahda (The Martyr)
Nov 19 Commemoration of Mar Yacoub m' Pasqa
Nov 22 Dokhrana 'd Mar Odisho d'Urmi
-------------------------E N T R A C T
E-----------------------------
Aug 26-Sep 2 Assyrian American National Convention
Hyatt
Regency Dearborn
Fairlane Town Center
Detroit, Michigan
All Single,double,triple,quad
rooms: $95 per day
Reservations: (313) 982-6880
Reservations must be made by August 7
Sept 12 Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church (St. Mary's) Annual
Party Entertainer: Walter Aziz
Fairmont Hotel, San Jose
$20 per person
------------------------I N T E L L I G E N T S I
A-------------------------
CHICAGO Assyrian Athletic Club Soccer Development Program
Ages 7-14
7:45-9:45 pm
Mondays
Warren Park Gymnasium
Western Avenue & Devon Street
------------------------------------------------------
HARVARD 1997-98 Syriac Classes Taught by Dr. J.F. Coakley
UNIVERSITY
Elementary Syriac
Instructor: J. F. Coakley
Basic Syriac grammar and syntax with selected readings from
the Syriac Bible and other early texts.
------------------------------------------------------
Readings in Syriac I
Historical and theological texts, and early poetry
------------------------------------------------------
Readings in Syriac II
Special attention to exegetical texts and to reading manuscripts.
------------------------------------------------------
NORTH Assyrian Boy Scouts
HOLLYWOOD Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
9:30am to 12:30pm
Sundays
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
------------------------------------------------------
Assyrian Student Union
California State University, Northridge
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
6:00pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
------------------------------------------------------
SAN JOSE Assyrian Language Classes (Adults)
Instructor: Dr. Ashur Moradkhan
Sundays
7:00-9:00 pm
AAA of San Jose BETA
------------------------------------------------------
Citizenship Classes
Instructor: Jacklin Bajan
Mondays & Tuesdays
7:00 pm
AAA of San Jose BETA
20000 Almaden Road
------------------------------------------------------
Maestro Nebu Issabey's Nineveh Choir Practice
AAA of San Jose BETA
8:00 pm
Thursdays
------------------------------------------------------
TORONTO Nisibis School
10:30-1:30
Saturdays
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
-----A S S Y R I A N S U R F I N G P O S T
S-------
Assyrian American National Federation
http://www.aanf.org
Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Project
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/nmc/rim
Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/nmc/rim/csmshome.html
---------------------P U M P UP THE V O L U M
E---------------------
English Modern Assyrian
News khoo/baa/re [P]
Reporter tdaa/baa/baa [M]
tdaa/bab/tha [F]
____________________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine P = Plural
---------------B A C K TO THE F U T U R
E------------------
B.C. (724) The siege of Tyre (in Lebanon) by king Shalmaneser of
Assyrian begin and lasts for five years. During this time, the Assyrian
king blockades this port city, cuts the water supply, and induces an
inflation in the prices of basic necessities. At this time, Tyre
possessed the most powerful navy in Asia.
<<<< The Phoenicians & the West, Aubet >>
A.D. (1144) Zenji, the Turkish commander whose headquarters were in
Mosul, in a surprise attack, seizes the city of Edessa (Urhai) from the
Crusaders. The loss of Edessa was the first major disaster suffered by
the Crusaders, reducing their military forces by one-fifth. Upon hearing
the news of the loss of Edessa both kings of France and Germany take the
cross and join the Crusades.
<<<< A Short History of the Arab People, Glubb >>
----------------L I T E R A T U
S-------------------
HONEY MONTH
It was the accepted practice in Babylonia 4,000 years ago that for a
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because
their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month"
- or what we know today as the "honeymoon."
<<<< Courtesy of Pete's Wicked Ale >>
Extra, Extra...
On 18 August, Lebanon's Daily Star wrote: "The visit to Lebanon of Pope
John Paul II ought to have given any emerging Christian political
leadership the impetus to build a new foundation to replace the ruinous
embers of the dying days of the war. It didn't and the opportunity has
dimmed. But this does not preclude the young (and not so young) Christian
political activists from standing up to be counted and from casting off
the long-distance shackles of France-based, backward-looking bigots to
assume their full share and full responsibility for helping to build a
new, post-war Lebanon".
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August 31, 1971: The Assyrian magazine, Neesha (Goal), is published in
Sweden in Swedish, Assyrian, and Arabic.
-------------------------B R A V
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AssyrianVision or KBSV-TV23's now offers its daily television programs
via the Internet, providing Assyrians living as far as Poland and
Argentina an opportunity to keep current with the news and shows of
general and special interest. This is accomplished by the use of the new
video-streaming technology whereby video and audio are compressed
allowing a . You need a Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 PC, or a Power
Macintosh, along with either Netscape 2.0 or greater, or Microsoft's
Internet Explorer v3.0. You also need sound capabilities and a monitor
that displays at least 256 colors. One needs a connection to the Web at
28.8k or faster to watch the clips without interruption. The video and
audio will pause from time to time even at 28.8k. AssyriaVision's
Website can be accessed at:
http://www.betnahrain.org/kbsv-tv23.html
To use the video-streaming technology download the VXtreme Interactive
Plug-in and enjoy the AssyrianVision on the net during the following
hours:
Mondays - Fridays 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Saturdays 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM PST
Sundays 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM PST
For more information contact AssyriaVision (209) 538-4130.
----------------------the D I R E C T O R
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ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago)
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAF (Agence France-Presse)
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSH (Shotapouta Newsletter)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNSM (Shufimafi Lebanese News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
-----------W E L C O M E T O Z E N D
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CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Gary, Indiana
Los
Angeles, California
San Jose, California
---------------------S A L U T
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This Week's Writers & Reporters:
Arbella Issabey San Jose, California Literatus
Pauline Jasim Chicago, Illinois Surfers Corner
Raman Mikhael Chicago, Illinois Good Morning B/N
Thanks For Referring Us to A New Reader:
Francis Sarguis Santa Barbara, California
Rita Pirayou San Jose, California
NOTE: ZENDA WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED NEXT MONDAY. WE WILL BE BACK ON
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8.
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In Our Upcoming Issues:
Sep 1: No Zenda: Staff on Assignment in Detroit
Sep 8: Assyrian National Convention Report
Sep 15: Issa Benyamin: Letters in Motion
Would you like to know more about a particular topic on Assyrian culture,
arts, history, langauge, politics, etc. Drop us a note!
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