Kanoon I 9, 6746 Volume II Issue 42 December 9, 1996
zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz zz
z zzzzzzzzz
z
z z
z z z z
z z z
z z
z z z z
z z z
z zzzzzzz
z z z z
z zzzzzzz
z z
z z z z
z z
z
z
z
z z z z
z z
z
zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz z
zz zzzzzzz
z
z
A Weekly Online Publication of the ZENDA Assyrian Newsagency
============================================================================
T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A
============================================================================
The Lighthouse...................... The Cradle
of Mankind
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain............ PUK Captures
Mount Didevan
Surfs Up............................ "...without
making excuses.."
Surfers Corner...................... Noted Assyrians
Arriving in the U.S.
News Digest......................... Saddam's Unit
999 Ordered to Kill
Calendar of Events.................. No New Entries
Entracte............................ Christmas
Party '96 (San Jose)
Intelligentsia...................... Classes, Lectures,
and Seminars
Assyrian Surfing Posts.............. Learn Assyrian
Online
Pump up the Volume.................. National @
Nationalist
Back to the Future.................. Tukulti-Ninurta
captures Babylon
ADO founded in Syria
Literatus........................... A Personal
Journey Through Time
This Week in History................ Reverend Peera
Mirza
Bravo............................... Benjamin Adams'
Philanthropy
The Directory....................... News Sources
Bshena.............................. The Netherlands
Salute.............................. Jackie, Francis,
& Emanoel
============================================================================
THE L I G H
T H O U S E
============================================================================
THE CRADLE OF MANKIND
In The Cradle of Mankind, which can perhaps be best described
as a classic
reference book in Assyriology, Dr. William A. Wigram
relates his travels to
the facts of history that tell the fascinating story
of the growth of
pre-Christian Assyrians from Nineveh to the present-day
Assyrians of
"Eastern Kurdistan"-and beyond. The distinguished
author arrived at this
conclusions by observing the territory of Kurdistan,
its peoples, their
customs, physiognomy and political problems. By
examining these factors,
he found definite proof that the Assyrians of today are
the direct
descendants of the Assyrians of antiquity. He further
concluded that this
is the area where Western civilization had its beginning.
In search for material evidence or the timeless and changeless
philosophy
of Assyrian life and in the shaping of knowledge with
the faithful, the
author had imagination enough to label Eden, "Eden."
The photographs
present a priceless representation of the area, while
the accompanying
descriptions could have been written by no one better
qualified than a
theologian like Dr. Wigram.
For me, the truth of my parents' narratives of their early
experiences in
the old country is confirmed by the author. Of
particular interest was the
description of the system of taxation which was outrageously
oppressive.
The brutality of the tax collector was almost as cruel
as the banditry of
the Kurds, for the village people had absolutely no civil
services.
Dr. Wigram relates the following incident: A band
of Kurds were attempting
to steal sheep from an Assyrian village when an English
traveler intervened
and caused the Kurds to leave peacefully without the
loot. Later, he
visited a Kurdish chieftain, and the results were a plea
for order for the
good of both Christians and Kurds and a promise of medical
help.
The author notes the universal lack of cleanliness which
led to disease and
physical suffering. The the time of writing, the
author encountered a team
of German archaeologists excavating in very scientific
fashion, but he was
informed that all findings were to be placed in the museum
in Istanbul.
The photograph most interesting to me was that of Assyrian
women at work on
the roofs in Bibaydi- cleaning grit from the heap of
winnowed grain-
exactly as described by my mother. The book bulges
with information for
the student of geography, ethnology, and history as well
as for the casual
reader. Assyrians of every section cannot afford
to miss reading anything
from the pen of the late Dr. Wigram. The miracle
of the survival of
Assyrian life and values is conclusively confirmed by
the Cradle of Mankind.
Rose Riskalla
[Dr. William Wigram lived for 10 years in northern Bet-Nahrain
as a member
of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Assyrian Mission and
spoke Assyrian
fluently. Other books by Wigram include:
---An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church,
100-640 A.D., London,
1910.
---Our Smallest Ally: A Brief Account of the Assyrian
Nation in the Great War, London, 1020.
---The Separation of the Monophysites (dealing with the
Jacobite Assyrians), London, 1923.
---The Assyrians and Their Neighbors, London, 1929. ]
============================================================================
G O O D M O R N
I N G B E T - N A
H R A I N
============================================================================
KURDISH PUK FORCES CAPTURE DIDEVAN
(ZNRU: Ankara) An Iraqi Kurdish faction said it had gained
control of a
strategic mountain in northern Bet-Nahrain from another
militia but denied
a report by its rival of clashes that could endanger
Western-brokered peace
efforts. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said
earlier that two
of its militiamen had died over the weekend in fighting
over the Didevan
mountain. "KDP forces attacked on November 30 at Didevan,
a mountain
18-miles southwest of Koy Sanjak town. The two
sides have held several
rounds of peace talks under U.S., British and Turkish
mediation since they
declared a cease-fire in October to end months of fighting
that increased Baghdad's
influence in the mountainous region. Iraqi troops and
tanks helped Massoud
Barzani's KDP take the key city of Arbil (Assyrian "four-gods")
from the
rival faction in August, prompting U.S. missile strikes
on Iraqi targets in
retaliation.
============================================================================
S U R F S
U P !
============================================================================
"In the November 11 issue of Zenda, I was struck by the
inconsistency in the
manner in which Youel Baaba in his article on Assyrian
political movements
in Iraq described certain events in that country.
I will give one example.
He refers to the bloody overthrow of the monarchy in
Iraq in 1958 as simply
an "elimination," as if the unarmed king, his family
(including women), and
the family's orphaned wards had not been massacred after
having walked out
of the palace carrying a white sheet of surrender; and
as if Abd al-Ilah
(the king's uncle) had not been tied by ropes and dragged
through the
streets of Baghdad, his limbs cut off his body, the corpse
hung and then
burnt.
Yet in the same paragraph he refers to the overthrow of
the regime of Abd
al-Karim Qasim (in which he gives no indication of it
being a reign of
terror: al-Mahdawi's "People's Court" and the massacres
of Mosul and Karkuk
are but a couple of examples)as a "brutal termination."
For our own sakes, it is imperative for us to strive to
be as objective as
possible in studying the history of our homeland without
making excuses or
covering up facts. Otherwise we are doomed to making
the same mistakes over
and over again."
Zaineb Istrabadi, Ph.D.
Columbia University
============================================================================
S U R F E R S
C O R N E R
============================================================================
During the months of December and January the Assyrian
communities of the
United States will have an opportunity to meet with some
of the most
distinguished Assyrian scholars, writers, and artists
currently residing in
Europe and the Middle East. ZENDA wishes to remind
its readers to take
advantage of the lectures and seminars scheduled in Chicago
and California
and meet these giants of modern Assyrian research, arts,
and culture:
Dr. Gabrial
Yonan
Berlin, Germany
Dr. Yonan is the author of several books in German on
Assyrian politics,
society, and culture. Her latest book, The Assyrian
Holocaust, was
recently translated to English, and is due in stores
soon.
Rabbie Nimrod
Simono Tehran, Iran
Considered the most noted authority in the modern Assyrian
language, Rabbie
Simono is currently visiting his friends at the Assyrian
Academic Society
in Chicago and will soon travel to California to join
his family and students.
Rabbie
Hannibal Alkhas Tehran, Iran
No modern paintings by an Assyrian artist are as easily
recognizable as
those of Hannibal Alkhas. A "rebel with a cause",
Alkhas remains the most
influential Assyrian artist in Iran and the United States.
Look for
exhibition of his most recent work in San Jose and Los
Angles, California.
============================================================================
N E W S
D I G E S T
============================================================================
SADDAM'S SPECIAL FORCE ORDERED TO ASSASSINATED
KEY OPPOSITION LEADERS
(ZNUP: London) Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has ordered
the special Iraqi
army intelligence unit, Unit 999, to carry out assassinations
and sabotage
against opponents abroad, the Iraqi National Congress
spokesman said last
week.
The Iraqi dissident umbrella group said Unit 999 is attached
to the army's
"political department in charge of operations against
the Iraqi
opposition." The group is also made up of non-Iraqi
agents, including
Egyptians, Jordanians, Palestinians, Sudanese, Saudis
and Kuwaitis. Its
headquarters are at an army base southeast of Baghdad,
the Iraqi capital,
where its agents are trained to carry out operations
against "Iraqi
opposition and foreign targets in the Middle East, Europe
and elsewhere,"
the congress said. The congress was founded in northern
Bet-Nahrain in 1992.
============================================================================
C
A L E N D A
R OF E V
E N T S
============================================================================
Thru April 6
The Ain Ghazal Exhibit
Smithsonian Institute
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Washington D.C.
AAA of Southern CA (818) 506-7577
Jan 15
Ashur & Marduk: The State Gods of Assyria & Babylonia
Lecturer: G. Frame
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
St. George campus
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
Mar 12
Guardians of the Gate: The Assyrian Winged Colossi
Lecturer: A. Harrak
Near and Middle Eastern Civilization
University of Toronto
St. George campus
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
April 9
Recent Excavations at Gordion, Turkey:
An Achaemenid Persian Imperial Town in Central Anatolia
Lecturer: T.C. Young, Jr.
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
E N T R A C T E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 25
Christmas Party '96
Assyrian Church of the East
680 Minnesota Aveenue
San Jose, California
Entertainers: Ogin & Ashur Bet-Sargis
Dec 31
New Year's Eve Party
Westin Hotel
Santa Clara, California
Entertainers: Sooren & Edmond
New Year's Eve Party
Hilton Hotel- LAX
Los Angeles, California
Entertainers: Ogen & Black Cats
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N T E L L I G E N T S I A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursdays
Nineveh Choir under the direction of Maestro Nebu Issabey
BETA: 20000 Almaden Road
San Jose, California
8:00 pm
Fridays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 108
Modesto, U.S.A.
Saturdays
Nisibis School
10:30-1:30
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
Nisibin School
10:00-12:00 pm
BETA: Assyrian American Association of San Jose
San Jose, California
SUNDAYS
Assyrian Boy Scouts
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
9:30am to 12:30pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
Assyrian Student Union
California State University, Northridge
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
6:00pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
============================================================================
A S
S Y R I A N S
U R F I N G P
O S T S
============================================================================
Listen to the pronunciation of the Assyrian alphabet and
review your
vocabulary. A must see homepage:
Learn Assyrian Online
http://members.gnn.com/assyrianme/aramaic/aramaic.html
============================================================================
P U M P UP THE V O L U
M E
============================================================================
ENGLISH
ASSYRIAN
National
oom/ta/ya
[M]
oom/te/ta
[F]
Nationalist
oom/ta/na/ya
[M]
oom/ta/ne/ta
[F]
____________________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine
P = Plural
============================================================================
B A C K TO THE
F U T U R E
============================================================================
B.C. (ca 1250) Tukulti-Ninurta I, King of Assyria, defeats
the army of
Kashtiliash II, King of Babylonia, and captures the city
of Babylon.
Babylonia, then under the Kassite rulers, becomes a province
of Assyria.
<< Babylonian Life & History, Budge >>
A.D. (1957) The Assyrian Democratic Organization (Takasta)
is founded in
Syria.
<< The Assyrian Dilemma, Alkhas >>
============================================================================
L I T E
R A T U
S
============================================================================
On 28th of June I left my country, Iraq.
I felt happy.
It was the first time ever I was going
to another country outside my homeland.
From Baghdad we traveled for fifteen hours
on a bus to Jordan.
When we arrived at the border we had to bring
all of our belongings down to be checked.
We were very tired.
The inspection took about three hours.
After about two hours we arrived in Amman.
We stayed in Amman for eighteen days
before traveling to Turkey.
In Turkey things were not good.
There was no water to wash with
and we hadn't washed for four days.
We didn't have visas
and if the police discovered us,
we would be in big trouble.
After four days in Turkey, we left for Bulgaria.
Things were a bit better there.
In Bulgaria we had the same problems, no visas!
We left Bulgaria for Greece.
By paying thirteen hundred dollars for each person.
It was night time and I was walking with my family
on the border between Bulgaria and Greece.
It was dark, very dark.
The only light was from the stars.
Suddenly we saw the headlights of
two cars approaching.
They were taking people to Greece.
The cars took my family.
There was no room for me.
I was left behind with strangers.
I was afraid.
There was a man from Syria there and
I told him my story.
He said: "Don't worry, we'll find your family."
At this point another car appeared and
I was taken to where my family was.
I was very happy and my mother cried
when she saw me.
Bell Khoshaba
Australia
============================================================================
T H I S W E E K
I N H I S T O R
Y
============================================================================
December 10, 1959: dies, Rev. Peera Mirza, in San
Jose, California. Rev.
Mirza was a minister in the Assyrian Evangelical Church
of Urmie, Iran and
the author of a two-volume book on mathematics in Assyrian.
============================================================================
B R A
V O
============================================================================
BENJAMIN S. ADAMS: AN ASSYRIAN PHILANTHROPIST
Benjamin S. Adams was born on December 28, 1913, in the
village of Ada,
Urmie, Iran. In 1938 Benjamin emigrated to the
U.S. and settled in Tucson,
Arizona. He served in the U.S. Army during World
War II and was cited for
valor and was awarded several medals of honor.
At the time of his death on
April 12, 1995, Benjamin Adams left a substantial wealth
to several
non-profit Assyrian organizations to be used for the
purpose of educating
young minds and assisting refugees. ZENDA has obtained
a copy of Mr.
Adams' list of benefactors in his will. As stated
in Benjamin's will,
after all specific bequests have been honored (little
over $300,000.00 in
value) the net remainder of his estate shall be divided
among seven
Assyrian organizations in the following manner:
1. Assyrian Foundation of America (Berkeley,
CA)
25%
2. Assyrian American National Federation
15%
3. Assyrian Council of Illinois
15%
4. Assyrian Aid Society
20%
5. Assyrian Welfare Society - Chicago
15%
6. Assyrian American Association of Southern
Calif
10%
7. Bet-Nahrain Organization - Ceres/Modesto,
Calif
$5000.00
No information on the actual value of this net remainder
of Benjamin Adams'
estate is available at this time. Benjamin is survived
by a brother,
nephews, and cousins.
============================================================================
the D I R E C T O R
Y
============================================================================
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
============================================================================
W E L C O M
E T O Z E
N D A
============================================================================
Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
University of Lieden, Holland
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Holland
============================================================================
S A L
U T E
============================================================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals &
organizations
whose contributions appear in this issue:
Emanoel Daryoush
San Jose, California
Jackie Bajan
San Jose, California
Francis Sargis
Santa Barbara, California
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Next Issue will appear on Monday, December 16, 1996.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------