from the EDITOR Our
from the EDITOR Our secret health problems are nothing to be quiet about Imiss my carefree days as a child, especially those warm summer days when I spent hours riding my bike, playing kickball and roller skating. My mother had to yell out the front door for my sisters and me to come home and wash our baries. I had no problem deciphering her slight Chaldean accent, but I did have to explain to the neighborhood kids that bari was body and my mother wanted us to come home and take a shower before bedtime. That, among an occasional scraped knee and stubbed toe, was my biggest health concern. Today, I worry about cancer, diabetes and heart disease, just to name a few. Our environment seems like a breeding farm for all types of addictions and diseases. Every time I click on the television, read the paper or scan the Internet, there is a new disease killing us or another cause found for cancer. It is as if we all should live in a bubble — never leave our homes and only eat what we can grow and raise in our own backyards. Okay, I know this is not realistic. The truth is that knowledge is power. We hope to arm you with some useful information this month. In this issue we bring you just a few health stories that members of our community are facing. As we were researching our topics, we discovered how difficult it is for so many people to be candid about their ailments. It is as if it is taboo to admit you have a problem. I have struggled with a weight issue my entire adult life. Unlike other addictions such as alcoholism or drugs, I cannot just sober up before a big soirée and hide the fact that I have a problem. I wear my weight on the outside like a badge of honor. I cannot try to convince people that I am actually a thin person even though sometimes I feel like an athletic woman trapped inside an overweight body suit. I have come to realize that there is no shame in admitting that you struggle with a problem. It does not mean you are a failure. Trying to cope, overcome and deal with a disease is what makes you strong for life. Therefore, April is a time we discuss obesity, infertility and drug addiction in these pages. In this month’s cover story, we delve deep into what has plagued many members of the community — Irritable Bowel Diseases. Copy Editor Joyce Wiswell sat down with VANESSA DENHA- GARMO EDITOR Chaldeans and talked to them about Crohn’s and colitis. Sometimes the perfect remedy to our sickness is humor. In his piece “Laughter is Good Medicine,” writer Omar Binno paints the picture of a Chaldean comedian who uses humor to heal the spirit. In fact, research shows that laughter does offer some healing power. How about a piece of chocolate to comfort you? Yes, research shows that there are health benefits to chocolate. Writer Jennifer Korail talked with Stephanie Acho about her chocolate shop in Northville and what has contributed to this young woman’s successful enterprise. Our environment seems like a breeding farm for all types of addictions and diseases. We appreciate those members of our community who shared their stories. There are so many health issues we look forward to investigating in the future. We hope we find more people willing to tell their stories. We understand that it is difficult to face an issue, but hope at some point we will realize there is no reason to keep a health issue secret. We can all learn from each other. Let’s not be quiet about our health problems. Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All) Vanessa Denha-Garmo vdenha@chaldeannews.com Letters to the editor can be sent via email to vdenha@chaldeannews.com or to: The Chaldean News, Letters to the Editor, 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 8 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2005
your LETTERS We Are the World Shlomo Chaldean brothers and sisters, I surfed and found your page on the links site from www.bethil.com. I am an Assyrian-Syriac from Southeast Turkey (Tur-Abdin), but I’m born in Switzerland. It’s very interesting to hear that we have a big Chaldean community in Detroit. We here in Switzerland are a small Assyrian- Chaldean-Syriac community. We have about 10,000 people here in all of Switzerland in the heart of Europe. For me we are all one — Assyrian- Syriacs and Chaldeans — because we all are Christians and speak the same language: Aramaic (Syriac). We in the young community here have our own soccer teams and we have our own clubs. What does your young community do in Detroit? Martin Sarkis Wretched Excess As a single man who one day will have a Chaldean wedding, I read your bridal issue [February 2005] with great interest. I personally enjoy Chaldean weddings very much. It is so beautiful to see the community coming together dancing, laughing, singing, people meeting new friends, singles meeting a potential spouse, children playing, etc. We are indeed fortunate to have this magnificent culture. Recently, however, my excitement has dwindled. People are going way overboard on these weddings. For example, your article mentioned that wedding dresses in the neighborhood of ,000 are not uncommon. I have seen some weddings have flowers on the table the size of a small tree. Also, the big screens in all four corners display their artificial, private, so-called “love story.” No wonder the wedding planner said, “Today you can’t do the same topof-the-line event for less than ,000.” Since the wedding day is a very special day in everyone’s life, it is therefore very important to have a nice, organized, beautiful and respectable wedding. However, many extravagant things couples are doing nowadays are not necessary. They can instead use this potentially wasted money to start a new family and do charity work. Unfortunately, the article did not allude to the true meaning of the wedding day, its spiritual meaning. I am not surprised because it not uncommon to forget about it when we are overwhelmed with materialist things. The most disgraceful, unnecessary thing in these weddings is having a belly dancer. In the past, people brought belly dancers to First Communion parties until the church took a very strong stance against it. Lately I have attended several weddings and, just when dinner is served, a half-naked lady suddenly bursts into the hall, and, like a serpent, swivels in a zigzag fashion and makes her way around the tables. She then goes around the bride and groom — the same couple who just received Communion and finished one of the most holy and sacred sacraments in our Catholic faith. As I look at the flower girl, the candle boy and other children looking at this horrible scene, I begin to ponder on the example we are setting for our future generation. Let us focus on fundamental things and have a respectable, humble and beautiful wedding that we can cherish and encourage the couple to build the new family on a good foundation filled with hope, faith and love. Neil (Nahil) Jaddou United We Stand I stand with the Chaldean American party store owners and the Chaldean American community in rejecting the efforts by Detroit’s mayor Kwame Kilpatrick with the aid of Detroit Police Department in its harassment of the Chaldean American party store owners. I will not remain silent to these unwarranted and bias-driven attacks upon Chaldean American businesspeople. The Chaldean American community has made great contributions to the survival and growth of the city of Detroit. As a person of color I am offended by what is taking place and I will do whatever I can to defeat this harassment of Chaldean American party store owners. I will not allow the misguided policies of the mayor to destroy the positive relationships, both business and personal, that have existed for decades between both communities. United we stand, divided we fall. Greg Thrasher Healthy Matters I just recently subscribed to your magazine, and I really enjoy reading it. It’s a cool gossip column for the Chaldeans but in a good way. Maybe you can address Chaldeans on their eating habits. As you know, many don’t know how to diet and exercise; many just want to take the easy way out by having plastic surgery or popping diet pills. Most of the foods that are prepared by Chaldeans are very high in fat, like rice, which we eat over and over. You always hear about Chaldean men dying of heart attacks or having closed arteries due to stress and eating badly. Exercise is a very good stress reliever. For example, maybe write an article on someone who has lost weight the old-fashioned way by eating right and exercising, which is basically the best way. Then compare it to some one who had bariatric surgery. My brother-in-law has lost 150 pounds in the past couple years and has managed to keep it off the old-fashioned way. My first cousin had the surgery done and had to go to a class before the operation for about six months. He too lost over 100 pounds. Putting together a fitness class for the elderly Chaldeans or maybe putting together an issue dedicated to healthy living would be beneficial. Valerie Asker Brikho Mega Interest Carey Denha of the Mega 80s I was very intrigued by your article on Carey Denha (A Mega Hit, March 2005). His dedication to music, business and family were very impressive. I have never been to the Magic Bag before, but I plan on going there Saturday night to see his show. I grew up with ’80s music so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Out of curiosity, can you please tell us how we can e-mail him for tickets? Ban Yaldo Editor’s note: Visit www.mega80s.com. THE CHALDEAN NEWS PUBLISHED BY The Chaldean News, LLC Tony Antone Vanessa Denha-Garmo Martin Manna EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Vanessa Denha-Garmo CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Joyce Wiswell CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Omar Binno Samira Cholagh Hon. Diane Dickow D’Agostini Christina Gappy Crystal Jabiro Jennifer Korail Alaa Mansour, M.D. ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative DESIGNER Zina Bahrou with SKY Creative PHOTOGRAPHERS David Reed Brad Ziegler OPERATIONS Interlink Media SALES Interlink Media SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Sandra Jolagh SALES REPRESENTATIVES Nick Yeldo Silvia Zoma MICHIGAN SUBSCRIPTIONS: PER YEAR OUT-OF-STATE SUBSCRIPTIONS: PER YEAR THE CHALDEAN NEWS 30095 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY • STE 102 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM PH: 248-932-3100 • FAX: 248-932-9161 PUBLICATION: The Chaldean News (P-6); Issue Date: April, 2005 STATEMENT OF FREQUENCY: Monthly; Volume 2, Issue III SUBSCRIPTIONS: 12 months, . Outside of Michigan, . PUBLCATION ADDRESS: 30095 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office" POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy, Ste. 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334" PHOTO BY DAVID REED APRIL 2005 CHALDEAN NEWS 9
