your LETTERS None of the
your LETTERS None of the Above In response to your article “All One People?” (July 2007), there is a question on unity and which illustration best describes the reader’s point of view. If I must pick from that list, then I pick option C. However, I think it’s unfortunate a fifth option wasn’t illustrated — one that has a large circle called “Christians (aka Surayeh)” with two smaller but equal circles within it, Chaldean and Assyrian, as examples. Keep up the great work in educating the community. I think you made the right choice in what article needed to be your cover story for July. How can we expect other news stations, papers, etc. to pay attention if we are not setting an example? Focusing on “titles” (although interesting) seems petty as a cover story when compared to other issues surrounding the world, and especially Christians in Iraq. – Teresa Soave One in Christ The terms Chaldean and Assyrian are just labels of territories. I think that the answer to the question is D. I think that even the term Chaldean is overrated in some cases. Like I’m Telkipnaya, someone else is Alqoshnaya, others might be Babitnaya and more villages. That makes matters even worse in some issues. Just imagine someone living in West Bloomfield and another in Sterling Heights. What would they mean when they say Eastsider and Westsider? Does it explain 100 percent who they are? Try again if you say yes. A. CHALDEAN ASSYRIAN I would rather be labeled as a Christian descendent as opposed to Chaldean or Assyrian. I’m Chaldean because my parents say I am. And I’m Telkipnaya because my family started from Telkipeh. I’m still confused then to what Chaldean or Assyrian means and what Telkipnaya or Zakhonaya means. We are all one if we have the same beliefs and the same leader that died and shed His blood for us. If you believe in Christ and His existence I’m one of you. If you don’t believe that then I’m obviously not one of you. That’s an easier description of who I am. – Marten Brikho Separate Identity I firmly believe that the identity designation of “Chaldean” should not be B. C. D. ASSYRIAN CHALDEAN CHALDEAN ASSYRIAN used interchangeably with “Assyrian.” Many Assyrians argue that the designation of the Chaldean name is religious, and not cultural. At first, when the Catholic Church gave the Assyrian Catholics the name “Chaldean” in 1553, we shared nearly identical traits in our culture with the other Assyrians. But we are currently living half a millennium after the fact. In those 500 years, Chaldeans have developed their own dialect, traditions and ways. Our culture is directly correlated to our religion, Catholicism. This doesn’t mean that we cannot have a culture to supplement our strong religious values. In Michigan alone, there are 120,000 Chaldeans. I would venture to guess that 80 percent refuse to denote themselves as Assyrians. There’s a reason for this choice; we are no longer the same people. Our parents didn’t just decide that we aren’t Assyrians out of thin air. CHALDEAN ASSYRIAN THE UNITY QUESTION: WHICH OF THE ABOVE ILLUSTRATIONS BEST DESCRIBES YOUR POINT OF VIEW? We’ve acknowledged ourselves as Chaldeans for centuries, and we’ve embraced our culture. It’s ours, and we shouldn’t be willing to compromise it by assimilating into an Assyrian identity. In my 18th year as a Chaldean, I’ve been criticized for not calling myself Assyrian, which isn’t only an identity I don’t associate with, but also a name that will become the end to our culture. Examine the consequences of Chaldeans accepting ancient relations and identifying themselves as Assyrians. Already, the forced assimilation has occurred in media. A prime example is of the recently martyred Father Ragheed Ganni of Iraq, who was mentioned as an Assyrian priest killed in an Assyrian Church, with no mention of his ties to the Chaldean Catholic Church. Our Chaldean villages, like Telkeppe and Alqosh, are designated as Assyrian villages on the user-edited Wikipedia, which mil- C & J Parking Lot Sweeping, Inc. CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 1-888-LOT-SWEEP 586-759-3668 • 586-759-0858 Fax www.cjsweep.com OFFICE BUILDINGS SHOPPING CENTERS POWER WASHING CONSTRUCTION SITES CATCH BASIN REPAIR ASPHALT MILLINGS STRIPING POT HOLE REPAIR LINE JETTING GUM REMOVAL “Over 25 Years of Service” 2200 E. Ten Mile Road • Warren, Michigan 48091 12 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2007
lions of users use as a source of reliable information. Our name is being erased, and this systematic and carefully planned Assyrianization (as I call it) will prove to be the end of the Chaldeans. We’ll be remembered historically as the Ancient Chaldeans, and that’s if the history books of the future don’t decide to call us Catholic Assyrians. Assyrianization is very similar to the Arabization process. The Arab name was forced on us in Iraq. We were forced to speak Arabic, and punished when we spoke our mother tongue. Indeed, history repeats itself, and this time, it’s more subtle. This approach is proving an end to our rich culture, just by simply identifying as an Assyrian. As I’ve already illustrated, there’s so much to a name; it is not just a name. Hopefully, Assyrian groups will not insist an identity change from the Chaldeans. It is my hope that we can work together, without forcing an identity on anyone else, in order to help our suffering people of Iraq. We’re related to the Assyrians historically, but we’re no longer the same people. We’re simply Modern Assyrians and Modern Chaldeans. We’re different. And everyone should assess the consequences of this very important issue before a culture is erased. – Hadeer Sinawe Warning Signs Amera Garmo was a 51-year-old healthy woman, until one day her birthmark became deadly. Amera was born with a birthmark on the sole of her right foot. Growing up, I remember seeing the mark at the pool or while she was mopping the floor and I would tell her that she had a watermelon seed on the bottom of her foot. She’d laugh and say it was only a birthmark or as we say in Chaldean, “shamma.” In September of 2005, she came home from work with a throbbing pain in her leg. The next day we scheduled to see our dermatologist to get a biopsy. Two weeks later we got the news that she had stage 3 melanoma. Melanoma is the most serious of skin cancers. Our journey began; from that day forward our lives changed dramatically. We began trips back and forth to the University of Michigan and countless second opinions. After several surgeries we started a treatment called Alpha B interpheron in March 2006. The therapy would consist of an injection three times a week for one year. During this time numerous CT scans were done; there were no signs of the cancer. As month 10 rolled around, Mom started getting little blue dots in her right groin area. We went in for a checkup and found there was a reoccurrence. The news was devastating but I tried to pull myself together and be positive for her. The moment I got home I got on the Internet and saw how serious stage 4 melanoma is. We then started a different approach of chemotherapy. She would be admitted five days at a time, but no change. Months later we tried radiation to hopefully shrink the tumor but still no luck. Even though these treatments had only a 15 percent chance it would work, I didn’t see why we couldn’t be that 15 percent. After her long, brave battle with cancer my mom rested at home in her final days with loved ones, and passed away on May 22, 2007. My mom never neglected her yearly physical exams, but somehow this was overlooked. As she would say, “I’ve never taken a pill in my whole life until this.” The best way each person can help themselves is to check your own body carefully, or if it’s in a place you can’t get to like my mom, have a family member look at it. Examine your skin to check for new moles or changes in moles. If it looks suspicious see a doctor immediately. Early detection is the key to melanoma. Amera was a wonderful woman who could have had a long life ahead of her. She lived her life with respect among her siblings and as a role model to me and my sister. We will never forget her and dearly miss her. For more information, go to www.melanoma.com. – Janel Hamama Amera Garmo’s obituary appears on page 29. Back to Basics Hundreds of people on Cass Lake, having a good time. Boat after boat, with one tied up next to the other. Known for a fun weekend event, “Sandbar Sunday” will now be remembered as a tragic loss for many. Family members, friends and several others within the Chaldean community prayed for a miracle during the search for Ryan Binno. Many helped rescue teams from sunrise til sunset. On July 10, they discovered his body. The problem with our culture is that we never think we’ll become a statistic. Sorry guys and girls, we are just as human as the rest of the world and our chances are just as high as anyone else. The only difference we (the Chaldean community) have is the bond we share. We are all one big family. When something negative happens, whether it’s an illness or a tragedy, we are all saddened by it. Whether we personally knew the individual or not, we’re all affected because of the closeness within our culture. The Chaldean community is not what it once was. Everyone used to help one another, not go against each other. Couples would get married and live by their vows, “’til death do us part.” Now, the “cool” thing is to get divorced. Soon there will be divorce parties. What about the respect for yourself? It isn’t even half of what it used to be, and as each generation comes around, it gets worse and worse. Life is short enough, enjoy it; don’t do something that risks the chance of shortening it even sooner. Learn from your mistakes the first time. Be positive. Guide others to do what’s right. Don’t encourage them to do what’s wrong. Enjoy your life … but to an extent. Keep your pride and dignity. Earn respect for yourself and maintain a positive reputation. Stop taking advantage of your privileges and have self-control. Be a role model, inspire those younger then you. Teach them right from wrong so our younger brothers, sisters, cousins and children don’t have to be raised in a society that’s corrupted any worse then it already is. God bless your soul Ryan. I will continue to pray for you and your family. – Jennifer Kiminaia An article on Ryan Binno’s death appears on page 34. Letters to the editor are welcome. Please keep your letter to less than 500 words and include your city. The Chaldean News reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Submit your letter via email to info@chaldeannews.com or mail to: The Chaldean News, Letters to the Editor, 26555 Evergreen, Ste. 250, Southfield, MI 48076 AUGUST 2007 CHALDEAN NEWS 13
