from the EDITOR
from the EDITOR Published By The Chaldean News, LLC Editorial Editor in Chief Vanessa Denha-Garmo managing Editor Joyce Wiswell Contributing Writers Caroline M. Bacall Joe Gasso Ken Marten Weam Namou Steve Stein EDITORIAL INTERN Joe Gasso PROOFREADER Ken Marten art & production creative director Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative graphic designers Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative Joseph Sesi Photographers David Reed Nora Bahrou Downs operations Interlink Media director of operations Paul Alraihani circulation Paul Alraihani CLASSIFIEDS Joyce Wiswell sales Interlink Media sales representative Lisy Starr managers Vanessa Denha-Garmo Martin Manna Michael Sarafa subscriptions: per year The Chaldean News 29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250 Southfield, MI 48034 www.chaldeannews.com Phone: (248) 996-8318 Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published monthly; Issue Date: August 2009 Subscriptions: 12 months, . Publication Address: 29850 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034” Finding faith We continue this month using suggestions from our editorial board review session we had earlier this year by featuring more Iraq and refugee stories — but we did it with a twist. The cover story is a collage of several articles written by Joyce Wiswell, Weam Namou and Ken Marten. They include the recent church bombings in Iraq, and visits to Michigan by a Kurdish Assyrian minister of tourism, a Syrian Archbishop, and a Jordanian Jesuit who administers CFA’s Adopt- A-Refugee-Family in that country. When the U.S. first invaded Iraq in 2003, I never thought we would still be reporting on church bombings today. I can’t help but think, what was our government’s game plan? Did President Bush think that this many years later, Christians would still be fleeing the country, terrorists would still be attacking and life would still be uncertain? How many people actually thought that the first time Iraqis were able to vote for their government leaders, democracy would be well on its way in the Middle East? But, here we are in the summer of 2009, still writing about attacks against Christians in our homeland. I still have faith that peace will find its way to the Middle East. Now that the refugees are here, they need so much help. I had an opportunity to write an article about the mental health grant available for recent arrivals to this United States. It is a collaborative effort by various groups spearheaded by the Chaldean Vanessa denha-garmo editor in chief Community Foundation. While the average high school kid at Walled Lake Central is enjoying the summer days hanging out at the beach, going to a ball game or making extra cash at a part-time job, our Chaldean refugee teens are supporting families, learning the language and trying to cope with post-traumatic stress due to the war. These problems they face are not resolved overnight or in one session. The challenge the counselors face is that there is a taboo linked to needing Here we are in the summer of 2009, still writing about attacks against Christians in our homeland. therapy, yet in reality there is no shame in admitting you need help or were a victim of something tragic. In this issue, read more about the status of Iraq and our refugees needing help. The refugees are putting their faith in God that Chaldeans here will help them overcome these obstacles and find a place in this new land. Life challenges can be more than some can fathom. Joyce Wiswell sat down with Danny Kassab and his brother Ziad for the story of a little boy involved in a tragic event that not only changed the course of his life but that of his entire family. Born a healthy boy, Danny is now a quadriplegic; from his accident was born a business that has helped so many others improve their quality of life. Read about Guardian Angel, which watches over so many people. Without faith, how can we overcome our obstacles? Danny demonstrates his faith in God that has allowed him to find joy in his limited life. What about your faith? What has God challenged you to do? We asked our readers about faith. Caroline Bacall posed the question to some unsuspecting Chaldeans at Shenandoah Country Club. My faith grows stronger with each day. As my faith becomes more powerful, I become stronger as a person to cope with chaos, to deal with the unfaithful who spew out hate and to accept the things I cannot change. Faith has also given me the ability to become more grateful for all that I have in my life, which is much. I thank God for the ability to work, to raise my daughter and for all the little things we all seem to take for granted. These challenging times test our faith. How many of you have faith that a lesson is to be learned and things will eventually get better? I wish all of you the ability to find the faith you need to live life truly to its fullest in the way God meant us to live it. I have found my faith in God. I hope you do too. Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All) Vanessa Denha-Garmo vdenha@chaldeannews.com CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2009
in our VIEW Petty infighting serves no one The attack on six churches in Iraq in a 24-hour period in July has again shed light on the dubious future of Iraq’s Christian population. It has also underscored two other major obstacles to achieving peace and stability for this population: the Iraqi government’s recalcitrance in dealing with the subject, and the petty infighting among the various Christian sects. Besides some occasional “glad handing” with a Bishop here and a Bishop there, Prime Minister Nouri Al- Maliki has showed little or no interest in the plight of Iraqi Christians. In fact he has shown little willingness or effort to forge Iraq into a secular, non-theocratic government. While he has been successful in developing close ties with the Iranian regime, at home he has alienated not only Christian Iraqis but members of the other Muslim sects as well. In travels to Washington, D.C, Maliki makes no mention of this issue and makes no effort to meet with Iraqi Americans, the vast majority of whom are Christian. Furthermore, the process of establishing an Iraqi Consul office in Southfield was without input from the substantial Chaldean community in the Detroit metropolitan area. Though many in the U.S. Congress have shown much sympathy for the plight of Iraqi Christians, efforts on the ground to help have either fizzled or been inconsequential. Tens of millions of dollars have been allocated from Washington to supposedly “support displaced religious minorities in Iraq.” But tracking this money is difficult and it seems most of it never reached people in Iraq where it is needed most. Still, some of the blame lies within Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has showed little or no interest in the plight of Iraqi Christians. the community itself — inside of Iraq and out. The Christian leadership — lay and religious — has been more hung up about titles and labels than improving safety and security for our people. It is unfortunate that the biggest news to come out of a recent Synod of the Chaldean Church was the request by the Chaldean Bishops to be treated separately from other Christian groups in the new Kurdish Constitution. Ultimately, the authors of this document settled on the catch-all label of “Chaldean Syriac Assyrian,” which is like calling fruit salad “apples bananas oranges.” This distinction indeed has some philosophical, historical and doctrinal import. But it has no place in the internal politics of Iraq where the Christian population is under siege and near extinction. We would hope that the Iraqi government, American politicians and the Iraqi Christian leadership inside and outside of the country can get together to map out a comprehensive plan for the protection, security and well-being of Iraq’s religious minorities. To date, all we see are more religiously motivated attacks, forced migration and an increasing numbers of refugees. This is no longer acceptable — the time to address this issue is long overdue. S U B S C R I B E ! 12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION: I wish to subscribe to the Chaldean News for 12 issues Please fill in your name and address below: Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________ State _____ Zip _____________________ Phone ______________________________ E-mail _____________________________ PLEASE MAIL THE FORM, WITH A CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO: 29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250 • Southfield, MI 48034 Phone: (248) 996-8318 • Fax: (248) 996-8386 www.chaldeannews.com Yomah ta loukhoun - May your wedding day come Completely CONFIDENTIAL FREE to start - Pay nothing until set up with your first match How it works: Step 1: Fill out our confidential questionnaire Step 2: Meet your matchmaker for a private interview Step 3: Meet your match visit www.MATCHaldean.com for more information www.sherwoodfoods.com The Midwest’s Leading Food Distribution Network Beef, Pork, Poultry, Processed Meats, Lamb, Veal, Seafood, Deli, Bakery, Frozen Foods and Dairy Our facilities are strategically located and well positioned to service our entire customer base from Michigan to Florida along the I-75 corridor. Corporate Headquarters 12499 Evergreen Road • Detroit, MI • 48228 • 313-659-7300 Regional Warehouses Atlanta, GA•Cincinnati, OH•Cleveland, OH•Detroit, MI•Miami, FL Trading Offices Oklahoma City, OK • Ponca, NE AUGUST 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS
