Posted by Jeff from d53-152-230.try.wideopenwest.com (64.53.230.152) on Monday, March 31, 2003 at 6:58PM :
Re: Illuminating Peter BetBasoo
Posted By: Qasrani <Qasrani2003@yahoo.com> (tmp00065b40e854.LAW.CWRU.Edu)
Date: Monday, 31 March 2003, at 1:38 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Illuminating Peter BetBasoo (Raman)
Look, African-Americans don't wash their hands of people like Condoleeza Rice or Clarence Thomas, just because they've been white-washed and that some would say "sold out." Neither you, Tariq or I can undo his identity, no matter how Arabized he is.
Your father left Iraq in 1974. That was the hayday of Iraq, nasha. No offense, but most of the Assyrians that left then were not running for their lives. Let's be honest about that. The dinar was strong and Iraqis were well respected wherever they went. The brutal tactics you describe were never experienced by your family. Thank God! So, I don't know about this "my dad didn't like what he was seeing, so we got out." A good thing he did leave when he did though. Let me tell you, it got worse.
I feel like a broken record... But, if it's freedom for Iraqis that you want, this isn't the way to get it. I promise you Raman, there were other options. Sure, they might have not come so swiftly (but has this turned out swift anyway?), but I think they would be ushered with a lot less chaos and unknown variables.
We (Assyrians) need to realize that we are taking a huge gamble. A gamble similar to the one that Malek Yacoub Ismael took and lost in heading for the Syrian border many years ago. All you pro-warriors don't seem to understand what's at stake. Or you have lost your sense of weighing options for an immediate cure.
What I'm saying is that Assyrians have no quick fix. We mustn't rush to the "other" just because there is an "other." What I am NOT saying is this regime stay in power; What I AM saying is that we must calculate better.
Q
-- Jeff
-- signature .
Follow Ups: