Posted by Jeff from LTU-207-73-64-49.LTU.EDU (207.73.64.49) on Monday, June 10, 2002 at 4:36PM :
Who needs a country anyways???
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Do the Assyrians really need a country anyways or do we WANT one?
Let's start looking at the pros and cons of having a nation-state...
I must admit, to have a country as geographically close as possible to the land we once occupied would be just great...or would it?
Today, if the modern Assyrians were to have a country of their own we would be encompasing over 5 countries...last time I checked we weren't living in utopia and I'm almost positive that these countries would not give pieces of their land up for our cause...
For arguments sake let's say we do have a country. With a nation so divided and hostile, do you not see the potential problems that could erupt? We would be on the break of an all-out civil war. We can't even see eye to eye on a name do our people not realize that more complicated problems would arise politically and economically when a nation-state is established?
For example, let's say "Assyria" faces what the Argentines are facing now, a depression like state of emergency. The country would be in chaos. Also, allow me to bring your attention to another problem that the former Yugoslavia faced. Let's say a Suryoyo, for example, is elected as president of the country, being Assyrians and human would we not feel a sense of being misrepresented? Look at the situation involving the Serb leader ruling over Croatians and making bias decisions that favour his specific ethnic denomination. Far be it that the Suryoyo, again used simply as an example, would inflict nation wide genocide. But the idea of being misrepresented will create alot of hostility for a people.
A common pro nation-state argument is that our children are learning a more respectiful, honest, and decent value system in present day Iraq than the children living in Diaspora currently are due to the different lifestyles experienced in those particular countries.
Let us pose a counter argument by posing the following question. Are we implying that a good value system is but a myth in countries such as Canada, USA, Sweden, Holland, Germany, etc? It is the duty of the parents of a child to raise them with decent morals and values in order that they grow up with a strong and true Assyrian mentality so that they are able to make their own decisions when issues such as drugs, which plague our Western societies, are conjured up.
Issues such as language, culture and religion can all in most cases be practiced and learned in the home regardless of geographic location. The only limitation I can think about is maybe if a family lives in an isolated location where maybe church-going is almost impossible. However, God is merciful and understanding and will appreciate all that you can do without a physical Church, such as praying and reading the bible. Other than that I personally am aware of many Assyrians that have been able to practice their religion, speak our language and try their very best to be involved in our culture as much as possible even when faced with difficulties such as geographical isolation from their Assyrian community.
Isn't unity in diaspora a much better and more realistic objective that we can implement and live to see work?
A majority of youth and adults that I have personally confronted and asked whether they believed that they would live to see a country replied with a definate "NO." I am one youth that refuses to drop my guard and accept the fact that I might not live to see my people come together as one nation with different religious beliefs. I have realized that the true underlying problem facing a majority of our people today and am working deligently to bring awareness to it before it's too late.
A cold hard fact of the matter is that after our parents, grandparents and for those such as myself who still have great-grandparents are "gone" their history, their experiences of unity, brotherhood and sisterhood in the "old country" will be lost with them. Sit with your parents, your grandparents, your elders and family and LEARN about how life once was. And how among all the persecutions our families and people endured throughout the ages, we still managed to keep that comradery strong and keep our heads held up high and proud and even die with each other as one nation, "kha umta."
As we face further assimilation due to a lack of unity we risk being annihalated off the face of the earth and becoming part of the states we currently reside in. The Assyrians living in Iraq and other arab states face "Arabization," we Canadians and Americans face "Americanization," and I'm sure the same goes for other Assyrians living in Diaspora.
These countries have provided so much for us especially in diversified countries such as Canada and the USA for example. Why not use that freedom that we are allowed to really make an impact on the world. Let us have our voices heard from thousands of miles of away.
I have refused to see my nation die, I urge the youth to all do the same. I refuse to visualize the image of my children crying as all that was once great and plentiful has left our world and is no longer with us to be practiced, enjoyed, appreciated, and experienced.
The skies are coming together and it is getting dark and cold. I see thunder strike upon the earth with a strong thrust and destruction and chaos results down below. Allow the sun to shine and the heavens to unify and cry the tears of joy, not sorrow...God bless you all...
"Khooba (Love), Khooyada (Unity), Khayoota (Life)"
ASU 2002
Written by "Western Assyrian"
-- Jeff
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