As a critic of any medium, it is always important to view artistic talents with the right kind of ‘eye', being open minded enough to not slant opinion based on Assyriansism or not. As the old saying goes "everyone is a critic" and that especially holds true to the finicky nature of Assyrians.

The underlying thought is the same: Can one person love a movie and another person hates it? Of course! We see this every day with the American films: Friday Night Lights was liked by Roger Ebert, but perhaps you liked it? Perhaps if I were sitting in a movie theater, I would get excited and root for the team. The same holds true for all artists and all mediums of artistic release: in art, music, dance and even, a movie. This holds especially true when we see Assyrian movies. Not only do we feel a sense of responsibility to support our fellow Assyrians, but to feel moved about a modern-day movie about the Assyrian people.

Youth Excellence Contest

As nine young, talented, and well-educated Assyrian students walked down the stairs of the theatre at the Santa Clara Convention, one felt a sense of a much more brawny pride at the youth's accomplishments in society as a whole. As a nation living in Diaspora, our young men and women are armed with a weapon called education—this is our newest bludgeon that uses a weaving of words and creative and critical thinking to mark our place in this quicksand society, where many nations tend to trip and plunge, while leaving no imprints of their identity. Our education is the key to our recognition as a cultured and civilized people and this was why our brave youth chose to participate in such an event. They quickly crochet lyrical terms in astute rejoinders to the host of the contest's questions. One would only melt into their seat as they listened to the vibes of their harmonious and brilliantly scholarly remarks. The audience's heart beats only grew faster as the pride in their veins began to pump harder and harder throughout their body and mind. As we listened quietly to their brief speeches, it became difficult to predict who would win, but in the end, the decision making by the judges was no picnic yet they came to a conclusion. A young lady won first prize with two young gentlemen winning second and third. However, this was not a night of winners and losers; they were all winners in our eyes. Lovers of our nation and education are winners in Assyrian society for they will broaden the wings of the mighty eagle and allow our nation to rise above all troubles and tribulations that cripple our nation and unite us as one once again. Congratulations to all the contestants of this year's Youth Excellence Contest and we all anticipate the participation of a larger youth group in this contest next year!