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Dear fellow Assyrians:
During a meeting of the General Membership in January a team of new administration and the board of directors was elected as care takers of the Assyrian American Association of Southern California for the next two years. The elected people are: President: William Warda Vice president: Melis Lachin Treasurer: Victor Orshan Controller: Romina Arvakhi Board of Directors are: Nahrin Lachin, Arbela Orshan, Jenny Badal, Beloos Bethishou, Edwin Afshalimi, Edwin Atniel and Fredrik Ayoubkhan.
The extent of their success in helping the Assyrian Center and the community at large depends on how much they will be supported by the rest of the Assyrians in the region.
From time to time every nation or community needs to asses its situation and find out which way it is headed, to make proper corrections, so that it will not end up at a destination it does not want to be. There has not been such assessment of the Assyrian situation or attempt to plan their future for lack of an effective national leadership and the apathy of the general population. Consequently we are scattered in all directions each living as an island disconnected and isolated form others, this can hardly lead to a positive outcome. When things are left alone usually they go from bad to worst. The most important function of the Assyrian center is to bring together all Assyrians and encourage their unity and solidarity. There are many signs that the Assyrians community, at least in the Southern California area, is not doing well because its members are scattered in a vast region with long distances in between them impeding their social interaction. Such signs of disintegration are especially evident to the directors of the AAASC who monitor the state of our people. On average we send about 1000 flyers twice a month to the Assyrian households inviting them to various events promoting social and cultural activities such as: seminars, book exhibits, Assyrian choir, Assyrian language classes, parties and picnics but only a small percentage of the population bothers to attend. A scattered people who have no desire to come together at least once every so often, to reassert their unity, solidarity, and interest in their shared social and cultural heritage can hardly be assured of a stellar future for their community. Some attribute their non-participation to the fact that the Association hall is not as beautiful as they want it to be or the Association property is not in a wealthy neighborhood . It is hard to believe that any Assyrian is willing to abandon his or her community or culture for such reasons. This shows a lack of concern for the survival of their heritage which is passed on to the younger generation. The survival of our people for the last 2500 years has been due to their love and dedication for each other. The 8th century Givargis Bakht-Eisho who was a court physician for the Caliph al-Mansour and family, after a long practice, decided to retire and live the rest of his life in an Assyrian village in northern Iraq with his family and friends. The Caliph who appreciated his services invited him to stay in Baghdad and become a Muslim so that he too can go to heaven. Givargis replied “I would rather die with the religion of my fathers and go where they have gone. That is where I want to be, whether in paradise or hell.” If the Association is not beautiful or is not in a great neighborhood it means our community has neglected it for too long and the solution to this problem is not to abandon it rather than helping to make it a better place. The few individuals who have been elected to administer the Association can not invest in more expensive property without the support of the community at large. No people can survive if they are not willing to inconvenience themselves for the sake of their shared culture and heritage. This was undoubtedly the message which President Kennedy wanted to express when he said: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” In addition to our responsibility to our adopted country we are equally indebted to our community if we are interested in its survival. William Warda President; Assyrian American Association of Southern California
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