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 Dear fellow Assyrians:
During a meeting of the General Membership in January 2008 a team of new administration and board of directors were elected as care takers of the Assyrian American Association of Southern California to serve for two years. The elected people are:
President's Message
To the Assyrian Youth
May 26, 2009
Every community, society and nation depends on its youth to carry out its heritage into the future. However there is a noticeable void between the Assyrian youth and our community, even among the youth themselves. This is a trend which threatens the existence of our community. Very few participate in the Assyrian American Association activities where they can meet other young people. An Assyrian priest reports that about 50% of the marriages he blesses are between an Assyrian and a non Assyrian because our young men and women have few opportunities to meet and establish long lasting friendship, these are the signs of a disintegrating community.
If this trend continues except for the new arrivals from the Middle East, most of the Assyrian population in this region will no longer exist within 2 generation. Children raised in mixed marriages, are often torn between two clashing cultures, and have no interest in learning the Assyrian language or find out what being Assyrian is all about.
It is a proven fact that close knit communities thrive socially, economically and educationally because though networking channels they are inform each other of the potential opportunities ahead of time so that they can exploit them to their benefit, this is not the case with Assyrians. For example a year ago a major corporation was searching to employ two college graduate but because for lack of networking possibility finding them among the Assyrian community was not easy.
Jews and Armenians are two examples of close knit communities which have prospered collectively and individually. Solidarity among the Armenians is obvious on the 24th of April when between 10 to twenty thousands young and old rally on the streets of the city of Glendale to protest the massacre of their people by the Ottoman Turks during World War One. More than half a million Assyrians were also massacred at that time but few Assyrians participate in the 7th of August observance of the Assyrian martyrs day at the association. Every year new movies about the World War Two Jewish holocaust are produced by movie makers but the decimation of the Assyrians remains unknown, very little attention is being given to the plight of the Assyrians in Iraq, even among our own community.
Even our brethren, members of the Chaldean Church from Iraq, have used the solidarity of their community as a mean to help their people prosper economically. The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce reports that Chaldeans in Michigan own estimated 6000 businesses, they include 2,500 food stores, 400 gas stations, 2,000 small businesses, 150 hotels, and 1000 professional businesses. Solidarity among the Chaldean community has made it possible for the "The Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce to promote business within the community "to provide services and information to members regarding various opportunities; and promote retail activities throughout the community, sponsoring cultural activities with various corporations and officials; and hosting quarterly networking meetings and an annual dinner.
The Chamber conducts economic education and training programs; develops minority business practices for the community to receive the benefits of such designation; encourages job training partnerships in businesses; and help improve health and human services.The Chamber helps members understand the legislative process and the free enterprise system of marketing; conducts economic studies and surveys for Chaldean Businesses and professionals."
This kind of help would not have been possible if there was not a strong sense of community among the members of the chaldean community in Michigan, which is in short supply within ours. We seldom are willing to associate with each other beyond the social settings, and do not bother to patronize Assyrian businesses as the Jews, Armenians and our brethren of the Chaldean church do.
If there is any hope for the future of our community it is the realization that by not helping the community we are in fact undermining our own well being. Prosperity of the community in many ways help the individual members like the ocean tide which lifts all the boats when it rises.
We invite the Assyrian youth to get involved in the the Assyrian Association of Southern California activities and serve the Assyrian community.
Together we stand, divided we scatter! William WardaPresident Assyrian american Association of southern california �
April 2006
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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