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Meltha Magazine Online

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1995, Volume 1, No 3-4 pages 26-28

RESTRAINING FROM EVIL YOU DO NOTHING BUT GOOD

( a letter to the editor)

The boldness of "The Word II bulletin and the openness in presentation of tactics and strategy of the Assyrian National Movement do you a credit with the readers who have been greatly impressed by its issues. But I am afraid that a popular saying like "look before you leap" can be true. Openness is required when you have a personal contact with people or when it is time to confess. In my opinion, survival tactics of Assyrians should at first be worked out in every region of the Diaspora considering the local conditions and opportunities. But the tactics in all the regions currently is only to survive economically. For this purpose the world banking system apparently should in the case respond to promote local businesses and economic relations with the regions and elsewhere.

The extremely difficult situation in the republic of Georgia has brought about a condition when even professors (let alone other groups of intelligentsia and pensioners alike) come making their living by asking for money at the entrance to the Church or by standing in the line for charity with every foundation or organization they find there. The Assyrian intellectuals now al- ready in small numbers have been slipping professionally, or even degrading. Therefore they have to go for menial or odd jobs after all. People will not tune up to any declaration of rights and freedom if they are sick and hungry.

The woman's great role in the society should by all means be highlighted properly and encouraged so that women should be equally represented in the national movement. If the first word of mankind is apparently God, then the second word will be Mother. The scholars asserted a long time ago that the East is like parental home for all nations. Therefore the mother of the East would feed the whole MANKIND with her breast.

Assyrian women can be very contributive in the national movement. This possible contribution could not be discounted. The level of development of a society especially in the cultural field could well be measured by the role of women and by the attitude towards them in the society. In the eyes of God every person is equal to an-other whatever about his sex or nationality. Therefore we are all his children any way, for Adam or Eve were free of nationality. Although it is acknowledged that Eden was set up in the East and the two rivers, Hiddekil (Tigris) and Euphrates flowing out of the Eden bring their waters before Assyria. Logically we can assert that neither Adam nor Eve were Europeans. However, the national identity as it is cannot yet be a merit itself. No-one is asked what nationality he would like to identify himself with when he is being born. But nevertheless everyone can be asked after all, "what have you done for your own people and for the society too?"

Restraining yourself from evil you do nothing but good. But what is the evil then? This is a philosophical problem, and requires a well-thought answer. In this connection I would like to mention only one type of evil which is commonly found in every Assyrian. This is his pride. Pride can be somewhat a national character, too in- deed. Was it not pride that brought Assyria to the destruction? Is it not pride that brings out envy, hatred, revenge and self interest after all? Is it not pride again that brings out misunderstanding and strife between communities preventing them from unity and progression?

Therefore it is morality and moral education that should be emphasized above everything.

We have turned off the road to communism and tuned up to religion again. It fact both communism and religion in my opinion lead to the highest level of morality in the mankind. But it will make a difference when the people are headed by a very un- scrupulous man who is not reputed to lead the nation like the blind leads the blind, where both will easily find a way to fall or become immoral. Where lawlessness reigns, morality sleeps. And where the hearts are full with envy, hatred, self -interest, ignorance" revenge, pride or swagger, there is no chance to unite any way.

There was the Word, the man lives not only by bread, but by the Word from the mouth. It is a mission of writers, journalists and clergymen alike. It is very good that now we can read "The Assyrian Newspaper" , the "Atra" journal and "The Word" bulletin. But with the latter-day circulation numbers and regularity of issues, it seems like raindrops falling onto the hot sand.

If the Diaspora cannot have one common home to live, then .we must try to bring news information to every Assyrian house. Unfortunately the Assyrian masses do not read anything. It is a problem now. But if there is someone in the family who reads occasionally, then he will be able to read the newspaper aloud sometimes. Therefore the newspaper must carry a certain ideology by all means.

People have wanted more bread and more sights since the ancient times at least. "A sight to see" is also a spoken word. For this purpose we have to organize and then promote various singing and dancing groups or theatrical studios. It is video and large screen movies that we use to tell of the life and activities of some communities. Documentary films would playa consider- able role in the political development as well.

And now it is economy that counts here again.

Another concern is enthusiastic people. What must be done to support them? Among them there is Amiran Bidjhamov, a film director from Tbilissi who sold all his domestic things to make a film all alone about Assyrians taking only Assyrian actors on the cast, he is so much enthusiastic about the national cause as well. This film must be properly advertised and admitted to the movie -theatres circuit.

Who holds the key to information, he gets everything in the end, we need consistent information about Assyrians who live in the territory of the former USSR and beyond.

From afar I would like to turn my focus to the sheer reality of today. Ancient Assyrians fortunately left their chronicles for us despite the long time enemies, strife and the passing of time. What shall we leave for our posterity? We must first try to write down our own chronicles by all means. We should save every issue of the newspapers, magazines, films and video tapes for the history. We need to create an unbiased history for the future therefore we must secure us archives and libraries. Who else will then pass the hand to another generation, if we gradually lose our own language and literacy? This is the cultured intelligentsia who will be able to grow a generation of sensible people and to train them to suppress in them bad habits and manners. For this purpose they will need to use the press, broadcasting programs, films and stage arts. They will need to create songs, poems and stories with definite morality and ethics.

I believe that currently "The Word" bulletin is among the top periodicals in the Assyrian Diaspora in the territory of the former USSR. The editors of the bulletin should stay in touch with all the Diaspora through contacts and feedback with Assyrian communities involved. Now we need "The Word " like clean air free of any pollution effects. We need it so that we could hear a fairly audible sound of the Diaspora heartbeat in Georgia and try. to make it stronger with a "restored oxygen balance" to raise it from the ashes after all.

Bless you and "The Word II bulletin in all deeds,

Amen.

Sarah Osipova

a journalist from Tbilissi

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Sarah Gelianovna Osipova, Assyrian, resident of Tbilissi (the republic of Georgia), has two qualifications, mythologist engineer and journalist alike, retired now from the last job as senior engineer at the Georgian republican branch of the USSR state standards.