In reply to message #0
Dear Marli, I highly recommend you check out the forum and news postings at www.bethsuryoyo.com You will see examples of real activism by youth and many other groups in Europe. Recently, 100 Assyrians-Suryoyo occupied a governmental building in Lausanne (which you will remember the Lausanne Treaty, which imperial powers carved up MIddle East in 1923 and totall left out our people - who had a delgation!!!!).....hehehehehe...sound like Sydney University???????????????? lol! I don't know what the problem is here. Maybe it is because we are too comfortable and too rich now, we forget the sufferings and hardship of our REAL FIGHTERS - the Assyrians still living in our homeland - in Iraq, in Syria, in Turkey etc. Hopefully when I come back I will write a report or make a documentary about life there so that our youth (who have got to be one of the most ignorant groups of them all!) can finally understand where their parents came from and what they can do.... Personally, I think our apathy to our cause is disgusting and shameful. Now more than ever before have we had the chance to air our opinions and take REAL collective action, but nothing is being done. Oh no, sorry, they bring out singers every month - oh how nationalistic! A new school os being built in Sydney (Assyrian full-time school) - but the Church of the East is building it, which is great and all, but does nothing to integrate our Chaldean and Suryoyo brothers and sisters. And all everyone is crying out for is unity! Catch 22? Also, not many publications are produced for the wider, non-Assyrian community. Sami Ziyeh's works do this, but unfortunately her work is more artistic and symbolic rather than direct political action which is what we goddamn need! I am depressed Marli. We are the only two women on here, and all I've heard is from (MALE) friends of mine who read all the posts but are too chicken to reply (this is a dare all you men reading this!...either reply back or stop sticky beaking!). I am sad because as a woman by parents do not support me wholeheartedly in what I do. I want to write my PhD thesis on the Assyrian people and their struggle (God! Can we even call it that? Maybe "dormant" struggle would be closer to the mark!), I want to study overseas and try to get a seat on the UN. But as per usual "girls aren't supposed to be too involved". Maybe we should start a nice little dance group Marli? Wouldn't that be fun? Or meet for a tea party and serve chai to all our family and friends? Oh, how delightful! I spoke to my relatives in Baghdad the other day, and the first question I was asked was how old I am and if I was single because they have lined up "someone". My so-called "you're too young to get married parents" suddenly got all excited even after I had specifically told them to tell all the wacky Iraqi's (this is an endearing term so chill!) that I WILL NOT be forced into an arranged marriage/ slavery for some incompetent man. But as per usual, my parents are getting all excited. For #####'s sake I am 21 years old! Oh well...... Marli, this sux. This is why we need a FEMALE collective where we cannot be harmed by the likes of men who only prove to need a live-in cheap maid (too bad coz I can't even cook or iron clothes ! lol!), even when you have spent the greater part of your life trying to make yourself into something more than just a housewife at the age of 20! By the way, to all my boys who do support me AS AN EQUAL - I love you all to DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!! Man, I am depressed. More guys have shown inetreste in this than women! How ironic is that? Are you coming to the ball? Please come......my folks aren't coming (surprise! surprise!) and only David and Nick are (and will everyone who knows us STOP ALL THOSE RUMOURS!) and I need a someone to hold my hand and spike my lemonade coz I have to MC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Freaking out, Majidi.
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