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ASSYRIANS TO HOLD EVENT PLANNED TO PUSH FOR MIDEAST PEACE
By Susan Abram
Assyrian International News Agency
www.dailynews.com
Sept 19 2011
California -- A run/walk to raise awareness of Assyrians and for
peace in the Middle East will be held next Sunday at the Balboa Sports
Complex in Encino.
The Assyrian 5K, 10K Run/Walk For Peace is a first of its kind
event that will cast more attention to the past and current violence
against Middle Eastern Christians, but also the desire for peace,
said Noray Betbaba, president of the Chatsworth based-Seyfo Center
USA. The nonprofit organization's mission is to find solutions to
prevent racial and culture cleansing throughout the world.
"Seyfo Center is trying to raise awareness, because Americans may say
`Oh we didn't know that Assyrians still exist - we thought they were
extinct,' which is not true," Betbaba said. "We are very proud we still
have a culture. But we want to be like others. We want to have the
opportunity to work hard, contribute to society, and live in peace."
Since the start of the Iraq War in 2003, extremists have threatened
Assyrians and other Christians in retaliation. On Oct. 31, nearly 60
Assyrians, Chaldeans and other Christians were killed by extremists
while worshipping in a church in Iraq.
Assyrians are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia, presently Iraq,
where the last and largest concentration of Aramaic-speaking people
in the world have lived for thousands of years. They also were one of
the first ethnic groups to adopt Christianity in the first century A.D.
Beginning in 1914, Assyrians saw their numbers dwindle during the
time more commonly known as the Armenian Genocide, when an estimated
1.5 million Armenians were killed.
The event is considered the first genocide of the 20th century. The
Turkish government maintains the deaths were a consequence of betrayal
and civil unrest in what was then the Ottoman Empire. Armenians and
others, however, say the killings involved the systematic cleansing
of Christians and included Pontic Greeks and Assyrians.
Betbaba said Sunday's run/walk will honor the memory of all those
who died, but also will call for peace.
"We've experienced killings for 100 years now," Betbaba said. "Enough
is enough."
The Assyrian 5K, 10K Run/Walk For Peace will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at
the Balboa Sports Complex, 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino. Those interested
can register early at www.w2Promotions.com or call 818-427-0701.
By Susan Abram www.dailynews.com
http://www.aina.org/news/20110919195550.htm
From: Baghdasarian
By Susan Abram
Assyrian International News Agency
www.dailynews.com
Sept 19 2011
California -- A run/walk to raise awareness of Assyrians and for
peace in the Middle East will be held next Sunday at the Balboa Sports
Complex in Encino.
The Assyrian 5K, 10K Run/Walk For Peace is a first of its kind
event that will cast more attention to the past and current violence
against Middle Eastern Christians, but also the desire for peace,
said Noray Betbaba, president of the Chatsworth based-Seyfo Center
USA. The nonprofit organization's mission is to find solutions to
prevent racial and culture cleansing throughout the world.
"Seyfo Center is trying to raise awareness, because Americans may say
`Oh we didn't know that Assyrians still exist - we thought they were
extinct,' which is not true," Betbaba said. "We are very proud we still
have a culture. But we want to be like others. We want to have the
opportunity to work hard, contribute to society, and live in peace."
Since the start of the Iraq War in 2003, extremists have threatened
Assyrians and other Christians in retaliation. On Oct. 31, nearly 60
Assyrians, Chaldeans and other Christians were killed by extremists
while worshipping in a church in Iraq.
Assyrians are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia, presently Iraq,
where the last and largest concentration of Aramaic-speaking people
in the world have lived for thousands of years. They also were one of
the first ethnic groups to adopt Christianity in the first century A.D.
Beginning in 1914, Assyrians saw their numbers dwindle during the
time more commonly known as the Armenian Genocide, when an estimated
1.5 million Armenians were killed.
The event is considered the first genocide of the 20th century. The
Turkish government maintains the deaths were a consequence of betrayal
and civil unrest in what was then the Ottoman Empire. Armenians and
others, however, say the killings involved the systematic cleansing
of Christians and included Pontic Greeks and Assyrians.
Betbaba said Sunday's run/walk will honor the memory of all those
who died, but also will call for peace.
"We've experienced killings for 100 years now," Betbaba said. "Enough
is enough."
The Assyrian 5K, 10K Run/Walk For Peace will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at
the Balboa Sports Complex, 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino. Those interested
can register early at www.w2Promotions.com or call 818-427-0701.
By Susan Abram www.dailynews.com
http://www.aina.org/news/20110919195550.htm
From: Baghdasarian