Posted by Sam.D. from proxy1.eburwd1.vic.optushome.com.au (203.164.2.75) on Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 4:49AM :
In Reply to: Re: Update re meeting with the Democrats Party posted by Gandhi from spider-te023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.183) on Monday, February 25, 2002 at 8:21PM :
I remember that incident in the streets of Sydney clearly. How embarrassing. Sixty minutes ran an article on the incident and held a taped meeting with a large group of Assyrians. The reporter, Richard Carlton, basically stood over the rabble and chastised them as a parent would a mischievous child. He gave them enough rope to hang themselves, and in the end, you're right, we looked like little more than apes. Our own Mar Melis, in a pre-recorded interview which was played to the congregation, referred to them as 'primitive', to which one Assyrian brain surgeon asked 'What is mins primitive?'. Come question time, we saw a flood of hands raised and many within the group calling out to Richard Carlton as 'Ian'. When one particular chap replied to the question "Will you behave in accordance to Australian law?", with the brilliant comeback "They started it!", Richard couldn't contain himself and laughed openly. Some of the older people in the crowd started asking Richard why we were bombed by them in nineteen thirty something, why is the sky blue and the grass green (you know what I'm trying to get at). It was truly a dark episode for our society as a whole.
I did nothing then because I knew nothing of what I could do. I was in my late teenage years, and not much mattered to me more than enjoying my own life as much as possible, and poohoo to everyone else.
Gandhi, I won't argue with your point about politicians being the lowest form of life. I wouldn't trust one as far as I could spit down wind on a blustery day. My personal intention was not to put my point to the politicians who were there, but to raise the awareness of the ordinary people who'd gathered to hear what the party they support had to say. These people are the ones who influence the politicians. If we can win the hearts and minds of the ordinary people, then it is their voices which will dictate the tune to which their representative politicians dance. The organ grinder, not the monkey.
As for helping the community, I used to be in the church youth committee because I thought it was a means by which I could really help. Ha! You see how ignorant some of us can be? As if parties and raffles are the way forward. For the church maybe, hardly for anyone else. Our church is no different from any other corporation. My older brother did much, much more for the church and community all free of charge (he is an electrician). In the end the church committee labeled him a thief and embezzler, with Mar Melis actually cursing him over the phone. But that's another story.
I am only now beginning to warm to our community again. It's hard when I see the bone headed stupidity being trumpeted in aina and chaldeans online. I am doing what I can as best as I know how to, given other personal committments which tie me down greatly. If you have suggestions as to exactly how I can better do things, then I'm all ears.
-- Sam.D.
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