The Inside Assyria Discussion Forum #5

=> Letter from Dr Joseph

Letter from Dr Joseph
Posted by pancho (Guest) - Friday, April 20 2007, 2:50:39 (CEST)
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...this is a letter we received in response to some questions Matay...

note: I have indicated Matay's points.


Dr Joseph writes:


To save time I've made a few comments within the text below and have
highlighted them within square brackets. I simply have no time nor
the desire to repeat myself to our nationalists again and again. If
the writer of the comments below has carefully read my book, as he
claims he does, then he knows what I have said on the points he
raises. Let him comment on what he disagrees with and why. I HAVE
addressed the issues that he raises.

Let me now briefly respond to a few other comments raised below--
within the text itself:

Matay wrote: Prof. Yildiz published this article in an
academic journal. It's in the same journal where
Dr Joseph wrote many articles and commentaries.
It's the J.A.A.S.

[[[[[[[[[ On the question of our Assyrian origin, JAAS is a
magazine like ASSYRIAN STAR and a NINEVEH, WRITTEN BY AND FOR
ASSYRIANS. I published a few articles there because the first editor
of JAAS asked me to do it. If JAAS is an academic journal, let its
present editor write and ask me to comment on Yildis's and
Rollinger's articles; I will be glad to answer it for then it will
reach all of its Assyrian subscribers. ]]]]]]]

Matay wrote: Besides, he should not question
the " academic" level of the article, but the
contents. Besides, Prof. Yildiz is an assyrian
and he teaches at the University of Salamanca our
language and culture.

[[[[[[ What has Professor Yaldiz published that was not addressed
to an Assyrian audience? I do not know the answer to that question.
]]]]]]]

Matay wrote: He asks for the connection of todays assyrians
and the ancient assyrians. If the name and term "
Suraya" and " Assyrian" is identical even during
(!) the assyrian empire, which he and the article
of Dr. Rollinger agree on, then why does he wants
my ancestors who were completely brainwashed by
the churches and the religious christian culture
to explain that they are not just Suraya (=
Assyrian)

[[[[[[[[ Quote me something from Rollinger that addresses itself to
the modern Assyrians and ties them to the ancients by that name
.]]]]]]]]]]]

Matay wrote: but also descendants of the pagan
assyrians who according to their new religion in
the old testament were very evil in the eyes of
their new God.
If you have evidences of Kha B Nisan celebrations
up till the 7th century a.d. of pagan assyrians
in northern mesopotamia, if you have a King
Senacherib with his son St. Behnam and daughter
St. Sara in the 4th century a.d. who turned
christian and left their pagan religion, if you
have " Narsai, young king of the Assyrians" in
the 3rd century a.d. .... why would i give them
all the ethnicities in middle east ( persian,
aramaean, median, ..) EXCEPT an assyrian one?

I would recommend you the articles of Prof. Amir
Harrak, a syriac-catholic from mosul and he knows
himself and all the syriac-speaking christians as
Assyrian.

[[[[[[[ Please send me--or quote me from--the articles of Dr.
Harrak that you are recommending. Refer to specific passages where
he addresses the ancient Assyrian origin of the present-day
Assyrians. I am not aware of any. ]]]]]]]]]

He teaches Akkadian, Aramaic and
Syriac at Toronto. He doesn't see any necessity
to deny our linkage with the ancient Assyrians.
If you are interested to learn more, i can send
you some articles from Dr Harrak about the
paganism among the " syriac speaking christians"
.
Matay wrote: Anyways, not only Fred Parhad has read Dr
Joseph's book, but many other assyrians. We also
read other professors books who also critisize
the usage of the name Assyrian. We simply do not
agree with everything he ( Dr Joseph) writes,
especially the part where he completely denies
any kind of ethnic connection with the ancient
assyrians.

[[[[[[[ Be more specific; what I have written is accepted by all
experts who have SPECIFICALLY addressed the question of our
relationship with the ancient Assyrians . None has criticized my
book on that score. ]]]]]

Matay wrote: Of course, everyone and especially a learned
person like Dr Joseph, has the right to think
different, and to defend his thoughts and ideas
with all his knowledge and talents. I admire him
for his courage as the only nestorian who denies
his Assyrian roots. :-)

However, in these days of political division,
where external powers scatter us and divide us
for their own interests, i personally would not
deny nor exclude any linkage with the ancient
Assyro-Babylonians. Not even for scientific or
scholarly reason.

[[[[[[[ That is why we are so isolated, if not laughed at.
NOBODY--neither our friends nor our enemies--believes us on the
question of our ancient Assyrian origin. They seem to know our
history better than we do. I wanted us to know who we are; there is
nothing in my book to be ashamed of. ]]]]]]]

I have to commend Matay....I know this subject is dear to his heart and yet he maintains his self-respect and treats Dr Joseph with the respect and courtesy his position and achievements deserve....Matay shows how to disagree like a gentle person, while remaining passionate in his own beliefs....



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