the Assyrians in Iraq

[DrBenway]

We don't hear much about the Assyrians in the news. They're a minority in Iraq, but they no doubt have their own perspectives upon this war.

From the little I've read, they seem like the Rodney Dangerfields of Iraq: no respect from anyone, not even the Kurds. Why is this? It appears to be largely due to the fact that they are Christians.

One website with some interesting info on their story:
http://www.aina.org/

Below is a photo from a political rally in 1999. The banner says, "Respecting our people free will is the only way to build the best relationships with the brotherly nationalities in home land."

Sounds good to me. That's the sort of secularist philosophy that could save Iraq from civil war. Let's home this meme becomes broadly popular.

[crackmonkey]

... and their sign is in English, bless their hearts.
I also noticed that the backdrop for the Iraqi Information Minister's pronouncements was " Iraqi Information Ministry" - in English. It changes one's perspective on the words said when it's so obvious who the targeted audience is.

[DrBenway]

Originally posted by crackmonkey
It changes one's perspective on the words said when it's so obvious who the targeted audience is.

Right. They're after Australian sympathy. ;)

English is the lingua franca of the modern era.

[Richard G]

It appears to be largely due to the fact that they are Christians.

You hit the nail on the head. Christians are persecuted in most every Islamic country. Butchered in the worst of cases.

[WildCat]

Actually, Tariq Aziz is a Christian, not sure what that says about it.

[Cleopatra]

Funny. I was discussing about Assyrians with some friends this afternoon.

They were victims of Turkish genocides along with the Armenians and the Pontians...

Very few of the survive these days. I wonder if anybody has read Thea Hallo's book " Not Even my Name".

Edited to add: Tarek Aziz is Christian indeed. A Haldean.