Name: Shamirum
Date: May 27th, 2006

Personal Questions:

-Thank you for your time, please start by introducing yourself, your name, background etc.
Hello!!! I’m Shamirum, and I’m Assyrian, are you surprised? I’m also very sarcastic I guess… ;)

-What is your academic status and background?
Well, after nearly twenty years in school (yes, this includes pre-school), I graduated last year with degrees in Communication, Psychology, and Women’s Studies from Loyola University. And it wasn’t enough: I’m still a student now, post-graduate actually, taking my remaining science courses (that I avoided as an undergraduate) so that I can apply to medical school next year.

When I was young, I loved school very much. In fact, my teacher in second grade noticed my level of intellect and enthusiasm, and recommended that I transfer to a school with a “gifted” children’s program (a “magnet” school). So I tested for and got accepted to the top grade (elementary) school in Chicago (Stephen Decatur Classical).

 After sixth grade, I went to Chicago’s number one high school (Whitney M. Young Magnet), and was part of an academic center program that accepted only 100 top students from the city (starting from 7^th grade). I was so excited when I was accepted; it felt like such an accomplishment, and I know that going there is what motivated me to love learning even more.

 But I must be honest, during a few years in high school: I had to be forced to go to class. I wasn’t excited about it anymore, and that was probably just a part of growing up and growing tired of routine. Anyway, very soon after I began university life, my passion for academia returned, thankfully. I loved it so much, that I was truly depressed when I graduated last year. And it’s probably the reason I’m back now, and for the next five years. Wow, that’s a long time…

 -You are into psychology. How did this interest start?
Well, it’s hard to say when my pure interest in psychology started, but I know my academic interest started in high school, when I was exposed to the concepts in an AP Psychology course. When I began university, many people told me that psychology courses (much less degrees) were pointless endeavors and that I’d be wasting my time. I took a few classes just “for fun” and I ended up loving what I learned, and decided to take more. Communication, however, I’ve loved all of my life, but never knew what to call it. I loved talking, reading, writing, and listening, and I loved learning all the intricate components of each very human expression.

Anyway, my interest in psychology has only grown since I graduated, and in medical school, I might just end up focusing on psychiatry, you never know.

-How can Assyrians relate to Psychology? Is there any specific branch or concept in psychology that Assyrians can relate to specifically?
Well, there is a small (but growing) branch of psychology that focuses on culture (Cultural Psychology). It tries to describe the effects and the specific “shaping” that a particular culture can have on the “mind.” It could be used to describe why Assyrians (and many Eastern people in general) are “collective,” meaning they focus more on the family, on the community, and the good of everyone, and not just the individual. These types of cultures, however, are also more likely to restrict individual expression, and complete independence is discouraged (which can make it difficult to pursue personal passions). That is also why it can be very difficult for Assyrians who immigrate to the West (U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia) to adjust to the varying lifestyles, especially when comparing old and new generations.

"I get annoyed easily, I have a red-hot temper, and I’ve been told my 'reesha' is 'yaqoora' and my “dimma” is 'shakheena.' "

The part of psychology that interests me most is “abnormal psychology.” We deal with disorders and diseases of the mind, and also study forms of treatment for the various types of problems. Assyrians tend to shy away from discussing these things, especially admitting possible difficulties. Some are even more comfortable admitting that their aunt is an alcoholic, or that their grandfather was a gambler, or that their brother is an adulterer, or other such things, than admit that someone in the family is “crazy” (mentally ill).

 I think every member of our cultural community (and not ours alone) is affected by some sort of mental illness personally, or is affected by a close family member or friend having a mental difficulty. Assyrians, especially because of a lack of Western philosophy as compared to some other groups here, are not equipped to recognize or accept these problems as valid, natural, and “fixable.” Of course, there aren’t cures for most mental diseases, but there are treatments. Our community could greatly benefit by treating difficulties of the mind with the same degree of care and attention that they do the body.

-You like to travel a lot. How do you find the time and money to do it?
Ohhh, I wish I traveled a lot! I hadn’t left the country (except to go to Canada, and that doesn’t “feel” like a vacation) since I was seven years old (when we went to Iraq for the summer). I never really went anywhere because I never had the time: I was always either in school, or working, or usually both. But during January of this year, I found that I’d have about two weeks with no school, and no work, so I took my chance and escaped to Aruba!

Actually, compared to the last five years, I have the least amount of money now! I wasn’t making millions before, but at 19, 20, and 21, I was making more money than some people twice my age. And it never matters how much you make: it never feels like it’s “enough.” I only wish I had that income now, lol, especially when I realize how little I have today. Anyway, I took the trip to Aruba by using some savings and charging the rest on a zero-interest credit card (which is almost paid off, woohoo, I love not paying interest).

 I took to my trip to Florida in March (for Spring Break) by using my Cash Back Bonus from Discover (credit card)! It was nearly $800 and I used a little more than $700 of it for the trip. It may not seem like a lot of money to get back, but calculating how these “cash back” bonus programs work (1% or less cash back for what you spend), it means I spent anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 on my Discover credit card in the past three years. I have no balance on this credit card, and it makes me proud: I might charge everything, but I always pay it in full before they can add interest … and I end up making money and going on vacation to top it all off, I love it.

-How would you describe life in Chicago?
Variable and melancholy. Haha, seriously, some days it’s great, and some days I want to run off to some other city, change my identity, and forget that I ever knew Chicago (or the people in it). I love this city, it’s my home, and I’ll always feel like it belongs to me. I was born here, so I have a comfort level with this city as my parents do with their hometowns in Iraq. But, the weather makes it difficult to love sometimes. With each year that passes, I hate the cold more and more. After going to Aruba especially, I don’t know how we Chicagoans live without seeing the sun every morning, and the moon every night. Because of the metropolitan lights, and the insane weather, I’ve never once been able to track the phases of the moon (which only takes a month) because every other day the moon can not be seen. All of this angers me, because I love nature, but I’ve found ways around it. I’ve found beautiful little places where I can take pictures of sunrises and sunsets, and it’s like a compromise to living here. Some nights I’ll drive around until I get far enough away so that the moon suddenly becomes visible. Hey, this is my life.

 Another thing about Chicago, that is both good and bad, is the amount of Assyrians that live here. For me especially, being a girl in our community, I have to keep my eyes open for Assyrians all the time. I don’t want them to see me doing anything that might be considered taboo. Hey, even going to the movies with a few guys might make for good gossip, and I hate that. A good thing, however, about having so much of us around, is that you feel there are more people that understand you, because they’ve grown up like you have; we all have so much in common. Also, in Chicago, it is very rare to find anyone that doesn’t know about Assyrians. When I’ve gone to other places, I always have to explain who Assyrians are, and where we are from, but in Chicago, we have made a name for ourselves, and most everyone here has an Assyrian friend.

 -Tell us about your personality? How complicated or easy to understand is it?
I think other people can explain my personality more, since they experience it, right? From what I can tell, from my own self-observation, I am an extrovert, meaning I am not usually shy, I’m open, I like to talk to new people, make friends, and am generally “outgoing.” I am also, however, a very anxious and irritable person. I get annoyed easily, I have a red-hot temper, and I’ve been told my “reesha” is “yaqoora” and my “dimma” is “shakheena.” Hey, in my opinion, you want a hard head because it certainly helps protect you against brain injuries, and you want hot blood because cold blood would mean you’re dead. Oh yea, some people say I’m very funny, but I personally think I’m just cynical, and it comes out funny to misinformed ears…

-Are you constantly working on your personality for the better? Or do you think it happens naturally and subconsciously, based on what you do and learn?
  I think most of it, for me at least, happens naturally and subconsciously. Every effort I have made to change (e.g., trying to be more calm, trying to control my temper) has never worked. But over time, and with change and new experiences, I have adjusted (and for the better, I think).

 -“First impressions are lasting ones”: do you agree?
Not for me! I think for most people, yes, this is true, but I happen to have a terrible memory. This is not an understatement, believe me, I don’t remember half of what anyone my age usually does. I do remember either the extremely happy or terribly sad events of my life, so emotional impressions are the ones that last.

 -Who is your idol in life?
Not one, but two: my parents. I can’t explain the sacrifices they have made for their family, and I wish people in this world were only half as generous as they are. But, from them, I have also learned the consequences of being so giving, and so they have taught me lessons that I could not have learned in any classroom, or from any professor. They might be khecha strict, they are definitely not as open-minded as I am (meaning they are not very liberal, as I tend to be), but they have always wanted what’s best for me, and especially what makes me happy. I hope I can have the same patience and love for my children, as they have for theirs.

 -What does it take to make you extremely mad?
Not much. Let’s leave it at that… ;)

 -Do you have a best-friend, or do you prefer being good friends with many friends?
Definitely the latter. Me and a best friend? Not a good combination. I am commitment-phobic let’s say, and I could never attempt to keep up the type of relationship that a “best friend” requires. I can’t stand talking on the phone for hours, I don’t like seeing the same person all the time, and I eventually end up hurting the people that “think” they are my best friends. In fact, there is a funny story about how I got rid of a “best friend” one time, remind me to tell you about it later.

 -What would you rather send your children to school to learn:

•           Ballet dance?

•           Combat fitness?

•           Swimming?

•           Play soccer?

•           Piano

Of all those options??? Well, piano first, because I learned how to the play the piano and I still want to learn more. If there was time, I’d like them to learn soccer as well, because it’s a great sport, it teaches a lot of discipline, and it will keep them in good physical health as well. Swimming, of course, can do the same, but I like the “team” aspect of soccer. Combat fitness I probably wouldn’t think of on my own, but if my kids wanted it, sure, why not? Ballet, however, I’d have to think about twice, because the children involved in ballet dance classes are much more vulnerable to developing eating disorders, and so I’d have to keep a very careful eye on my children (especially the girls) to make sure they weren’t falling into the trap of starving themselves to stay thin enough to dance.

 -Are you thankful and proud that you were born Assyrian Christian?
Yes. Years ago, I would have said it didn’t matter, that we’re all human, so who cares? But some communities, especially those in the U.S. don’t even know their roots, and don’t care to learn about them either. I am glad that I come from a people that have a long and inspirational history, especially the Christian aspect, considering our suffering, but especially our miraculous endurance in a predominately Muslim region such as the Middle East (specifically Iraq).

-What inspires you to study and work hard?
Thinking about the consequences of NOT studying and working hard is what inspires me to do so. I don’t want any ordinary job; I don’t even want an easy job that pays well: I want to do something I love, something that helps other people in amazing ways, and something that makes a lasting impact. That’s why it’s so hard for me to settle for anything mediocre, and why my dreams have always been so large and seemingly impossible.

Assyrian Voice and Internet Related Question:

-When was your first time on AVN and who referred you to it?
AVN in general would have been the text chat, and it was one of my cousins that told me about it. Actually, he used to love to come on and start fights and get kicked out of the chat room. At one point, while he was at my house, he was using my laptop, and my other cousin was on my dad’s computer, while yet another cousin was on my sister’s computer, and they were all in the text chat starting trouble. Eventually they were blocked from entering the chat and because all of the computers use one network internet connection, it blocked EVERY computer in the house. It was funny back then, but I forgot about AVN until about a year and a half ago when my aunt became obsessed with the pictures and would want to view the albums every time she came to my house! Eventually I entered the chat and started talking to people that I still talk to today, and then a few of them recommended the forums, and life hasn’t been the same ever since…

 -Text Chat vs. Discussion Forums: who wins and why?
Sorry to say it, but the forums win hands down, all the way around. Why? Because I said so. Haha, no, because the forums are much more in depth and interesting (imo). The text chat can be fun, of course, but there are way too many people in there that have NOTHING to say! On the forums, if someone takes the time to post, he or she most likely has something to say. The text chat will have 55 people in it, with only five people chatting. The forums can be very slow, it’s true, you can have hours without someone posting, but there is so much to read there, you can’t ever really get bored.

 -What would you base the “AVNer of the month” on?
Oh Ashoor, I’m the wrong person to ask, I don’t even know what it’s based off of now! I think it’s nominations, but hey, that could just end up being a popularity contest. I think, however, based on who has received this honor in the past, that the way it works is just fine. I think…

 -The number of people registering in our website, especially on the chat and forums continues to increase: what does this mean for us as a community online?
That I have a lot more names to learn, ufff. It also means more discussion, but it doesn’t mean more fruitful discussion. Thankfully, not everything on our site is censored, so people can still express somewhat freely, but it can also mean a lot of arguing, a lot of insults, and a lot of frustration. You can tell that I’ve been affected by the discouraging negativity of the Politics Forum, and sometimes even in my own forum (Serious), but each new member means another chance to meet someone and possibly learn something wonderful.

 -What three benefits do you see AVN providing the Assyrian community with?
It is a wonderful place for Assyrians to communicate with other Assyrians all over the world. You can talk to people you haven’t seen in years, you can make new friends, and you can (if you’re lucky as I have been) meet people half-way across the world that change your life for the better, even if you’ve never met them in person.

 -How do you like your new Moderator role? How are you approaching it differently from others?
I’m enjoying it so far, and I think I have a pretty well-mannered forum, so it hasn’t been difficult or stressful. I think I approach it somewhat differently than other mods (or admins) when it comes to editing or moving threads. I don’t like to change anyone’s words, and it takes a lot for me to actually modify someone’s post. I take a lot of time considering whether or not it’s truly offensive, and I might even consult another mod/admin for help and suggestions, because I want to avoid offending others myself.

 I’ve also learned that I have to be a role-model for others that post in this forum, so I have to control my emotional outbursts (because of certain topics) as well. In fact, I think this has lead me to post less often in the Serious Forum, because while I can’t remain neutral, I don’t want to prevent someone from expressing their opinion by intimidating her/him in any way.

 -Which type of AVNers do you despise the most? i.e those who like to attack others, just to feel good about themselvs?
There aren’t too many types that I despise actually. But, I do get annoyed quite easily, especially with certain ways of writing. Those who type in all CAPS, I’m sorry, I can’t help it, it drives me crazy. Those who use grammar that is so horribly wrong, I have to read the post twice or more to understand it.

 Although, thinking about it more, there is one type I despise: the person who pretends he or she is neutral about almost everything. This is the type of AVNer that will call for “respect” and “civility” among members, but only when one of his or her “friends” is attacked. He or she will pretend that he/she is open-minded and listening to everyone with equal attention, but it’s a lie. When someone who disagrees with him/her is insulted, nothing is said. But if someone who is on his/her side is attacked, we start to get posts full of complaints. I can’t stand this type of AVNer because his/her neutrality is FAKE and it’s so obvious that nothing he/she says can be taken seriously. It hasn’t happened for a while now actually, but I see it in a few forums here and there (and not even the ones you’re thinking), and it still gets on my nerves.

-What has AVN helped you with personally?
My personal life was perfect before I started AVN! You can’t help perfection…

Honestly though, I think it has made me a little more patient, and in some ways, it has forced me to take a better look at myself, and avoid the hypocrisy that can easily occur when you are discussing/arguing a subject with someone. I am always encouraging others to be open-minded, but I also realize I have to take my own advice, and accept that not everyone can be as liberal and free-thinking as I am. I tell others not to judge, while I myself judge racists, sexists, homophobes, etc. in very harsh ways. I’ve let some of these things go (without surrendering my position on these issues), and this change was necessary and beneficial for me.

 Also, more important than anything else, a few of the people I have met through AVN have helped set me straight more than once, and maybe helped me save my own life, or at least start caring enough to try and save it. They know who they are, but they’ll probably never realize just how special they are to me.

-What is your idea of the ideal "AVN Gathering"?
We all go to Ashoor’s house and he shows us the secrets of running AVN, muahahaha!!!

 -What comes to your mind when you first hear these three names:
riza o shourba, Renee, RebelRebel
The truth of the first things that came to mind:

Riza: I can’t say what I thought at first, but right after that initial thought, I remembered how the poor guy had to work with some girl that was always calling in sick.

Renee: I love her! She is my Aussie soul mate, the love of my AVN life, and I miss her…

RebelRebel: Also can’t say what my first thought was, but the next thing that came to my mind was his sister Maria and our cousin Nora, both of whom I adore! Haha, I adore him as well, for his mind and passion, even if I don’t adore “all” of his thoughts… ;)

-You along with other AVNers like atourina, Assygal etc. have helped Assyrian Voice smartly market the idea of Assyros. Tell us about this, and what is with all this fascination with them? Do you know about a future secret that others are not aware of?
You already know my theory on this Ashoor! It’s psychological: Assyros act as a “reward” for posting, and then it becomes a competition between members. It was better when each post could be worth up to 75 Assyros, especially without the “secret ways,” because there was definitely an incentive for writing more and not necessarily spamming. I think we have the same amount of spam now, if not more, with the new Assyro system. Okay, you can tell I love my Assyros, and I want more, more, more!!! And by the way, if I know any secrets, I’m not sharing them!

 -Most people think Salem is an excellent and professional administrator, until they get banned by him, and that is when they start accusing him of being unfair. Who is being un unfair here?
Oh my, this is a touchy subject, I can’t believe you are asking me this! I’m not sure if it’s because I love the way Salem thinks, but I don’t think he is the one being unfair. I think it’s actually hard for him to ban/suspend people, but that’s what it takes to be professional and get the job done. He has suspended people that I’m sure he doesn’t like, but at the same time has suspended true friends as well. In all honesty, I think his most controversial suspensions have been because he was making an effort to BE fair, not the other way around.

-Choose two names for each category:
*Note from Shamirum: for a few of these categories, I just looked at recent threads and went with it… ;)
Puts a smile on your face = Candle and Carro (this is for real)
Gets on your nerves = Shoemaker and Lovemoon (haha, I’m kidding about lovie with extra e’s)
Would love to hate but can’t = Moja Moja and Born2Drv (neither of them can marry me, ha!)
Wish everyone else was like them = Atourina and Alina  (I so want their Assyros)

-Back to Assyros. Tell the public about some of your secret ways on earning them.
They are secret for a reason!!! And the five Assyros per post (versus the nice seventy-five of the past) has ruined my life…

 -In your view, what is the worst topic to have ever been discussed on the forum.
Either there are too many to remember just one, or there really hasn’t been one that I consider “the worst.”

 -Some members are being criticized for using bible verses frequently. Who is more justified: those criticizing or the ones being criticized ?
Gosh Ashoor! I have to tread over this reply carefully, because I happen to respect both parties involved, the ones quoting, and the ones criticizing the ones who quote. I feel that if you have actually read the bible in its entirety, and have found a way to use it constructively, then you should use the verses to your advantage, because the arguments are based on conflicts within a CHRISTIAN Church, and these churches supposedly focus the foundation of their institution on the bible and its teachings (most especially the Christian Scriptures). If we can’t use the “official” and most ancient document of these churches to show what has been taught and passed down to us for centuries, then where can we look for guidance and support? On the other hand, I of course understand those that criticize the constant quoting because it could seem to be a manipulation of the text. But that is why I am uncomfortable taking sides on this issue, because I feel the bible is so open to individual interpretation, anyone could be subject to criticism for how he or she understands and uses a specific bible verse. I think I’ve said enough on the subject, and if I get one more PM about how I need to read the entire bible so that I can accept it and be “saved,” I’ll gag, so I’ll stop here.

-How is an AVNer turned into a celebrity or super star on AVN, especially on the forums? Do you think it is the people who turn other AVNers into super stars, or is it done by the individual himself, using good posts, good manners etc.
I really can’t stand this subject, to tell you the truth. I could care less about the “popularity” of certain members. Members become superstars in one of a few ways (imo), for example, some people want to kiss his/her ass for whatever reason, so this person gets talked about a lot, or maybe the member posts so often, his/her name becomes very familiar (like hearing about a celebrity on the “news,” which by the way is ridiculous, the news should be reserved for world events of importance, not whether Nick and Jessica are back together, or two certain AVNers are hooking up or not).

 -In one line, you can lash out at any one member, without naming them.
You’re a complete idiot who needs to revaluate your understanding of the English language. How’s that? ;)

 -As we know, Assyrian Voice is more than just a forum, a text chat, or photo albums.  It is much more than that.  But, some people are so addicted to these sections, they don’t know that we offer up to 10 other services, some of which are more important. How can we get people to try more than just one section?
I’m not sure Ashoor, I’m one of those people, haha, I only visit the forums. I’ll only go to the pictures section when my aunt is here and because she’s OBSESSED with them. And text chat is reserved for those nights when I am so bored out of my mind, I have run out of things to check online, and so I go there (but not for long).

-Match the following names with their best match from the opposing gender. That is, in terms of their compatibility:

David with..... Atourina

Kekwanta_Marian with... Riza (hey, they’re both in Canada, give me credit)

Saksuka with... Shoemaker (“she’s a guy”)

Meroona with... Ashoor

Vanity fair with... Kevin

-And last, where do you see Assyrian Voice in 2069?
I’ll probably be dead by then, so AVN will therefore have no meaning.

Assyrian Related Questions

 -How do you asses the current status of Assyrians in Iraq and the Middle East?
And you wonder why it took me so long to send you this interview! Ashoor, I have a lot stored up in this brain of mine, maybe that’s why I remember random facts, but not the personal memories I should, so I could write an answer that is thirty pages long. Don’t worry, I won’t.

 The situation for Assyrians around the entire world is GRIM at best. This isn’t because of “mixing” with other cultures, or losing our tongue, or screwing up our churches, or anything like that, it’s because no one cares about us, and we care even less about ourselves. We hate ourselves so much in fact, that we fight over silly issues for centuries, and find more ways to divide ourselves, because hate makes you want to rip yourself apart. Only your mother and father are good enough, the rest are thieves, cheats, liars, and fakes. Those in Iraq, however, have to focus on food, water, and shelter, the very basics of life, and so they have no time for the ridiculous garbage with which the rest of us waste our precious lives. Unfortunately, the stupidity of what we do affects the Iraqi Assyrians in the worst way: they suffer more because we care less and less, they die day in and day out, because we’re too busy arguing about words and ancient actions that mean NOTHING in the world we live in NOW.

-How do you see the status of our union as people?
As you can tell from above, I have a very cynical perspective on this. I don’t see a “union” in the first place, so I can’t even describe its status. I see and know a few individuals that are intent on trying to make it happen, but they are too few. People who hate themselves with the passion that we do, will never unite, because uniting would allow for progress and for hope, and those who despise their own people would never want such a thing.

-What is your intake on the recent church issues?
Please apply everything I said above to this question. I’m tired, and no matter what I say, it will never be enough. The church issues are NOT recent! For as long as there has been a “church,” there have been issues, and most of them have been based on power, money, and sex. No one, however, who has blind allegiance to ANY human being (be it the Pope or a Patriarch) will ever want to admit this.

 -Is the internet helping Assyrians in doing things they were never able to do before?
Maybe, the coin has two sides. I think we communicate more, we learn much more, and we have more information available to us that might help us as Assyrians. But, I have seen a lot of our youth (including me), waste a lot of time on the internet, time that could be spent doing something more productive than arguing moot points with nonsensical fools that are more stubborn than crazy-glue on your index finger. 

-Out of the following, which one can Assyrians trust the most: Persians, Kurds or Arabs?
I’m not the person to ask, I’d say trust the majority of ANY people. No culture or community of people is inherently bad, nor can so many people be taught to be betrayers and traitors. Even the Nazis of WWII were probably still “good” trustworthy people that got duped, especially because of desperate economic situations. Most people, when faced with the choice of having to murder a family member, or a complete stranger, would choose to murder the stranger … people do horrendous things for the sake of their families, and that’s probably the major reason why Assyrians, Kurds, Persians, and Arabs can all be at each other’s throats.

 -Assyrian language has not been modernized for so long now. In other words, it is outdated, and doesn’t accommodate our new world of information and technology. Do you think it is time we sat down and updated it? If you were to assemble a panel of experts and scholars to carry this task, who should be on this panel? Names and figures.
I think we should, definitely, but no one wants to invest the time or money. Sure, there might be a few, especially people that I know personally, such as Dr. Edward Odisho (Doctoral Linguist), Robert W. DeKelaita (Attorney at Law), Dr. John Michael (Medical Doctor), and Jackie Bejan (Director, AAA of San Jose) that would be willing to dedicate their time and funds (or both) to this cause, but we can’t add too many more names to the list. We need a large group of people, especially ones like Dr. Odisho, who is an expert in this area, to get together, systematically and methodically, over an extended period of time, so that they can produce great work and accomplish set goals.

-There have been a lot of voices lately calling for Assyrians to have their own administrative region in Northern Iraq, in the plains of Nineveh. Do you think this is something good? Or should we ask for more?
We should ask for what’s actually possible. I’d personally like to ask for half of France to be renamed after me, and I’d like the French to also hand over the Eifel Tower, but it’s not going to happen. We deserve and definitely COULD obtain an administrative region in Northern Iraq, and it would give us much more authority and control than we have now, and it would allow us a new way of protecting our people. Unfortunately, that whole hating ourselves thing, the self-destructive actions that we take, keep us from agreeing with one another and actually making something like this possible.

-Are Assyrians hard-working people? (labor)
Yes, most are. Just give us time, however, and we’ll turn into everyone else, making a quick buck for a quicker minute.

-Which one of these three do you think Assyrians need the most now:  Education, Unity, Money?
Money, above all, so that education (which is the most important) can be advanced and spread.

 Unity is something that seems impossible now, which is sad, but every day I am more and more discouraged. People keep talking about how we are more divided now than ever because of the current situation of the Church. But we’ve been divided for centuries, and NO, not just because of the Chaldean Catholic Church. We’ve been divided by village or tribe, by dialect or accent, by country and nation, and so this is nothing new to us. There have ALWAYS been problems within the Church, even from the early days. Some families have always been against one another, some politicians will always disagree, but when people start to blame one man (and you all know who I’m talking about) for all of these problems, this is when I realize that most Assyrians WANT to stay divided. We enjoy this hatred, this type of fighting, this hostility and anger. We must hate ourselves so much, that we turn on one another, attack and kill with no thought, until we are completely destroyed. It is complete self-destruction when we do things like this, and yet many of us continue with no end, and that is why I think we need money and education the most, because unity, in reality, is just a dream.

-How can we make the Assyrian language cool enough for the new generation to speak it regularly?
It’s cool enough as it is! We do need better music though, although it might seem like we’re turning our backs on traditional music, we need to include more Arabic and Latin beats in our songs, because this is what the new generation appreciates and likes. I can tell you, personally, that I have one hundred Arabic songs, and probably more Spanish songs, for every one Assyrian song (on my iTunes for example). Having fun songs that we’re all singing all the time (like Nancy Ajram’s “Ah We Noss” which was sung so much, it was basically on overkill) might actually be a good thing. 

-Can the Assyrian language survive for the next 100 years? How?
Yes, simple linguistic science, no language dies that fast. If it is spoken and written (even the way we do it, by using Roman letters (English alphabet) to spell out words like “khayee”) the language will survive until it ceases within the people (this usually takes centuries, and rarely happens, as what usually happens is that the language evolves, like Middle English evolved into what we speak today).

-You have been put in charge of a new organization whose objective and goal is to preserve the Assyrian language for years and decades to come.  How will you go about doing this? What will some of your immediate recommendation and strategies be?
Ashoor, seriously, these are not the type of questions I can answer in just a few sentences, so if you want, you can just remove this question. All I know is: I would have to have a lot of young people involved, and a lot of rich parents, that’s about it for now.

-Can Assyrians do stand-up comedy?
Definitely, you haven’t met me yet.

-Assyrians now have three global channels. How big of an achievement is this?
I’ll tell you more later (if you’re not bored enough) when I’ve had a chance to view all three extensively. I think, again like most things, that there’s an up and downside to it all. It’s nice to have options and more people working in this field, but it also means more division, and more separation, and more of the same poison that is killing us.

-Speaking of this, how will this help our new generations.  You have many Assyrian homes where the parents or the elderly are tuned-in to one of these channels, for hours and hours daily.  Will this help the young generation pick up the Assyrian language faster, than if the TV was always on an English channel.
It might, but I doubt it. I know many younger people, like myself, that close the door, or put on headphones, or leave the house, or do ANYTHING, just to avoid hearing the incessant chatter on one of these Assyrian stations. A young person has to have a genuine interest in learning the language, or strengthening her/his skills, for this type of linguistic progress to happen.

-If Assyria had a currency, what would you name it?
Assyrio! Pronounced: “ah see ree yo.” Haha, no, I think I’ll get back to you on this one. Although, naming it after me would be a cool idea, a nice way to honor our only queen… ;)

 -And whose picture(s) would you have on it? Both coins and bills.
Well, let’s follow England’s example and put the queen on practically everything… ;)

 -Would you rather that the whole world population was:  all Assyrian or all Christian?
Neither! That would be bland and boring, and I’d never be able to leave the house either…

-Finally, if you were running for office for an Assyrian government, what would some of your promises to the Assyrian people be?
None, I can’t make promises to people who can’t even promise to love themselves enough to stop slitting each other’s throats with hateful words and actions. If I had the power, and the chance, and especially the ability to fulfill my promises, then I’d like to promise them safety, love, and the chance at happiness. I believe, however, that only God can promise these things.

Favorites:

-favorite school subject: English (Writing)

-favorite sport: basketball to watch, volleyball to play

-favorite international soccer team: none (Brits, please don’t kill me)

-favorite book: “To Kill a Mocking Bird”

-favorite color: Red

-favorite number: Three

-favorite season: Spring

-favorite NHL/NBA players: Michael Jordan, and none for NHL (Canadians, please don’t kill me)

-favorite TV channel: I can’t decide between TLC, HGTV, and Nick @ Nite

-favorite car: BMW 330xi (is it xi? Who knows?)

-favorite Assyrian singer: none (Atourina, don’t kill me)

-favorite Assyrian and English name: I can’t say, because someone will try to steal either one and name their child with it, and that will make me SO mad.

General Questions:

-Is listening to a prayer online the same as attending a church prayer in person?
It could be; it’s all what you make of it. For me, personally, I like the feeling of being in a church with other people (especially when I know ALL of us understand the mass), so it wouldn’t be the same. 

-There was a lot of hype in the media recently about an Afghan who converted to Christianity? Of course, he is not the first one, as there are thousands who convert everyday. Why do you think the media focused on this particular case?
Actually, I don’t think the media “focused” on it at all, it was a blurb. Western media (especially) sometimes chooses strange and odd things as its “blurb.” It means nothing that one Afghani converted to Christianity, except to say, “Wow, look, even crazy people can become Christian.” Come on, that’s the obvious statement being made. It’s like mentioning a Muslim woman that once wore the veil and now took it off, it’s the West’s way of saying, “See, we’re better, even the criminals and traitors want to become like us.”

-What are the implication of this conversion for the future? For both religions.
None, sadly, one person doesn’t mean much in this world, just like one dollar.

-What do you think of Canada and Canadians?
I’ll be honest here: I used to think Canada was great. I liked the more liberal government, I appreciated the reforms being made in terms of social life, and especially in providing overall health care. All of this is great and I still think it’s wonderful and can be used as a model. But getting to know more Canadians, and specifically because of AVN, has made me aware of things I never knew were so prevalent, especially racism. It seems that most of the Canadians I speak to are either very focused on stereotypes and complaints about how certain races get “easy breaks” while the others suffer, or I hear about how if you try to oppose racism, you are labeled a “nigger-lover” and ridiculed. I find it sad, and I was disappointed that this type of mentality exists just as much there as it does here. I think I must have thought Canada was more advanced when it came to destroying this type of ignorance, but sadly, I was wrong.

-What is the biggest irony in life?
Call me when I’m dead.

-Where do you get your news from? Could be more than one source and media.
Alternative news sources that you’ve probably never heard of before in your life, lol, and litlee soda to explain any of them, although if you have a chance, subscribe to “Mother Goose.”

 -Is success an event or a process?
I think it’s much more of a process, although if you win the lottery, that’s success with picking the right numbers, and it’s really an event. Okay, I’ve confused myself now, it’s a process; I’ll stick with that.

-What is your favorite experiment or research in psychology? (i.e Little Albert, Pavolv’s Dog, Stanley Milgrim’s shock experiment etc.)
My favorite one is an experiment that is not very well known at all. It was a gender psychology study done to measure women’s spatial reasoning. For decades, psychological research showed that men were “better” than women at spatial reasoning, and especially at being able to tell if something was balanced at equilibrium (meaning it was in the center, and not crooked, like leaning to the left or right on a horizontal plane). Anyway, when they originally studied the differences in men and women, men scored higher on being able to tell a person to move a stick in left or right directions, until it was center. Women were off-center more often than men. BUT, they later found that men would ask the person holding the stick to move it anywhere from a few, to a few dozen times. Most women, however, would only ask a few times, and then stop. Some researchers believed that these women were worried that they might annoy the person holding the stick by constantly asking her/him to move it, so after asking over and over again, and still not getting it to where they wanted, they’d stop asking.

 The trick, however, was that the person holding the stick would only move it in very small increments on purpose. The researchers also wanted to test how far either men or women would go to get to their spatial goal, and since women were more sensitive to the idea of “asking for too much,” they didn’t want to push the “stick holder” too much. Okay, so the second phase of this experiment, if you’re still with me, was to tell the women that the stick was an indicator of how empathic (understanding of others’ feelings, being able to deeply relate to someone else’s emotions) they were, and the closer they could bring it to the center, the more empathic it would mean they were. Well, the results quickly changed. The women were now asking the stick holder to move it much more, until they got it as close to center as possible. Their spatial reasoning, with this new twist, was very similar to that of men. This experiment was important not only for showing that gender differences are not always as black and white as we see them, but also for once again reminding us that not all experiments are as objective as they could be, and that we sometimes have to try new and strange things to be able to get to the “root” of accurate results.

 -Do you ever use what you learn in psychology, in your day to day life and work?
Constantly, a little too much I think. It can either make you a very stable and understanding person, or it can allow you to wallow away in depression and sadness. Ironic, isn’t it? Many psychologists and psychiatrists are clinically depressed themselves, but won’t seek treatment, because they believe they can handle things on their own, which is the exact opposite thing they try to teach their patients.

 -Was the invasion of Iraq a mistake? Or was it the right thing, but the insurgents and terrorists are trying to make it a bad thing?
I can’t answer this question until I speak to God, so you’ll have to wait a while.

-Do you think the “Da Vinci Code” and the newly discovered unofficial gospel of Judas are nothing more than attempts by some groups to destroy Christianity?
No, I don’t think so. I think the book was controversial fiction, and I think the “unofficial” gospel is an actual ancient document that was discovered and needs to be studied, if only because of its antiquity.

-What three websites do you visit on a daily basis?
www.assyrianvoice.net/forum , www.google.com,  webaccess.luc.edu/servlet/webacc

 -Will time-travel ever become a reality?
I don’t think so. Some people have this idea of linear time, like a line on which you can go back and forth. Some see it as a circle, and that it continues and is constant, with no beginning and no end. I’m not sure how I view time, but I do view it as: defined and irrecoverable. Time can only move forward, not backward. Once a time passes, it can’t be retrieved. Some chemists believe that molecules can be transformed in such a way that gets us “back” to the past, but I still don’t think it’s an actual possibility. I’ll see it when I’m back in 1969.

-How do you keep yourself in shape?
I used to go to the gym five to six days a week, but then my schedule became nearly impossible to manage, so now I’ve tried this whole not eating so much thing … I miss the gym.

-As you started doing this interview, Easter was upon us, and that is  when many TV channels play the infamous  “Passion of the Christ” movie.  In a few words, what do you think of it? Do you agree with some of the media accusations that it is a bit too violent? Or is that just the truth about what Jesus really went through?
Wow, another topic I could discuss for so long, then everyone would surely stop reading! I did a major research project on the “Passion of the Christ” film two years ago. We studied the media effects surrounding its release, and we interviewed people on why they decided to watch it. At that time, the media was mostly focused on the accusations that the movie was anti-Semitic (specifically, anti-Jewish), and only a little on the violence. I don’t think the film is very violent as compared to others, although it was difficult to watch. I am a very tolerant person in general when it comes to violence, blood, and gore. Nothing like that makes me sick or close my eyes or get scared, so I know my opinion is affected by this. I think Mel Gibson made the film, and included violent scenes, based on “some” of the Passion accounts in the Scriptures. The words are powerful enough, but when you create an image for someone to watch, that’s when it can feel more “real” and that might be why so many people found the movie was too violent, while I didn’t. For me, reading words and the images I create in my mind are much more profound than scenes on a screen.

-Do you do any reading? what kind of books do you like reading?
I do lots of reading. I like reading some classics, but only the shorter and faster-paced ones, so something like “Moby Dick” is not something I’d naturally pick. I love reading biology texts, which is quite strange, because I used to loathe biology, but now it has become my new passion. I also have a guilty pleasure of thriller novels, mystery style, the ones that are somewhat ridiculous, but they are true page-turners.

-Are you a fan of instant messaging?
Yup, but I’m not a stalking fan.

-Recently, there was a case of a 9 year old Assyrian kid who got so hooked to MSN, he would stay on it for close to 10 hours a day. Of course, he would spend many more hours playing games, and virtually no time for studying.  What would you tell his parents?
I bet the computer was in his room, or worse, he had a laptop. First I’d tell his parents to remove the computer completely from his room, he doesn’t need it there. He’s nine years old, he’s not going to be typing some paper until three in the morning, or researching something online for hours and hours: there is NO reason for him to be at the computer for more than one hour at a time. If the computer is in a public place, like a family room, or a den, or even in the kitchen, he wouldn’t be able to access it for a long period of time without them being able to monitor it.

-Do you think we are alone in this universe, or do other species exist? If they do, how close would they be to us humans in terms of look and life.
I think other life forms exist, although I can’t possibly imagine what they look like, except they’d have to have a few holes in their bodies, as we do, to uptake and then eject the chemicals that are essential to organic life.

 -If you had just about enough money to do one of the following, which one would you choose:

• A tour of the Great Wall of China

• A tour inside the Pyramids

• A tour to the North Pole

 A tour inside of the Pyramids!!! This actually IS one of my dreams, oh wow, I would love it.

-What do you think the school of the future will look like?
More computers, less people.

-Colonization of the moon and space: is it a waste of money and time or a good thing to invest some time and money in?
I think we’re killing Earth every single day, maybe we should try investing some of our time and money into saving her first, before we try to find another galactic entity to murder.

-What is your dream career?
I don’t know, and that’s the biggest struggle of my life.

Final Thoughts:

-What did you like the most about this interview?
The questions that I could answer with a simple sentence.

-One question you are glad we didn't ask?
None, in fact, there were a lot of questions you DID ask that I actually wish you hadn’t, haha!

-One question you really wanted us to ask but didn't?
I can’t think of anything right now, I know it’s a boring answer, but I’ve had enough questions for now.

 -Who should we interview next?
Whoever is next on the list! ;)

 -Who else should help us in setting up these questions?
Me, but I don’t have time.

 -One question I should ask the next person we interview.
“Did you actually read ALL of Shamirum’s interview?” And if s/he answers “yes,” then s/he has no life.

-How can all the hundreds of people reading this interview, keep in touch with you?
There are not hundreds of people reading this! Omgosh, that would be utterly terrifying. But either way, if people want to reach me, they can simple send me a private message through the forums, and if they don’t have a user name, then they need to sign up for an account!!!

 -Final shout-out to any one you like.
I’d like to send a shout-out to my homie up in the hood, he be rollin’ dirty tonight, and my prayers are with him yo. And a shout-out to my babby-daddy of course, to remind him to send me that damn child support, he’s been slackin’ as usual. Ohhh yea, and a shout-out to my new man, I love ya baby! (I’ve listened to too much radio…)

-Now you have a chance to ask us any question you like.
How long did it take you to write this interview??? I feel like I’ve invested half my life answering it.

-Final word about this interview and about the Assyrian Voice community as a whole.
I’m exhausted, thank you very much.

We thank you for taking the time to do this interview and wish you the best of luck in everything you do in your life.
Thank you!!! I’m going to sleep now, for like three days.