Baghdad, IRAQ - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki attended the inaugural re-opening of Iraq’s National Museum.  “The opening is another sign of Iraq’s stabilization,” says Thair Yatooma, of the Iraqi Citizen Council of Art, an advisory group of the National Museum.  “The opening of the National Museum in Baghdad is a message from the government to foreign tourists: you are welcome." 

The Prime Minister cut the ribbon at the official reopening saying, "We have ended the black wind (of violence) and have started the reconstruction process." This morning, the first tourists entered the museum: for now, only guided tours for groups are allowed; it will take time to reopen the museum to private citizens.

However, some say the Museum must bring the Christian history of Iraq back into the light.  The National Museum had a long standing policy of prohibiting any display of Christian art to the general public.  The section dedicated to the Christian community could be visited only by foreign tourists; it was not accessible to Arab Iraqis. “The Christian presence is profound, deeply grounded, setting down roots over centuries; Saddam Hussein may have protected it, he always concealed it from the eyes of ordinary citizens" says Yatooma.

More Chaldean stay-at-home moms are using their creativity, experience and education into starting businesses on the side. No matter if your goals are as simple as adding to the family’s income or as big as building a million dollar company, starting part-time from home is a great way to test the business waters. 

But between helping the kids with complex homework assignments, shuttling them to countless activities and volunteering at their school--all while managing the household and trying to carve out a little time for yourself--where do they find the time to start a business? 

www.CHALDEAN.org interviews Chaldean stay-at-home moms who have been able to successfully juggle their family and business, all from their home headquarters.

Most of what we learn about human behavior is taught by nonverbal signals. Body language is a powerful but subtle form of communication.  Learning to interpret the clues and indicators of body language will help guide you through delicate situations and help you shape better personal relationships.

Like the spoken language different cultures also have their share of unique nonverbal gestures.  In the Chaldean community various body gestures can help better understand what is being said or how someone feels.  These include gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and even vocal tone and pitch. Much of the nonverbal information we get from people comes from their eyes. This explains why it’s often hard to infer meaning from a telephone call or written words.

Since nonverbal communication—or body language—is such a natural part of our communication life and community, learning to interpret it can really improve our relationships and understanding of other people. Still, it’s an art to be treated with a degree of caution. Misinterpretation does occur and it is always best to ask questions, otherwise acting on your perceptions can have ghastly consequences.

Knowing the art of Chaldean body language or body language in general will improve communications.  Here are some interesting Chaldean body language clues that many of us all share.

Chaldean Body Language 101: Understand the Meanings of Chaldean Gestures

Illinois, USA – Chaldeans and basketball may become as natural as American and apple pie.  The sport is taking hold of the community as some of the most dedicated fans show their support.  However,   becoming fans and sitting on the sidelines is rarely enough for the ambitious community. 

Adel Meram a former basketball coach in Baghdad Iraq taught fundamental basketball in the early 60’s to Iraqi students.  Meram says it seems basketball is returning to its historic roots when dealing with the Chaldean community.  Today the Chaldean Basketball League and the Chaldean Church Sports League boast one of the largest and most competitive and action packed youth leagues in the community. 

Meram says the natural competitive drive of Chaldeans soon pushed them on the court to take on their school peers and friends in parking lots and playgrounds.  Meram goes on to share that basketball was invented in 1891. The inventor of the game was a Canadian clergyman, James Naismith.  Fr. Naismith invented basketball as an alternative to the calisthenics and marching of his faith filled students to keep fit in the winters.  

Michigan, USA – “When the economy goes down, crime goes up,” says Adel Oraha, spokesperson for a growing group of Chaldean business leaders looking at moving into other states.  “We can’t keep doing business in Michigan if this state continues to beat-up on business with taxes and crime.” 

Chaldean business owners have begun forming collaborative groups to explore creating business parks in different states that are welcoming to Chaldeans.  Oraha says, “As a group we have over 2,000 employees and bring in over ten million in state taxes alone each year.  Crime, corruption, and high taxes make it hard to continue doing business in Michigan.  However, many businesses want to leave because of how unwelcoming the state has become for small business owners.  But we can’t move because of our culture and ties to the church and community.  We are working to change all that.” 

The bold move by Oraha and his fellow group members are researching plans to move an entire community.  “We are looking into which states would be best for Chaldean business families.  The place has to be business friendly, good schools, ability to build or lease a church for Chaldean services and near banquet facilities for family parties, and inexpensive air travel for continued family connections.” says Oraha.  The Chaldean grocery store chain owner was reluctant to say which states the group is leaning towards.

Arbil, IRAQ – Iraqi Christians were not immune to Muslin tribal mentality which divided Iraqis and created factions, all to the benefit of past paranoid Iraqi leaders.  “Dictators and rulers trying to protect their power firmly divide the people so that they can pin one group against another,” says Monir Arafat, a historian of Iraq. 

“Each group is worried about the other group.  It is easy to start conflicts to keep them busy fighting one another rather than the ruler or dictator.  This military strategy of divide and conquer has consequences that have stretched across centuries for the Christians of Iraq.”

What many Chaldeans consider to be a tiresome debate continues to have glowing embers that have now stretched across the world.  Arafat says Christian communities continue to argue over the rightful title of their community name.  “This is a fool’s argument that by its very nature causes the division they claim they are trying to heal.  The wise people ignore the entire debate and allow healing to naturally take place.  It is like picking at a scab, hoping it will heal faster.  When in reality the picking just opens and infects the wound.”

Others, like Iraqi theatre director Georges Hawell aim to help build unity by focusing on the similarities and not the differences.  Hawell is directing a play titled “Bride and Peace” which plays in Arbil to unify Iraqi Christians. 

Toronto, CANADA – “The tragic irony is that the Chaldean families leave a country of death, persecution and oppression hoping for a better life for them and their children.   Sadly, so many Chaldeans are being killed in their place of work or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time as in this situation,” says Alvin Sako.

Sako is referring to the death of Mark Shaba, 19, of Rexdale, runned over on Oct. 21, 2007, in a dispute in the parking lot of Arizona Bar and Grill on Carlingview Dr. The court preceding concluded with the electrician apprentice Gagan Deep Singh, 26, pleading guilty to criminal negligence causing the death. 

Singh ran over the only Son of the Shaba family, a teenage kitchen cabinet painter, with a Ford Explorer after a dispute outside the bar. 

Michigan, USA – "They were buying a $10 bottle. Now they're buying a $6 bottle," said Mike Acho, owner of the Wine Cellar party store in Waterford. "People don't have the money. They're not working, but they still want the alcohol, so they buy the cheaper stuff."

Chaldean business leaders within the Merchants of Michigan association say the state is heading towards the cliff’s edge.  Michigan remains the worst state in country.  It has the highest unemployment rate in the country, a continually slumping economy and one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation; experts say much of the increased drinking may be related to people trying to drown their sorrows. 

State records agree with the opinion sharing that more customers are choosing to drink at home instead of bars and restaurants.    Alcohol purchases nationwide have risen about 2%, total sales in Michigan have nearly doubled that, 3.5%, with residents of the Great Lakes State spending $895 million in 2007. The increase is in spite of a loss in the state's population of more than 46,000 people last year.

Chaldean expectant mothers know that a healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. Chaldean food is one of the healthiest of cultural cookery, but even if you eat healthfully every day, some Chaldean moms may fall short on key nutrients. If you're pregnant or hoping to conceive, prenatal vitamins can help fill any gaps.

In today’s article I cover why you need them, when to start taking them or how they help.  I hope Chaldean moms-to-be find the information useful and helpful.  If you have suggestions for future articles on healthy living e-mail me at info@chaldean.org care of Brenda Hermiz. 

Mosul, IRAQ – “We have to go vote.  Our love for our country makes us go and vote,” says Ibtissam Bazzi, an Iraqi Christian woman eager to cast her vote.  Christians in Iraq remain an oppressed minority and a group still under constant threat.  With the provincial elections underway, Iraq’s Christian minority find themselves between a rock and a hard place.

The Iraqi natives have faced centuries of violence.  From conquering Arab armies, the first world war genocide of the Ottoman empire (present day Turkey), to mass killings from al-Qaida in Iraq and other Islamic extremists.  Including the Kurds who have been slowly and systematically attempting to take and control land once owned by Christians.  

In the northern city of Mosul and surrounding areas the Kurds have been using their own militia to sieze more of Iraq into their semiautonomous region.  The issue came to the fore in Saturday's vote for members of ruling councils in most of Iraq's 18 provinces.

Illinois, USA – The University of Chicago joins a handful of other colleges in their effort to create a cohabitation campus.  The college will now allow a male student to sleep in the same room with an unrelated female student.

Amy Batuo says the school has essentially become a whore house and is considering transferring.  “I am not going to pay them to help students hook-up. There is going to be so many reputations and lives ruined.  They have gone way into left field on this one.”

This is not the first time the school has sent shock waves for its stance on sexual promiscuity and promotion.  The campus Student Health and Wellness Fee, which all registered students pay, covers regular contraceptive items like condoms and lubricants.   All are available at its Student Care Center including what the center calls "Emergency contraception.” 

California, USA – “Chaldeans who voted for him should be ashamed of themselves.  When will people learn that what goes around comes around?  Like the Nazis who supported eugenics and the killing of the useless and unwanted, so too goes America with this President,” says Ashley Bashi. 

Barack Obamaa has plans to reward the allies that helped him topple Hillary Clinton and seize the presidency by making total unrestricted abortion in the United States his number one priority as president.  Nonetheless, some Chaldeans think abortion is a religious issue or only a disagreement to overlook with the controlling Democrat party. 

 “It is sad that some in the Chaldean community think abortion is a religious issue.  Our entire society is based on morals and values.  If we don’t value the innocent, the old, unproductive, weak, or poor of our society, how much longer before we begin to make decisions to eliminate them,” says Dr. Hiba Hannou, a leading Chaldean medical researcher in reproductive science.  “How much longer before we say those that are not smart or unproductive must also be killed.”

Washington DC, USA – Chaldean businessman Andy Shallal looks to capture and convert that energy into capital.  Not the type of energy that turns on your lights or moves your car.  The energy of millions of people pouring into the Washington DC to participate in Obama’s Inauguration is prime for celebration and prime for businesses. 

Although Andy Shallal, a native of Virginia has never been to an inaugural ball he sure plans to make the best of this one.  Shallal owns a number of restaurants around the DC area and is known in private circles as a peace proponent. 

So in celebrating the excitement and capturing the energy of the crowds, Shallal is hosting is own star-studded inaugural ball that just might capture the new president’s attention. 

For thousands of years the language of Aramaic has existed, descended from Sumerian and Akkadian roots.  The language is still spoken by the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac people today, and is one of the four recognized languages in the Iraqi constitution under Syriac (Eastern dialect of Aramaic). 

The University of Detroit Mercy has recently established an Aramaic course teaching how to speak, read and write Aramaic, as well as studies pertaining to culture and history. The class starts January 17th and is taught by Mahir Awrahem, who is also a professor at Baker College. 
 
The 15-week is an introductory course  open to all college and high school students.  Prof. Awrahem is excited for the start of the program, “When I lived in Iraq, there was no such thing as learning Aramaic in schools; I am excited to be teaching the language of Christ especially at the University level.

California, USA – The double standard in the Chaldean community always was a point of contention.  Why is it okay for men to smoke, but not women?  Some argue the double standard was required by Chaldean men living in a Muslim dominated society where smoking was seen as a male’s passage to adulthood and encouraged.  

The society pressures seem to be a strong force as American society continues to grow in disgust with smokers.   Chaldean men living in western society show a significant decrease in smoking compared to their Middle Eastern counterparts.  However, the increase in Chaldean women smokers versus their counterparts is staggering, but understandable, given the freedoms and consumer coaching aimed at women who have come a long way to light-up.

Stories abound in the Chaldean community of fathers and mothers disgusted at the sight of young American teenage girls smoking at school.  Some of the stories go so fat as to say that the parents refused to allow their daughters to enroll in the school, opting instead to home school. 

So whatever happened to those teen girls who defiantly puffed away as gawking Chaldean parents drove by worried as to what their child was being exposed to.  A new study says those insecure girls have grown up to be fat and are now costing society in hefty healthcare costs.