What do you think?
Rate this book
The Path to Assyria: A call for national revival
Why has the Assyrian national movement not progressed for the past 100 years? A new take on an old question offers new insights.
Why has the Assyrian nation not gained its freedom despite a hundred years of struggle? Why has the Assyrian movement failed to make headway and what is the reason for its paralysis and weakness? The issue is not new but as old as the movement itself. Several Assyrian intellectuals have pondered this conundrum. A lot has happened during the over one hundred years that have passed since the emergence of the Assyrian national movement. The steady decline of the people has continued unabated and given new generations renewed reasons for revisiting the same question. When viewing Assyrian history through new perspectives we can find a pattern that solves the conundrum and leads on to a future that we had lost hope of long ago.
Why has the Assyrian nation not gained its freedom despite a hundred years of struggle? Why has the Assyrian movement failed to make headway and what is the reason for its paralysis and weakness? The issue is not new but as old as the movement itself. Several Assyrian intellectuals have pondered this conundrum. A lot has happened during the over one hundred years that have passed since the emergence of the Assyrian national movement. The steady decline of the people has continued unabated and given new generations renewed reasons for revisiting the same question. When viewing Assyrian history through new perspectives we can find a pattern that solves the conundrum and leads on to a future that we had lost hope of long ago.
99 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2020
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 1, 2023
"The Path to Assyria" by Afram Yakoub offers a profound exploration of the historical facts surrounding the Assyrian massacres and genocide, casting a revealing light on their enduring impact on the contemporary Assyrian psyche. Yakoub's analysis is both insightful and thought-provoking, rendering this book essential reading for anyone keen on delving into this tragic chapter of history.
I wholeheartedly concur with Yakoub's assertion that a collective victimhood mentality has, over time, eroded the resilience and fortitude of the Assyrian community. His impassioned call for unity and self-reliance strikes a deep chord with me. It's disheartening to acknowledge that, over the course of a century, Assyrians in the Middle East have often found themselves compelled to seek international support to secure fundamental human rights and pursue self-determination. Yakoub's poignant words, "Independence is something you seize and do not ask for," serve as a stark reminder of the need for proactive agency in shaping the Assyrian destiny.
One striking observation from Yakoub's work underscores the detrimental role of clinging to church affiliations in undermining our ethnic identity. This insight emphasizes the urgency of reassessing our cultural and communal priorities, placing a renewed focus on safeguarding our heritage for the benefit of future generations. While Assyrians possess the inherent capability and resources to assert themselves, the absence of self-confidence in the absence of external support is a prevailing issue. A historical example, such as the strength exhibited by the Hakkari Assyrians during the era of British support, illuminates the potential for resilience when confidence is cultivated within the community. The ongoing question arises: How long will we continue to flee? Regrettably, Assyrians can often be their own worst enemy, permitting inconsequential matters like material wealth, personal relationships, and pessimism about the future to dominate their psyche. It is incumbent upon us to reject the label of "minority" when questioned about our identity; it's a description of our condition, not our identity itself.
While I find myself in alignment with many of Yakoub's perspectives, there are certain points with which I respectfully disagree. One such point concerns his argument that Armenians and Jews have successfully fought for their own countries due to experiencing persecution for a shorter duration than Assyrians. While it is indeed a fact that Assyrians have endured persecution for a longer period, it's important to recognize that trauma is a deeply personal and subjective experience. Comparing the trauma of different communities can be dehumanizing, as each group has faced its own unique challenges and continues to grapple with the legacy of historical traumas. Moreover, it's worth noting that these groups, including Armenians, have their own ongoing struggles and complexities.
Another point of contention lies in Yakoub's belief that the Middle East will inevitably become more democratic and accepting of its minorities, akin to Western nations. While his call for preparedness is warranted, the geopolitical complexities of the Middle East, influenced by the interests of various global powers, cast doubt on the certainty of such a transformation. The region remains a hotbed of competing interests and disputes over land and resources, making long-term stability and tolerance a challenging prospect. While the history of our people in the Middle East is marred by atrocities, it is essential to confront the reality that planning and adaptability will be crucial in navigating the complex path ahead, and every success, no matter how incremental, must be celebrated and built upon.
I wholeheartedly concur with Yakoub's assertion that a collective victimhood mentality has, over time, eroded the resilience and fortitude of the Assyrian community. His impassioned call for unity and self-reliance strikes a deep chord with me. It's disheartening to acknowledge that, over the course of a century, Assyrians in the Middle East have often found themselves compelled to seek international support to secure fundamental human rights and pursue self-determination. Yakoub's poignant words, "Independence is something you seize and do not ask for," serve as a stark reminder of the need for proactive agency in shaping the Assyrian destiny.
One striking observation from Yakoub's work underscores the detrimental role of clinging to church affiliations in undermining our ethnic identity. This insight emphasizes the urgency of reassessing our cultural and communal priorities, placing a renewed focus on safeguarding our heritage for the benefit of future generations. While Assyrians possess the inherent capability and resources to assert themselves, the absence of self-confidence in the absence of external support is a prevailing issue. A historical example, such as the strength exhibited by the Hakkari Assyrians during the era of British support, illuminates the potential for resilience when confidence is cultivated within the community. The ongoing question arises: How long will we continue to flee? Regrettably, Assyrians can often be their own worst enemy, permitting inconsequential matters like material wealth, personal relationships, and pessimism about the future to dominate their psyche. It is incumbent upon us to reject the label of "minority" when questioned about our identity; it's a description of our condition, not our identity itself.
While I find myself in alignment with many of Yakoub's perspectives, there are certain points with which I respectfully disagree. One such point concerns his argument that Armenians and Jews have successfully fought for their own countries due to experiencing persecution for a shorter duration than Assyrians. While it is indeed a fact that Assyrians have endured persecution for a longer period, it's important to recognize that trauma is a deeply personal and subjective experience. Comparing the trauma of different communities can be dehumanizing, as each group has faced its own unique challenges and continues to grapple with the legacy of historical traumas. Moreover, it's worth noting that these groups, including Armenians, have their own ongoing struggles and complexities.
Another point of contention lies in Yakoub's belief that the Middle East will inevitably become more democratic and accepting of its minorities, akin to Western nations. While his call for preparedness is warranted, the geopolitical complexities of the Middle East, influenced by the interests of various global powers, cast doubt on the certainty of such a transformation. The region remains a hotbed of competing interests and disputes over land and resources, making long-term stability and tolerance a challenging prospect. While the history of our people in the Middle East is marred by atrocities, it is essential to confront the reality that planning and adaptability will be crucial in navigating the complex path ahead, and every success, no matter how incremental, must be celebrated and built upon.
February 20, 2023
الكاتب يعزو سبب فشل الحركة القومية الاشورية الى ما يسميه بعقلية الضحية الجمعية او الجماعية collective victimhood mentality .
كما انه يشدد على ضرورة العمل على انشاء وطن قومي للاشوريين في منطقة يسميها اشور وكذلك يشدد على ان تقوم الحركة القومية الاشورية بالاعتماد على الذات بدلا من انتظار معونات خارجية.
الكتاب مدون بلغة سهلة وباسلوب سلس -بالرغم من سوء الترجمة في بعض المواقع، ينقصه بعض الواقعية والحلول او المقترحات العملية لتحقيق الاهداف المرجوة.
كما انه يشدد على ضرورة العمل على انشاء وطن قومي للاشوريين في منطقة يسميها اشور وكذلك يشدد على ان تقوم الحركة القومية الاشورية بالاعتماد على الذات بدلا من انتظار معونات خارجية.
الكتاب مدون بلغة سهلة وباسلوب سلس -بالرغم من سوء الترجمة في بعض المواقع، ينقصه بعض الواقعية والحلول او المقترحات العملية لتحقيق الاهداف المرجوة.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews