MARCH 2020

GUEST columns
Identity Under Construction
ADHID MIRI, PHD
SPECIAL TO THE
CHALDEAN NEWS
Throughout history,
people have traveled
from country to country
fearful of change, knowing
that some changes could
threaten their identity.
Thousands of Iraqis chose to
live in Western countries since
the beginning of the 19th century.
The causes of immigration
are many, people migrate for
economic, political, social and
cultural reasons or are forced to
migrate under unimaginable circumstances.
Although the Chaldean Iraqis have been harmoniously
in the West, most remained attached to their
country of origin, connected with their relatives and
friends, attached to their original culture, mother
tongue, and keen on preserving their identity.
Iraqi Chaldeans live across the world today. Data
shows that Chaldeans are concentrated in the United
States, Britain, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, France, New
Zealand, Australia, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Syria
and Jordan. Over a few short decades they formed,
and continue, a great economic and political force
supporting and interacting with Iraq. They also play
a major role in exposing human rights violations
and have always stood with their people, whether
in the days of the previous or subsequent regimes.
Holding another nationality does not mean one
has abandoned his or her original identity and love
toward a country. National identity is an inherent
quality and cannot be confused with other ideas
such as belief and thought. Ideas and convictions
change, while national identity is firmly established.
There are hundreds of immigrants and foreign
personalities who cling to their national identities
and have served their countries of origin with great
contributions. Immigrants are an effective force for
the benefit of their mother country. Iraqi Chaldeans
are a very special case and a success story in the
United States. Iraq can benefit by connecting and
communicating with them in order to strengthen
their bonds to serve the Iraqi people and to consolidate
fruitful relations with their ancestral land.
As a small size community, and in order to enforce
our unique identity, we must create a brand
that identifies all that Chaldeans can offer. To
dissolve or evolve remains a major identity challenge!
Other communities in the United States
that preceded us to this great country have succeeded
in creating a unique brand of competency
and excellence. Notable examples are the Jewish
community, the Irish, the Italian, the Indian, the
Germans, the Polish, the Chinese, etc. In tracking
their successes, one finds that education was the
critical determinator and common denominator
for shaping their future and branding their identity.
Iraqi Chaldeans in the United States are experiencing
a similar renaissance; a period of unprecedented
growth and educational recognition. We
have developed academics, lawyers, physicians,
pharmacists, teachers, accountants, judges, politicians.
Chaldeans do their best to invest in their
children’s education and academic excellence. It is
time to take advantage of the growth momentum.
A unified brand anchored in education builds
pride and identity. It’s time to ignite our community
brand and start spreading the word knowing
that the brand belongs to each person and we are
merely stewarding to keep the flame alive.
Our strategic branding process must be designed
to leverage our community’s strengths, raise our
profile among influencers, increase regional recognition
and unify the community behind a consistent
brand and successful identity. Our process
should be tailored to reach all communities, with
work ranging from identifying our community’s
value proposition to creative strategies for reaching
our future objectives. We must also support our
community members’ success with memorable accomplishments
and educational achievements.
Education often leads to prosperity and politics.
Extensive networking into different communitybased
cultural groups can ultimately lead to political
support. An educated person can become an effective
politician with the power to make their community,
their country, and even the world a better place. The
policies they make, remove, or change help to shape
society. They can invigorate education systems, help
improve health services, and keep an economy in
good shape, just to name a few. We must encourage
this among our upcoming generation.
Educated Iraqi American citizens become more
beneficial to others by their presence in the west
where advanced sciences, businesses, rewarding
jobs and excellent services from which they gain
experiences and influences and transfer them in
whole or in part to their country of origin.
The presence of Iraqi immigrants in Western
countries can also help influence international policy,
such as that of the United States of America,
Britain, Germany, France, Canada and Australia.
They can help bring these countries closer, and
perhaps even influence the policies of those countries
to benefit the interest of Iraq. Iraqi Americans
have developed institutions and formed pressure
groups that explain to politicians, officials and
public opinion, issues and opportunities to benefit
from decisions that serve the interests of Iraq and
the United States.
Many roads can lead to a successful career. There
is no specific education pathway to follow when
one decides to become a politician or an influencer.
However, formal education, life experience, as well
as professional networking are needed to guide success.
Most politicians have degrees in law, economics,
or business.
The ultimate test of our success will come as our
community brand continues to grow. Many of you
who have studied at Jesuit institutions are familiar
with the motto “Men and Women for Others.”
As one united family we can construct a unique
identity built by the bricks of education and granite
stones of our historic culture. We will watch the
perception of our achievements formed in the eyes
of fellow citizens and the entire State.
Beaming with pride; our educated sons and
daughters as the best ambassadors our Community
has to offer. They are custodians of our identity and
our future brand. Together, side by side we will walk
the roads of success as one community chanting the
classic Liverpool Football Club Chant “You’ll Never
Walk Alone.”