FEBRUARY 2004

against their religion. There still isn’t a strong safety net for
Chaldeans in Iraq.”
A local professor who has studied the Chaldean culture
agrees with Rev. Boji.
“I think they are reserving judgment about the stability of
whatever is likely to develop in Iraq,” said Mary C. Sengstock,
Ph.D professor of sociology, Wayne State University and author
of two books on Chaldeans.
“I don’t think any Chaldeans are likely to decide to return to
Iraq until they are certain that the situation is safe,” she continued.
“In addition, most Chaldeans in the Detroit area have
become quite comfortable in the U.S.”
Here in the U.S. many Chaldeans are prospering. Most are
entrepreneurs and professionals raising their families in middle
class suburbia. Over the years, Chaldeans have adapted to the
American way. In Iraq, life is different. However, Chaldeans
will be an influence in the Iraqi government. There is a committee
now working to establish a fair constitution for all religions
in Iraq.
“Life is much better in Alqosh now,” said Sabiha Barno, a 64-
year- old woman who was born and raised in the northern Iraqi
town. “The Americans are doing everything for us. They are
providing running water, they are fixing our roads and our
schools and they are bringing medicine.”
The historical town of nearly 7,000 people is tucked away in
the mountains, and is known for religious miracles having been
performed over the centuries - stories that have been passed on
to every new generation.
It’s a life foreign to the more than 30 American soldiers stationed
there, including a military physician and a minister, and
Barno is surprised at how well they have adapted to the
Chaldean culture.
“They all come to our weddings and parties bringing gifts,”
Barno said of the soldiers. “They come knocking on our doors trying
to see who is making dolma (stuffed grape leaves) for the day.
They have fallen in love with our food and culture and some of
them have asked to marry some of the young girls from Alqosh.”
The soldiers live in a monastery built centuries ago. Its name,
when translated into English, is “Our Lady of Crops”. Barno
said that for the first time in years, people feel safe in her town.
However, not everyone in Iraq lives freely.
As widely reported, there are tensions, attacks and suicide
bombings in Mosul and Baghdad. Barno’s daughter narrowly
escaped death while leaving church one Sunday. She was just a
few feet away from a car bomb that killed 10 people in Baghdad.
The mother of 10 children and 17 grandchildren is hopeful
that life will only get better in her hometown. She believes that
Alqosh will be one of the most traveled tourist attractions, and
become known for its lavish landscape, historical buildings, biblical
stories and churches.
Although an ancient people, Rev. Boji said we must work
diligently to preserve our culture, religion, language and history.
The first generation is the link that will keep the chain
strong. “The Church is doing the best we can to preserve our
heritage but our number one focus is religion. It is up to the
community to keep the culture prospering.”
Not only does the church teach Aramaic every year, Mar
(Bishop) Ibrahim Ibrahim has incorporated a series of lectures
on the history of the Chaldean church.
“We come to this country bringing our rich flavors, but if we
don’t preserve them by teaching our children the language and history,
the community won’t continue to grow,” said Rev. Boji.
Dr. Sengstock’s books are Chaldean Americans: Changing
Conceptions of Ethnic Identity (Published By Center for
Migration Studies, New York — 1st Ed 1982; 2nd Ed, 1999)
and Detroit Chaldean Community: An ancient people in modern
America (Published by Michigan State University Press, 2004.)
Attending
weekly mass
is a priority
for the
Chaldean
community.
Photos
taken at
St. Thomas
Church
in West
Bloomfield.
FEBRUARY 2004 CHALDEAN NEWS 23