16 CHALDEAN NEWS <strong>SEPTEMBER</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
LETTERS continued from page 14 being arbitrary and could not create such restrictions and ordered that the applicant be licensed! So to write that the MLCC was “idly” standing by as this “proliferation of gas stations” occurred is simply untruthful! I question why the former president of the AFD (who is a lawyer) is so quick to criticize the MLCC who indeed took action, when these matters occurred under his leadership and he did nothing! I have consistently expounded on the value of local governments of gas station sites having a voice on the issue of gas station owner/operators holding licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages by creating an ordinance which addresses their position. Today, gas stations cater to the concept of a one-stop shop and offer everything from gas, chips, coffee and slushes, along with hot food to go! I commend the innovative entrepreneurs who have had to find new ways of surviving in today’s market. In fact, former AFD members who opposed the sale of alcohol at gas stations are now recognizing that it is their only means of survival and currently have pending applications with the MLCC for their gas stations. The MLCC welcomes anyone who wishes to address this or other topics of importance to attend our public weekly business meeting. Those meetings are held Tuesdays in the General Office Building. Please call (517) 322- 1345 to be placed on the agenda. One final thought to this beloved community: I believe that our strength and success comes not from falsely attacking one another to claim victory or leadership status, but rather, working with one another for the betterment of all! As the old Chaldean saying goes, ‘it takes two hands to clap’, so let us all clap together for a successful future for all! – Nida Samona, Chair Michigan Liquor Control Commission Godspeed Thank you for including my article in The Chaldean News (August <strong>2008</strong>, “Charting the Possibilities of the Future.”) It means a lot to many people who genuinely support the efforts for unity that we all have been advancing for many years. God bless you for your work and love of our people. – Mar Bawai Soro, San Jose, CA Senseless I remember reading a bit about Yousif Hermiz’ struggle. Today I read the commentary (August <strong>2008</strong>, “A Father Shares His Anguish”) and I noticed something odd: “The officer says [Arvin] Hermiz attempted to flee the scene and aimed his car directly at him.” So this was the reason the officer shot him? That doesn’t make sense. In order to flee the scene, Arvin would be driving away from the officer, not aiming his car directly at him. So not only were the three shots totally uncalled for, but they were illogical. The officer must have lied in his statement to make his argument valid. I hope Yousif Hermiz gets what he wants. He’s suffered enough. – Nadine Ibrahim, Rocklin, CA Iraq, Inc. My daughter is a U.S. Army adviser to an Iraqi battalion on her second deployment. My son-in-law is in a Michigan National Guard unit that deployed to Iraq several months ago. I pray that we resolve Iraq before they deploy again. The beauty of this concept is that it is a largely self-contained, complete, closed-ended, lowcost, quick, achievable undertaking with little downside risk, one that would not offend anyone’s politics nor interfere with any ongoing operations. The Iraqi people can create Iraq, Incorporated and convey to it ownership of all Iraq’s petroleum resources. Each citizen would own one non-transferable share of common stock in Iraq, Inc. The shareholders would elect a board of directors who would manage the company. The company would pay quarterly dividends directly to shareholders. Shareholders would pay taxes. A dynamic would change. The flow of money would reverse. Money would flow from the people to the government rather than flowing from the government to the people. The immediate advantages would be manifold: 1. End the political impasse about how to divide oil revenue among Iraq’s competing groups. 2. Give Iraqi citizens a vested interest in stopping the sabotage of pipelines. 3. Give Iraqi citizens more power over how their government spends money. 4. Provide some financial security for Iraqi citizens. 5. Empower Iraqi women. 6. End suspicion that the United States is attempting to exploit Iraqi oil. This concept has been favorably received, but the general response has been that the Iraq government would not initiate it. The prospect of a Californiastyle national referendum on the issue and serious pressure from the United States may be enough move those Iraq government leaders, who would lose significant power as a result of an Iraq, Incorporated. I recognize that it is a bold move, but it may be a way to resolve the current impasse. Seems doable to me; certainly less difficult and dangerous than what we are doing now. There has been some positive news lately from Iraq, but we are not out of the woods. Things could easily take an ugly turn. I urge the Chaldean community to assert its leadership to this issue, for the sake of Iraq, Iraqi women, Chaldeans and the U.S. soldiers who will have to deploy to Iraq in the future. – Christian S. Miller, Saratoga, CA <strong>SEPTEMBER</strong> <strong>2008</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 17