FEBRUARY 2009

from the EDitor
History in the making
pubLiSHED by
The Chaldean News, LLC
EDitoriAL
EDitor iN CHiEF
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
mANAgiNg EDitor
Joyce Wiswell
CoNtributiNg WritErS
Caroline Bacall
Crystal Kassab Jabiro
Steve Stein
Art & proDuCtioN
CrEAtiVE DirECtor
Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative
grApHiC DESigNErS
Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative
Joseph Sesi
pHotogrApHErS
David Reed
Wilson Sarkis
opErAtioNS
Interlink Media
DirECtor oF opErAtioNS
Paul Alraihani
CirCuLAtioN
Brenda Koza
CLASSiFiEDS
Brenda Koza
SALES
Interlink Media
SALES rEprESENtAtiVES
Silvana Gorial
Lisy Starr
mANAgErS
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
Martin Manna
Michael Sarafa
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It is a rare moment when
you are part of history in
the making and even more
of a rarity to say you have witnessed
it. Some of you still
talk about where you were
when President Kennedy was
shot. More of us alive today
still live with the anxiety and
fear that was brought on by
the attacks of 9-11. Never did
we think airplanes would be
used as weapons to kill thousands of
people on our own soil. Now another
generation has witnessed history as
the majority gives a minority an opportunity.
So many people never believed that
they would be alive to see the fi rst black
man sworn into offi ce as President of
the United States. But they
witnessed history in the
making just last month.
Whether you voted for
Barack Obama or not, this
time will be reminisced
about in years to come,
written in text books and
taught in classes. Whether
he proves to be the right
choice or bad choice as
this country’s leader, history
was made.
And like many stories – big or small
– we bring you the Chaldean angle to it.
There is one here as well. Joyce Wiswell
features a community man who worked
closely on the Obama campaign, and
in her story he shares his insight about
the 44th president.
Here in Michigan are Christian refugees
who have also lived through history,
recently as victims of the war in
Iraq. We saw the capture of Saddam
Hussein as well as his execution on
vanessa
denha-garMo
editoR in chieF
television but these people
lived through the destruction
and demise.
It was history in the making
for Christian Iraqis.
We also witnessed history
in the making when, for
the fi rst time, a seated Detroit
mayor was behind bars on
the day Barack Obama won
the presidency. One African-
American man, who should
have been at the forefront during this
historical moment, sits behind bars.
One African-American leader is locked
up while another African-American is
elected to lead this country. One would
say, in some way, he missed history being
part of history in the making.
Also in this issue, we cover the lead
candidates in the race for Detroit mayor.
The question we want to know is not
only who is the best to lead Detroit, but
who will work best with the Chaldean
community, especially the business
owners in the city?
On a smaller scale, many of us witnessed
a dream in the making, and that
was the construction of Shenandoah
Country Club in West Bloomfi eld. Since
its inception, the club has faced some
challenges and setbacks. In this issue
Joyce Wiswell reports on Shenandoah’s
fi nancial troubles, and Neb Mekani
and Mike Sarafa offer an op-ed piece
about the future of the club.
One could even say that the launch
of The Chaldean News in 2004 was a
historical moment for us as a community.
It is a publication that not only brings the
news on a regular basis but it will serve
as a document for future generations.
History is being made on a regular
basis in a small way and we document
it every month in our issues.
Now we launch the new Chaldean
News website that will bring more
up-to-date and current news with a
click of the computer. It will serve to
enhance our monthly publication and
constantly keep you abreast of the
happenings in our community and how
mainstream stories have affected us
Whether you voted for barack obama or not, this
time will be reminisced about in years to come,
written in text books and taught in classes. Whether
he proves to be the right choice or bad choice as
this country’s leader, history was made.
as Chaldeans.
We are a historical people – ancient
in fact – living in modern times.
We have been written about in books
over centuries, including the fi rst chapter
of the Bible. In one way or another
all of us are a part of the world’s history,
whether we were alive to witness
events or not.
May we learn from our past and
plan for the future and always be proud
of who we are as a people — a historical
people!
8 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2009