FEBRUARY 2024

February Cover Stories
Through the Years 2004-2023
As promised, each month this
year we will highlight the cover
stories of that month over
the last two decades. This serves as a
timeline of what we thought was worth
reporting, and what the community
was concerned with at that time.
For instance, the first cover of the
first issue of the Chaldean News declared
Chaldeans “An Ancient People
in Modern Times.” The inaugural issue
was not just about uniting the community;
it was also about defining who
the community was for the rest of the
Metro Detroit population.
The 2005 February cover celebrated
the first year of publication, detailed
the many strides the community
had taken to further establish itself
here in Michigan, and again raised
the question about refugees returning
home. Unfortunately, the situation in
Iraq remains dire to this day.
In 2006, the cover for February
was about the changing faces of the
Chaldean community. The article went
in-depth exploring the community’s
past, present, and future. Church leaders
expressed the importance of maintaining
the Aramaic (Sureth) language
as a unique piece of culture.
2007 covered the mixed reaction
in the community to Saddam Hussein.
He was a brutal dictator in a land of
brutal dictators; however, Christians
were tolerated under Saddam, and he
even appointed one to his administration.
Politics is rarely ever clear cut.
The 2008 cover celebrated community
members that took an oath
to serve and protect—in other words,
Chaldean cops. These brave men and
women risk their lives in pursuit of the
greater good, and we all know it’s not
for the money.
Speaking of money, things weren’t
always going so well for Shenandoah
Country Club, and in 2009, massive
business debt was a sign of the times.
The cover story that year asked the
question: Will Shenandoah weather
the storm? Of course, we know that
‘Doah is alive and thriving, having just
gone private a few years back.
2010 was a year of reflection and
growth. The cover story detailed the
many changes in the community in the
decade previous, including the birth of
the newspaper, the Chaldean American
Chamber of Commerce, and the
Chaldean Community Foundation; the
opening of Shenandoah and the Chaldean
Cultural Center; and the massive
growth in the Church. The first decade
of the 21st century, one that many labeled,
“The Lost Decade,” was very,
very good to the Chaldean community.
Just as improvements in production
allow for more leisure time, advancements
in the community allow
for more sport. We were more than
willing to celebrate the accomplishments
of our youth and featured Justin
Meram, a soccer player who was drafted
in the first round (fifteenth overall)
in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Justin was
credited as the first Chaldean to advance
to play professional sports, went
on to become the first in major league
soccer history to be called up by Iraq.
In 2012, when everyone was talking
about “food deserts” across the country,
grocery store owners in Detroit and those
that represented them, such as AFPD
(Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers)
and the Chaldean American Chamber
of Commerce took offense. The AFPD
provided a map that showed the location
of all 86 stores in the city that qualified
as “groceries,” meaning they carried
fresh meat, produce, deli, dairy, and frozen
foods. At the 2023 CACC Awards Dinner,
Detroit City Council member Kwame
Kilpatrick Jr. acknowledged the role
Chaldean grocers played and credited
the store owners with “saving Detroit.”
That’s quite an endorsement!
2013 saw the birth of the February
“Wedding Guide,” which continued
with some variation through to 2020.
Exceptions included 2014, which was
the tenth anniversary edition; 2017,
which showcased four seasons of weddings;
and 2018, which looked at the
differences between modern day weddings
and weddings of the past.
2021 was all about Pope Francis’
historic visit to Iraq and the media
coverage the visit inspired. 2022 was
the year we brought you stunning photos
of Iraqi villages from photographer
Wilson Sarkis and began a 12-month
photo essay series. In 2023, we brought
the theme back to weddings and featured
some extraordinary marriages
that have stood the test of time.
We hope you enjoy every word and
photo!
34 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2024