Iraqi Government Welcomes Christmas Celebration

By DemocracyRules

h/t WorldNetDaily

The ancient name for Iraq was Assyria, and Christians have been there a very long time.

http://www.assyrianchristians.com/

Many Assyrian Christians still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.  They trace their roots to ancient Nineveh, described in the Bible, when the prophet Jonah was there.  Nineveh’s ruins are close to modern-day Mosul.  Many Jews lived in Assyria. Christianity emerged at the time of the apostles.  The original Assyrian Christian community were among the first to send missionaries to other nations.

picture: the Royal Library at Ninevah

I once met an Assyrian Christian family from Lebanon who spoke Aramaic amongst themselves.  Their ancestors came to Lebanon when Babylon collapsed following the death of Alexander the Great (ca. 275 BC).

Under Saddam, Christians faced persecution, threats, and genocide.  They were so persecuted, many Christians yearned ceaselessly for the US invasion.  They knew many would die in the coming war, but their lives were so horrible they wished for salvation at any cost.  Even if they died in the war, some of their people would survive, and that was enough to hope for.

Assyrian-American Rev. Ken Joseph, Jr. tells their story here.

http://assyrianchristians.com/i_was_wrong_mar_26_03.htm

He was a peace activist who came to see war as the only solution to Saddam’s nightmare.  After Operation Iraqi Freedom began, things got worse for a while because of the chaos and violence against “infidels.”

But this year is different

World Net Daily notes, “[To] celebrate Christmas 2008, the government formally recognized the Christian faith by sponsoring a Baghdad city-center party featuring a huge poster of Jesus suspended by a balloon and an artist creating oil paintings representing Jesus.”

The main celebration was held at a park in eastern Baghdad, with a Christmas tree and music.

Iraqi Official Khalaf expressed thanks for peace.  "Now that we have crossed that hurdle and destroyed the incubators of terrorism... and the security situation is good, we have to go back and strengthen community ties."

Father Saad Sirop Hanna, a Chaldean Christian priest, recalled the 28 days he was held by kidnappers in 2006, because of his Christianity.  "We are just attesting that things are changing in Baghdad, slowly, but we hope that this change actually is real. We will wait for the future to tell us the truth about this."

Rev. Ken Joseph said, "It's ironic that this was part of our whole struggle. We have fantastic support from the Iraqi side. They love the Christians... This is what victory looks like. Iraq has settled into what Condoleezza Rice called a 'multi-confessional' society, one that has begun to promote a religious tolerance that is unlike anything seen in that region in decades, if not centuries or ever."

Hot Air commented, "Can anyone imagine this celebration taking place with government support in any other Arab nation — even those normally described as 'moderate'? 

Not only does this celebration include the standard secular imagery of Santa Claus, they actually put a picture of Jesus Christ on a hot-air balloon. That's a big deal in a Muslim nation, where they object strenuously (and often violently) to iconography.  Suggesting that Iraqis are 'all Christians' on any day would get a Muslim fired or worse anyplace else in the region."

Pro Patria

Comments

[RENJINI]

HI TO ALL

HALLELUJAH,,, I AM SO HAPPY TO READ ALL MY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ABLE TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN IRAQ,, AND I WOULD SAY ONLY AMERICAN GOVT CAN DO THIS TO THE WORLD,, EVERY DAY I WILL PRAY FOR AMERICA AND LET THEM BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD

RENJI
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{From DR -- Dear Renji. Thanks for your comment.

Yes, I know, Iraqi's of all faiths have experienced terrible suffering. I am so glad that the situation has improved, for all peoples, and all faiths.

As for America bringing this to the world, yes, they have played a vital part. But the US can't force peace on the world. Only the people themselves can do that.

As the Assyrian-American Reverend notes in his book, "I was wrong", there was a time in Japan when the people welcomed the appearance of the B-29 bombers, because it was a sign that the war would soon be over. They hungered for peace, and when it came, they took up democracy with great enthusiasm.

Democracy and liberty don't gurantee happiness, but they make it possible to strive for happiness.

Pro Patria, and Merry Christmas!}

[Claudia]

I just wish that more of our News Media outlets would post stories like this and let the world know that the last 6 years have NOT been in vain.

Renjini,
Thank you for posting your thoughts and welcome to this site. I wish you would please come back and tell us more about you and your country in the future as we really do want to know you and learn about your hopes and dreams for Iraq. Thank you for being a giving soul who wants to be part of this forum.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACE on EARTH and especially in your part of the WORLD.

To all of our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the overseas bases and even bases in this Coutry, PEACE, LOVE and JOY to each and every one of you, YOU ARE ALL APPRECIATED VERY MUCH.

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{From DR -- And Merry Christmas to you to Claudia! And thank you for visiting Gina Cobb, with all your excellent comments!}