Mos·lem (mŏz′ləm, mŏs′-) A believer in or adherent of Islam.

“A Muslim in Arabic means”one who gives himself to God,” and is by definition, someone who adheres to Islam. By contrast, a Moslem in Arabic means”one who is evil and unjust” when the word is pronounced, as it is in English, Mozlem with a z.”

I wanted to address my use of the word Moslem. It is an adjective as opposed to Muslim, being a noun. Moslem was previously the excepted term, until pressure from Islamic groups to upgrade to the more acceptable noun version.  In my previous post, I intentionally used the former.

Babylon. Gilgamesh. Nineveh. Mesopotamia. Jonah and the Wale.  The Assyrian Empire. The roots of the Assyrian people can be traced to around 2,350 BCE. The language is Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. In its glory days, the kingdom included Babylon, and part of modern-day Lebanon, modern-day Israel and Palestine, earning them numerous mentions in the Hebrew Bible as well as the Christian Bible.

Growing up, I remember hearing so many horrific stories. Stories of the genocide that continues still today.  My aunt, as a baby was left behind during the escape. My grandmother had 5 children and could not manage them all. Fortunately, another group heard her cries, as they made their way through, and rescued her. I wish I had paid better attention to the older generations who lived through the brutality and even lost loved ones to it.

Historical data of Genocide:

From 1842-1845, during the Massacres of Badr Khan, the Kurds butchered the Assyrians; 23,000 Assyrians were murdered in the year 1860 alone.

1895-1896 the Turks and Kurds butchered Assyrians in Diyarbakir and Urhoy.  Some 25,000 Assyrians were murdered in this massacre.

1915, nicknamed the “Year of the Sword,” or “Seyfo” meaning sword, Ottoman Turks had murdered an estimated 100,000 Assyrians. 

Unfortunately, this list goes on and on.  Most recently, isis (also referred to as Daesh – a derogatory term for the barbarians) destroyed historic archeological sites and artifacts. They marked the letter N (ن) on the homes of Christians, referencing Nazarene. It was another blow to the few that remain in our ancient ancestral home.  More than 150,000 lived in Iraq before isis. Many are still held captive today.  The reason for the genocide, the cradle of civilization, the oldest Christians alive.

What does this have to do with my use of Moslem as opposed to Muslim?  Do you have to ask.

A little background

On my daughters suggestion, I created this account to share some thoughts, but I’m wondering who will read them?  Oh well, here it goes….

My father, the bravest man I know, had the foresight to recognize the danger of raising his two daughters in an ever-growing hostile environment toward Christians living in the Middle East.  He spent about two years, formulating his plan, filling out forms, standing in long lines at the embassy, gathering the necessary documents required to approve our immigration.  Back in the 70’s, America had a strict merit-based immigration policy.  We had to prove financial stability, that we would not be a drain on the welfare system; he had to secure a job prior to arrival.   Asylum based on religion was not an option.  After two years, substantial costs, and endless hours at the embassy, our family was finally granted green cards.

Father taught us to love America before we came to America.  He spoke of it with great adulation, as the place of hope, opportunity, a brilliant future.  He said he wanted his daughters raised in a Christian country.  His fear was that his blue-eyed daughters would be forced into marriage to a Moslem.  Every dinner conversation was about our new country, our new home.   My mother was not on board.  She didn’t want to leave her family, everything she had ever known.  After all, this was our ancestral home long before it was overtaken by the Persian Empire.