A LESSON OF SUCCESS FROM KIRKUK

By: Dr. Sanharib Youkhanna Odisho

Introduction

At the very outset, I would like to say that the economic stability of the city of Kirkuk due to the rise of the oil industry and its superb management created the dynamics of prosperity, which, in turn, attracted diverse groups to work together, often with great harmony and collaboration. There were many reasons behind this harmony, but I think one of the foremost and most influential was the role of sports and athletics, which is the focus of my short presentation.

It is beyond any shadow of doubt that Kirkuk was one of the most athletic cities in Iraq. I think there are two major reasons to account for this high level sportsmanship. Firstly, the ethnically diversified nature of the population developed a very fair and humane way of competition through the team sports and athletism. Secondly, there were three major sources for the promotion of sports: A) Directorate of Education; B) The Army of its second division in Kirkuk]; and C) Iraq Petroleum Company, IPC. They all had intra-units, and cross-institutional competitions and annual sports days. These team sports and individual athletic competitions were the most constructive means of nurturing tolerant personalities that could develop friendships, which easily crossed the ethnic and religious boundaries. One can very justifiably credit athleticism for hundreds of cross-ethnic friendships in the city Kirkuk whose population was delicately, balanced with roughly 35%Turkmen, 30%Kurds, 20%Assyrians, 5%Arabs, 5% Armenians and 5% others. In fact, no single ethnic group formed the majority relative to rest of the ethnic groups. Thus the economic prosperity and the peacefully competitive situation was a golden opportunity for the Assyrians to work hard for the welfare of their families and children after long years of oppression, displacement and loss of homeland. It was equally a golden opportunity to use their talents creatively to prove to others that they are a nation of culture and civilization.

All those years of instability and lack of tranquility before and after World War I, followed by the loss of our homeland could not kill our spirits. For all the above reasons, few of our parents had an opportunity for success as we had in Kirkuk in the 50’s and 60’s.

LIFE IN KIRKUK

Living in peace for at least two decades, 60’s & 70’s, motivated our young people- with great support from our parents- to revitalize our heritage and culture side by side with the rest of the ethnic groups. We, the Assyrians, managed to improve in many respects including: Language, arts, education, leadership, and sports. Often, the other minorities looked at us with amazement and regarded us as an ideal example of minority to be followed. At times and for lack of more appropriate term,we were described as “English Balase” meaning “Zaaye-t- Inglisnaye”. This latter label was given because we were so good in the mastery of the English language. This English language proficiency and our high work ethics gave us an edge over the rest in getting jobs with IPC. Thanks to our parents who were very dedicated to our education. They insisted on continuing our formal education; besides, they encouraged us to learn English and Assyrian either in school, at home, or with a private tutor. A bright star in all this educational revival was the establishment of Kirkuk Assyrian school, which was the center for the native language education. We all remember the late Rabi Gibrrael. In fact, our social gathering here should serve as an honor to all those who established the school, supported it and finally contributed to the prosperity of our Assyrian community in Kirkuk.

Thus, during the decades of 50’s and 60’s, the Assyrian community managed to secure a high level of education for their children who soon became professionals in many fields of medicine, engineering, teaching privately owned business. All those professionals made their parents very proud and felt that their years of sacrifice were not in vain. Interestingly, the spirit of constructive and friendly competition among the different ethnic groups was one of the main reasons why the Assyrians not only succeeded in the competition, but they also excelled. Just imagine, we as the minority had to learn not only the languages of the majorities, but also fully master their tradition and culture. We were truly multilingual and multicultural and our professional and economic success were the primary reasons why we had the time to work for the maintenance of our language, culture, and religion.

KIRKUK’S SPORTS PERSONALITIES

As I pointed out earlier on, the focus of this presentation is on the field of sports and athletics a subject so dear to my heart. This was a field to which the Assyrian community in Kirkuk paid so much attention. This connection between the Assyrian community as a minority and athletics, in general, is historically, socially, and economically not an unfamiliar trend. In fact, even globally, it is so common that minorities usually like to compete in areas and fields were the majority does not offer them with many opportunities. The excellence of the Assyrians in sports and athletics is very reminiscent of the situation of African Americans in the United States, in particular. The sky of sports in athletics in Kirkuk was bright with too many Assyrian stars to be counted. However, it is important to mention a few of them. Among such bright stars were Ishaq Yacoob, a gentlemen with great sense of humor and pride; Youarish Ishak Benyamin, the famous and most cunning soccer player; The track and field champions Benyamin Youkhanna also known as Benyamin Julia, the brothers Alfred and Youab Ishaq and their neighbor Awshalim (Awsho). Special mention should be made of the latecomer to Kirkuk, the prominent national soccer player, and coach Aram Karam. Even in tennis, which at the time was regarded as a high class and elite game, we had Assyrians who excelled in playing the game and won championships such as Awilkom Goerge Lazar and John Shimshon. With the opening of I.P.C.’s Technical training center, there was a huge boost of athleticism. The brothers Marcus Oshana and Leon Oshana, Sargon Lewie, and Benyamin Youkhanna were excellent athletes.

At this juncture, it is also important to highlight the role of the Assyrian women in sports. Among the most famous names that come to mind is the Assyrian physical education teacher Mrs. Mable Youkhanna Odisho who dedicated her life for promoting girls sports in the city of Kirkuk and later on in the capital Baghdad. Mable’s teams, mostly made up of Assyrian girls, swept every year’s medals or trophies and captured the championship of all the schools in Kirkuk and in Baghdad. Her teams won the basketball, volley-ball, badminton, table-tennis and several track and field championships. Mable also played an important role in liberating women’s sports from excessive strictness on women’s sports wear. As a coach, Mable was the first women in Iraq to allow her girls to wear sports shorts. For all those achievements, Mable was repeatedly awarded Iraq’s highest medallions, trophies, and certificates of achievements.

All the above description of sportsmanship and athletic achievements of the Assyrians in Kirkuk had a major impact on the nurturing and shaping of the personality of a Kirkukli Assyrian. Most of us, as well as many of our friends, who grew up in Kirkuk where good achievers highly disciplined and very productive in whatever profession we chose to pursue? This only leads to one important conclusion: that sportsmanship is nothing but a tool for building up good personality and solid character. Sportsmanship is one of the most effective means of developing a balanced personality, especially among young people. Thus, discipline, self-esteem, self-confidence, and above all, leadership are the direct outcomes of a balanced personality. Young people with the above qualities are only the ones who are capable of setting up goals, pursue them, and achieve them.

THE LESSON OF KIRKUK

It is about time we ask the following question: What lesson, if any, does our life in Kirkuk teach us and teach our children now that we are living dispersed in the countries away from our native land? The answer is that our history in Kirkuk should really remind us of our hard work, determination, and persistence to achieve our long-term goals. Unfortunately, many of us as parents and many of our children while living in the so-called western countries have forgotten the lesson of Kirkuk. We, and our children do not have long-term plans and we do not set major goals for future. Most of us simply plan and live one day, one month, or one year at a time. Do we, for instance, have a long-term plan to involve in the political life of the countries of our present residence? It certainly, does not look like we have. How many of us encourage our children to proceed towards higher degrees and not to stop at the level of a Bachelor? How many of our Assyrian children have received PhD. degrees while in Canada and United states? Very few; in fact, statistically, there were more Assyrians who received doctoral degrees while in Iraq than here. Of those I remember, Dr. Younathan Youash, Dr. Emmanuel Silmo, Dr. Sanharib Youkhanna Odish , Dr. Edward Youkhanna Odisho, Dr. Hormiz Mooshi, Dr. Paulis well known. I truly apologize for not naming other distinguished athletes.

Finally, .importantly for our children, we should really listen to our children so that they will listen to us. Communication is always a two way street. If you do not know how to listen you cannot teach someone else to listen to you. We should encourage to pursue education until the highest degree is received or the highest competency is achieved.

Finally, I love to look forward to the day when I can see some Assyrian names in higher academic, educational, industrial or in parliament and business positions. It is then, I believe, I would be convinced that we learned the lesson of Kirkuk and that the eternal fires of Kirkuk have served to brighten our lives in these countries away from home.