Via Basel: Assyrians, What?


Assyrians, what?

Last week I wrote about writing, its origins, its impact in transforming humans, and a few lessons on how to live today. I usually wait a few weeks before my next column. Coincidentally or not, a play popped up in my immediate vicinity around that time. I heard about it from family and others but had not seen it. Well, last Saturday, along with a curious group of seekers from my building, we sauntered for less than a mile to the Lookingglass Theatre on the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue to experience it.  

I am not a theatre critic, so why post a comment on the play. I’ll give you a hint, its title: IRAQ, BUT FUNNY. Because it is only in the theatre until July 20th, I wanted others to know about and have a chance to be entertained, informed, and even changed by this dramatic, hilarious, tragic telling of a family’s story from two perspectives, insider and outsider, conquered and conqueror, oppressed and oppressor, etc….Most of history and information, we know, is written by the winners not losers, successful not dispossessed, and most important by the militarily powerful than the weaker ones. Now there are exceptions but that’s not my emphasis today. 

You may ask? What does this play have to do with writing and me personally? 

Iraq was called Mesopotamia once, and that is where writing first started 5500 years ago and with it what we call cities and civilizations. Although the play depicts only the last 100 years of history of Iraq, you can’t help the context of the larger longer one and the references the play makes to it. 

On a personal note, the play is about the story of an Assyrian family from the early 20th century till now, and my heritage is part of the Assyrian umbrella as stated in the program for the play under “Who Are The Assyrians?” 

No more details, suffice it to say whether you’re Assyrian or not, Iraqi or not, even American or not, this is a human story applicable to all of us. It will make you cry, laugh, and feel uncomfortable, but isn’t that what ART is supposed to do? To change in addition to inform and entertain.

Basel Al-Aswad, father of EIL founder Christopher Al-Aswad, is a yogi trapped in an Orthopedic Surgeon’s body. His loves in life include reading, writing, hiking, enjoying nature, meditation, and spending time with his large Iraqi family; now, semi-retired, he is exploring new avenues in medicine, education, public speaking, teaching, and social engagement.

Click this link for a digital program where the text won’t be blurry!




One response to “Via Basel: Assyrians, What?”

  1. Kevin Kuhn says:

    Basel,
    Hello! Thanks for educating me about Assyrians…and a good play.
    I hope our paths cross again soon.
    Hugs,
    Kevin Kuhn

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.