February Through the Years: Cover Stories 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!