Dr. Cole, great observations and points, but rather one-sided for those of us who study these Christian communities of the ME and/or belong to them. My first reaction to your post was "Chaldeans deserve this, for having voted for Trump. Just wait and see how they will pay for their Islamophobia." I spent the summer pleading with my Chaldean family and friends in Detroit to be aware of the stakes if they voted for Trump. Not much success. No logic could reverse that deeply entrenched Islamophobia. Back when they voted for Bush, they thought that by invading Iraq the U.S. would save their community there. They saw the results with their own eyes. What does it take to teach them a history lessons? A trip to the revived internment camps?
Dr. Cole, great observations and points, but rather one-sided for those of us who study these Christian communities of the ME and/or belong to them. My first reaction to your post was "Chaldeans deserve this, for having voted for Trump. Just wait and see how they will pay for their Islamophobia." I spent the summer pleading with my Chaldean family and friends in Detroit to be aware of the stakes if they voted for Trump. Not much success. No logic could reverse that deeply entrenched Islamophobia. Back when they voted for Bush, they thought that by invading Iraq the U.S. would save their community there. They saw the results with their own eyes. What does it take to teach them a history lessons? A trip to the revived internment camps?