Word play in aramaic and syriac

[DrawCloser]

We call it Aramaic, and that right belongs to us and us alone, not you. You are a foreigner and you can have the right to call your language by whatever name you choose. The Assyrians have been speaking Aramaic continuously for the last nearly three thousand years. It was called Aramaic during the empire, during Christ's time, today, and tomorrow. We don't call it "Syriac" and would appreciate it and take you more seriously if you don't, either.

For us, calling it "Syriac" is as offensive as calling us "Nestorians", "East Syrians", "Chaldeans", etc.....or calling you by a derogatory name for Italians. I hope you understand that I don't say this in a mean spirit, but one of instruction. You might not realize what a derogatory term "Syriac" is to Assyrians. You might as well call an African-American the N-word. If you never understood that, please understand it now. We are not "East Syriacs", we do not speak "Syriac", we are not "Chaldeans" nor "Arameans". We are Assyrians. And our language yesterday, today, and tomorrow is called Aramaic.

Hi Paul, not to be a smart-butt here, but could "Assyrian" be just as bad as "Syrian"? You know... they're both foreign in origin. Would it be better to refer to this group of people as "Ashurians" or "Ashuraye"?