[PLUG-TALK] Re: [PLUG] Sounds good to me ;)

Jeme A Brelin jeme at brelin.net
Tue Jun 18 20:18:16 UTC 2002


On Tue, 18 Jun 2002, Craighead, Scot D wrote:
> >They have an official language which is the language that evolved in that
> >region in ancient times.  The official language is an attempt at
> >preservation of an ancient and venerated culture in order to counteract
> >trends of dominance which can wax and wane through centuries.
> 
> So it's OK for them, but not us.

Which ancient and venerated culture which carries a language that evolved
in this region in ancient times shall we preserve through our law and
tradition?

Iriquois?  Navajo?  Apache?  Cree?  Sioux?  Seminole?  Cherokee?  Hopi?  
Payute?  Wanatchee?  Tankowa?  Catowa?

No, you think that we should make our nation work to preserve the language
and culture of the imperialist conquerors who already have dozens of
nations with their language as the official language and their legal
tradition as the official legal tradition.

I assert that we have no responsibility to work to preserve that language
and culture because it is in no danger whatsoever.  One needs only travel
to England or one of the many Commonwealth nations to see its preservation
in action.

Perhaps if we'd original chosen the Catowa as our venerated tradition, we
wouldn't be having this conversation today, since the Catowan word for
themselves was the same as their word for "people" and their word for
non-Catowans was the same as their word for "friend".  This discussion
would have a completely different town if we all automatically translated
the word "foreigner" as "friend".  (Oddly enough, the word in english that
comes directly from the Catowan word for friend/foreigner/alien is
"Texan".)

Or perhaps if we'd chosen the Iriquois tradition, we wouldn't be in such a
terrible state with respect to our natural environment.  After all,
Jefferson preserved (and revered) the rich tradition of Iriquois law and
wrote down for us, in the language he and I share, this gem:  Let every
decision be made with consideration of the seventh generation, even if it
requires skin as thick as the bark of a pine.  In other words, tough it
out, this is not your world, but the world of tomorrow's children.

J.
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     Jeme A Brelin
    jeme at brelin.net
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