Your Nation’s Psyche

I think that archetypically Basque people can be defined by the archetypical sepherd that lives a pretty much solitary life, possibly with his family, in his baserri at the mountains: reserved, honest, jealous of his little posessions and liberty yet solidarious, hardworking (not me ), likes to play handball and rural sports, dancing in the holidays at the yelling sound of trikitixa (a high pitched acordeon).



Fisherman and burgueois also make part of more specialized or evolved Basque archetypes, but after the artzain or sepherd, maybe the best allegory is that of the coal-maker, like the Olentzero (a Basque Santa Claus that likes to eat and drink and smoke in his pipe) or the one depicted in the classical film Tasio (based in a real life).



Basques maybe industrious but also like to gamble, specially in the so popular traditional sports.



Like lifting stones.

I think that in the late Middle Ages and early Modernity, Basques were assimilated by Christianity and that made them much more like the rest. But the main transition surely happens in the 19th century, when our liberties are crushed by the "liberals" (jacobines) and we are actually split in two. In this moment the inner regions lose importance in benefit of the coastal regions, specially Bilbao (in the north Baiona actually loses importance, lost its Navarrese market). There's a process of industralization and many people arrives in all the 20th century from other countries, speaking primarily other languages.

The last 50 years have been a struggle for recovery of identity and freedom - but seems pretty much doomed, despite the many efforts.

Originally posted by Maju I think that in the late Middle Ages and early Modernity, Basques were assimilated by Christianity and that made them much more like the rest. But the main transition surely happens in the 19th century, when our liberties are crushed by the "liberals" (jacobines) and we are actually split in two. In this moment the inner regions lose importance in benefit of the coastal regions, specially Bilbao (in the north Baiona actually loses importance, lost its Navarrese market). There's a process of industralization and many people arrives in all the 20th century from other countries, speaking primarily other languages. The last 50 years have been a struggle for recovery of identity and freedom - but seems pretty much doomed, despite the many efforts.

Well the IRA died.

And as one former nationalist said. Does a nationalist struggle have any relavance whatsoever in these days when we are all members of a European Union?

I think Rusmir Mahmutcehajic can explain it best. These are a few passages from a review of his book by Indraneel Sircar:

In this book, Mahmutcehajic examines the geopolitical and symbolic meanings of Bosnia. His basic thesis is that there are two opposing paradigms for Bosnia: Bosnian and anti-Bosnian. The former is the appreciation of �unity through diversity.�

According to Mahmutcehajic, the success of the destruction of Bosnia rests on the historical construction of a Muslim threat. Islam is the �Them� that impedes the unified �Us� in Europe, an incompatible world that is detrimental to Christendom (p. 6). Moreover, Muslims in Bosnia were converted to Islam while under Turkish rule, so that the Muslims become the remnants of some �outside� invasion, while Croatia and Serbia could be constructed back to "Tomislav�s Kingdom" in 924 and "Dusan�s Tsardom" from the thirteenth century respectively (pp. 2-3). Serb and Croat leaders from outside Bosnia were thus able to construct a history of two �peoples�, while constructing the threat of the Islamic �outsider� in the region, not only legitimating a three-way division of Bosnia, but also the "ethnic cleansing" of Bosniak Muslims. By accepting this three-way division, Bosnian leaders, including Bosniaks, confirmed the anti-Bosnian thesis. For Mahmutcehajic, the actions from outside and inside Bosnia resulted in division and the denial of a thousand-year history of the Bosnian nation and "unity in diversity". This is the denial of Bosnia.

At times, it seems Mahmutcehajic�s optimism does not engage with the deep wounds inflicted during the war that have divided the communities in Bosnia. The general election in 2000 confirmed that ethnic fault lines are difficult to transcend. Still, Mahmutcehajic�s work is compelling and provides insight into an alternative route to the reconstruction of Bosnia.

To describe Ireland would be to describe a crippled man who wears a blind fold so not to acknowledge his physical impairments.

 Ireland is a country, which claims to be a democracy but when the fog clears the underlying true nature of its essence appears which is a theocracy. Ireland is puppet-ed by Nationalistic fascists and Religious fanatics who have amalgamated together to promote their power.

Why?

This is an interesting topic,  more posts please

Edited by Pieinsky

And I think we have every right to be Nationalists. We were put down for 700 years I think we have the right to stand up and proclaim our pride to be Irish!

Queen Cleopatra I believe when a nation puts a price tag on its history with a price immensely high it clearly has nothing to offer in the present.

 When it constantly Harps its history as a way to define itself in the present, one conclude that the reason for doing so is because it is not achieving anything new in the contemporary.

 Yes, I do believe one should have pride in one�s nation if there is something to be proud of. However I think it is wrong to bedazzle oneself with their nations history and do nothing to contribute to their nation in the present. They could offer new things in the present by advancing the arts or the Sciences.

 I don�t believe a nation should have to attempt to hire government policies to differentiate it self from other nations for the sake of doing so. If another nation is good at literature or is more ahead of us in that subject that doesn�t mean we shouldn�t try to dis-clued that thing (say literature) from the properties of Irish Culture.

 I don�t believe in tradition for the sake of tradition, I am against the compulsory of the Irish language subject in school. It is ironic how all traditions do not start as tradition but rather as something new, in fact you could say a tradition is to start something new.

 

Do we live in the same country at all? How can you be so bitter ? Since when is Ireland fanatical about religon. I mean its important yes but for gods sake !

 

First of all, I believe in critical thinking, if you do not criticize your nation then you truly are not helping it because no nation can ever be perfect. Based on that premise one should locate the areas where the paint didn�t settle well and fix them.

Ireland is a theocracy. Any nation that forces its primary and secondary students to be taught religion in their schools is a theocracy. Since the order is coming from the government one can determine religion is pupating the Government.

And as for not being democratic I suppose that�s why have elections on every major issue and why the people get to choose who runs the place.

Who considers whats major?

Edited by Pieinsky - 18-May-2006 at 13:37

First of all, I believe in critical thinking, if you do not criticize your nation then you truly are not helping it because no nation can ever be perfect. Based on that premise one should locate the areas where the paint didn�t settle well and fix them. [quote]

I never said we were perfect far from it but I really don't see that we're as bad as you make out. Of course we have probelms that need to be tackled but

 I don�t believe a nation should have to attempt to hire government policies to differentiate it self from other nations for the sake of doing so. If another nation is good at literature or is more ahead of us in that subject that doesn�t mean we shouldn�t try to dis-clued that thing (say literature) from the properties of Irish Culture.[quote]

I'm not sure what you refer to here. What have we disculded ?

Queen Cleopatra I believe when a nation puts a price tag on its history with a price immensely high it clearly has nothing to offer in the present.

 When it constantly Harps its history as a way to define itself in the present, one conclude that the reason for doing so is because it is not achieving anything new in the contemporary.[quote]

 

So do you not think our History is important? Should we just ignore what happened in past and pretend like it never happened?

 

Originally posted by Maju Originally posted by Paul And as one former nationalist said. Does a nationalist struggle have any relavance whatsoever in these days when we are all members of a European Union? It does! We need Basque co-oficial at the highest levels. After all it's the oldest European language still alive.

Maybe you could get that, the way the EU is pushing minority languages. There's a special edition of the Official Journal in Irish - if you could get one in Basque they'd probably have to employ you as a translator or at least a proof-reader.

And if Basque, why not L�tzeb�rgesch?

Could some member(s)  please write on this topic what their view of the current psyche of Greece is.

Originally posted by Spartakus Hellens gave birth to Hellenism,and Hellenism is the only actual Force which brings balance between East and West.

The question is however whether we know to use this Force in the right way.Are we,the modern Hellens, able to use the Force of Hellenism?