<div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=========================================================================<br>L O W L A N D S - L - 04 July 2008 - Volume 02<br style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">From: </span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="HcCDpe"><span class="EP8xU" style="color: rgb(121, 6, 25);">Mike Wintzer</span> <span class="lDACoc"><<a href="mailto:k9mw@yahoo.com">k9mw@yahoo.com</a>></span></span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Subject: </span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="HcCDpe">LL-L "Language politics" 2008.07.03 (08) [E]<br></span><p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
Hi Marcus, hi LLs,</p>
<p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Spoken from my heart, Marcus!</p>
<p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Just one provocative thought:</p>
<p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Isn't "culture" _copying_ others (your parents, your community...)</p>
<p style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Greetings 2Uall, Mike Wintzer</p><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">---------</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><font style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>>
<br>
Subject: Language politics<br><br>Good point, Mike, but in my opinion not in contradiction or provocation of Marcus' equally good point. In fact, I feel your point adds depth to his.<br><br>We are "programmed" to acquire our cultures (and languages) by imitation ... and by limitation. Stepping across the toed line can have dire consequences. In other words, both incentive and fear are involved. Watch social interaction among wolves, elephants, hyenas and other group or pack animals! I am convinced we belong to that category, are biologically conditioned that way. Unless you are pack leader material and feel confident to strike out by yourself and start a new pack, you just follow whatever leader you know. If a new leader comes along or breaks out of the pack you might follow him (or her in the case of hyenas) if you find his energy and smell better and his (or her) protection superior. It's all about perceived levels of security and advantage. R</span></font><font style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ethinking the <i>status quo</i>, </span></font><font style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">challenging a leader and breaking out of a given pack requires a lot of courage and conviction ... or stupidity. This is not sufficient. You have to exude a high level of strength, confidence and charisma to entice others to follow you, or else it would be you alone against the windmills.<br>
<br>The important part, in my opinion, is to get at least a good handful of energetic and charismatic people to join for a start, people others can relate to. It could well be that the Occitan movement managed to harness the force of</span></font><font style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> disaffected, rebellious, boisterous</span></font><font style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> youth (i.e. young people struggling with their own independence and leadership instincts). This tends to be more successful because of a stronger group drive among youths. (You can see this happening in the Obama campaign for instance.) But you have to actually appeal to that generation. You can't just keep pontificating in front of a bunch of tired, lethargic, resigned "old fogies" and expect everyone and their uncle to join you in changing the world. The "old fogies" that haven't forgotten to think outside the box and still have some spring left in their steps will join the younger crowd.<br>
<br>'Nough pontificated for a day ... or morning.<br><br>Regards,<br>Reinhard/Ron<br><br></span></font><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">