ELL: Gaelic and the Commission for Racial Equality

[Matthew McDaniel]

Surely one aspect of communications in this world is that in the work here we
can make predictions, and observations, about work with the Akha based on what
we know about the Clearances.

Always it has been about the land and pressure on language is a kind of robbery
of the souls of a people and their identity.

I always wonder why some people are so insecure as to rush to silence another's
language.

Sooner or later the stones must cry out.

Matthew





David Wilson wrote:

> Matthew McDaniel wrote;
>
> > Imagine what people of dark skin and aboriginal race must feel like
> concerning
> > such similar behaviour against their language with not near the tools to
> fight
> > it with.
>
>     Yes, in some ways it might appear insignificant in comparison to some of
> the more overt ethnic and linguistic cleansing that's still occuring across
> the world, although, it has to be said, it's no less important to those who
> are experiencing it. What's happening with the Akha is an example of just
> how ruthless and systematic these things can be, and how difficult it can be
> to get redress, especially when it's hidden under deceptive titles such as
> "resettlement", "education", "progress" or "religious convertion". However,
> Gaelic experienced similar things in the past, just managing to survive
> things like the Highland Clearances. As we've seen, those who perpetrate
> language murder are no respecters of time or place, skin colour and race,
> and we have to combat them with whatever means are available to us in the
> situation we find ourselves in. What we're seeing today with Gaelic is the
> last dying embers of that historical hostilty being redressed through legal
> means, which, no doubt about it, we're lucky to have.
>
> > Yes, is rather discouraging.
>
>     On the contrary, I think it gives us some hope. Gaelic has been pulled
> back from the brink of extinction and is now making slow but sure advances.
> Your own work with the Akha is highlighting the issues around the world and
> many are taking action (I sent a letter just the other day to the Maesai
> Church). One thing I've noticed when campaigning for Gaelic, is that the
> perpetrators start to behave differently when they know their actions are
> being watched and monitored. And international pressure does have an effect,
> even if it seems painfully slow at times. Keep the faith ;-)
>
> sonas is adh ort,
> David Wilson.
>
> > David Wilson wrote:
> >
> > > A Chairdean (Dear Friends)
> > >
> > >     The Gaelic language now has many friends in Scotland and across the
> > > world. However, the following Press Release, which I read today, shows
> that
> > > the hostility and bigotry which drove the language to the brink of
> > > extinction is still alive and kicking.
> > >
> > >     What is described below could lead to a legal test case which,
> amongst
> > > other things, could prevent the Press in Scotland, which can often be
> > > hostile to Gaelic, from printing inflamatory statements........
> > >
> > > PRESS RELEASE
> > >
> > > COMHAIRLE NAN SGOILTEAN ARAICH
> > > THE GAELIC PRE-SCHOOL COUNCIL
> > >
> > > 11 July, 200. FOR IMMEDIATE USE
> > >
> > > Fionnlagh Macleoid, Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Araich
> > > (CNSA), the Gaelic Pre-school Council, has written to the Commission for
> > > Racial Equality, Scotland, (CRE) in respect of abuse directed at Gaelic
> and
> > > Gaelic-speakers.
> > > Mr. Macleoid's letter was precipitated by receipt of a highly abusive
> >
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