Gaelic Language attack

[Oldhiker]

Please read the following, and if you are so moved, let Mr. Charteris know how you feel by writing him at
john.charteris@dumgal.gov.uk

Please send this to anyone who may be interested.

Tory councillor dubs Gaelic “dead” language Dec 1 2010 by Doug Archibald, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A TORY councillor is under fire after a “dreadful” attack on the Gaelic language
John Charteris (pictured left) told members of the education committee on Thursday afternoon that the money the government is pumping into Gaelic should be diverted to improve modern language teaching across the country.

“You’re not going to speak Gaelic in Western Europe, I can assure you of that,” he said.

The councillor’s outspoken criticism was met with incredulity by Helen Edgar, last president of the An Comunn Gaidhealach club in Dumfries. “I think it was a dreadful thing to say,” she said.

“He’s not thinking about Scottish history.

“How can he say Gaelic is not spoken in Western Europe when so many people speak the language in the Highlands.”

Andrew Wilson, the council’s Gaelic development officer, said: “It’s very sad he feels that way.

“Are the Western Isles and the Highlands not in Western Europe?

“Gaelic is part of the culture of Scotland. It was brought here by the people who gave Scotland its name.

“Many of the names in Dumfries and Galloway derive from Gaelic.

“People are happy to hang on to aspects of the culture like the kilt, the pipes and tartan.

“It would be wrong to let the language die.”

Mr Wilson was appointed after the council successfully applied to the government for cash to develop Gaelic in the region.

“We have identified several people who can teach the language and classes will be starting soon,” Andrew added.

The education committee was told that cutting the specialist service of teaching modern languages in primary schools could save more than £450,000 over three years.

Dee ward councillor Tommy Jacques told members that, rather than cutting the service, it should get more money. Axing the service is eighth on a priority list of 19.

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks for posting this George!
I saw it earlier today in an email from Slighe nan Gaidheal, and was going to post it myself but got side tracked (so what's new ).

[beloitpiper]

An bhfuil Gaeilge agat, Oldhiker? Ní? Ní áitíonn tú. Ní chabhraíonn tú.


Béarlaoir aineolach.

[Woot22]

I don't want to seem like the bad guy here because I am in total agreement that the Gaelic language needs to be protected and preserved. However, I would hope my fellow US citizens would resist the temptation and not email this individual. Personally, I would be bothered if people from other countries wanted to tell the State of Tennessee how to spend our tax dollars. So I would not presume to tell any elected official in Scotland how to spend their money. Even though I agree the remarks the gentleman made seem to be very ignorant.

[BoldHighlander]

I don't want to seem like the bad guy here because I am in total agreement that the Gaelic language needs to be protected and preserved. However, I would hope my fellow US citizens would resist the temptation and not email this individual. Personally, I would be bothered if people from other countries wanted to tell the State of Tennessee how to spend our tax dollars. So I would not presume to tell any elected official in Scotland how to spend their money. Even though I agree the remarks the gentleman made seem to be very ignorant.

I wasn't planning to write, however I did plan to post this to make more people aware....George/Oldhiker just beat me to it

[Woot22]

I wasn't planning to write, however I did plan to post this to make more people aware....George/Oldhiker just beat me to it

Fair enough, and I do understand that we have many members on the forum that this would be a local issue for so in that regards it is good they are made aware of the issue.

[figheadair]

S'e amadan a th'ann. Bith mi a'sgriobhadh ris gun teagamh!

[figheadair]

S'e amadan a th'ann. Bith mi a'sgriobhadh ris gun teagamh!

And so I did!

Dear Mr Charteris,

I’ve recently read of your comments/attack on the funding of Gaelic and your view that it should be pumped into modern European languages.

Frankly I’m staggered, but not surprised, by your public display of ignorance. You obviously belong to the same camp as my erstwhile MP, Nicolas Fairbairn, whose description of Gaelic as being akin to sign language and something that a minority use to communicate amongst themselves rightly earned him the enmity of many and lost him a fair proportion of his vote.

I’m sure that I won’t be the first to point out that your comment that ‘You’re not going to speak Gaelic in Western Europe, I can assure you of that’ was both crass, and wrong. The last time I looked we were part of Western Europe.

Gaelic is a rich part of Scotland’s national identity and helps define who we are within the United Kingdom, Europe and the World. He who forgets his history forgets who he is! If you want to redirect money into languages I’d fully support that but can think of many other areas that could be cut.

Perhaps it’s fortunate for you I’m not a voter in your area because you’d have lost mine.

Yours sincerely

[Tenire]

Wow, that's really crappy. That would be akin to our government saying that Navajo was a dead language. (So dead that it got us through a World War... Ever heard of "The Windtalkers?) Sadly enough, there ARE people willing to turn funding towards things like Ebonics.

For those who are unaware, Navajo is a language that takes a lifetime to learn, and therefore, completely baffled the code-breakers of the Axis forces. The only drawback was that only the Navajo spoke it, and therefore, they had to be called into service alongside our soldiers.

Sadly enough, however, such facts are slowly being erased from our history textbooks here in the US. As our fellow poster Figheadair stated:

"He who forgets his history forgets who he is!"

[robbiethepiper]

Am reminded of a similar incident when a tory councillor declared on a radio program that "Northern Ireland is as much a part of the U.K. as Yorkskshire". I laughed because I spent most of my chidhood in Yorkshire and know that people there feel little in common with London and the south east. Unfortunately for them secession is not a viable option. I take comfort from the fact that Gaelic is thriving is thriving in Scotland, its use increasing every year.