English = genocide?
Navajo Says English Equals GenocideThe president of the Navajo Nation says making English the official language of an American state is the same as committing genocide. With nearly 300,000 members the Navajos live on 27,000 miles that span across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. By treaty, they are a sovereign nation with their own government and laws but their schools and social programs are mainly funded by the United States Government.
Yet speaking English is offensive and, according to Navajo President Joe Shirley, it could wipe out his tribe. He actually said: "If that's not genocide, I don't know what is. We have our language, we have our color, we have our culture, our way of life, and we need help to preserve and protect that." 
Yet speaking English is offensive and, according to Navajo President Joe Shirley, it could wipe out his tribe. He actually said: "If that's not genocide, I don't know what is. We have our language, we have our color, we have our culture, our way of life, and we need help to preserve and protect that."
posted by Rob at 4:41 PM
4 Comments:
Writerfella here --
writerfella has known about and despised the US English Movement since the 1980s, realizing even that long ago such a movement would be detrimental to Native languages by ignoring that they even exist as integral parts of Native sovereign existences. If American English became the legal and official language on the Federal level, any and all recognition of Native tribes by the languages they speak would cease to exist. It would be yet another form of mongrelization that seems somehow to please the 'dominant culture' in 'the land of the free...'
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
I'd long heard the phrase "If you can't speak English, go back to your home country!" Stated in all seriousness, of course. However, when considered from a Native perspective (especially that of a Native language speaker), the phrase becomes hilariously ludicrous.
Also, to quote the draft resolution for a "Genocide Convention treaty": "The objectives of such a [plan of genocide] plan would be the disintegration of the political and social institutions, of culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence of national groups, and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups."
when will the American genocide end?
it began in the 15th century with the Spanish and it is still continued by the US in Colombia and Iraq ...
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