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If you don't know who Rep. Steve King (R) is you might want to look him up, then again you might not want to look up a man with such a ferocious character and views that seems to point to xenophobia and hatred of linguistic diversity.

Recently, I came across the website ProEnglish amidst some research I was doing on Bilingual education. I was surprised to see some very objectionable content on this website especially about Puerto Rico, and at one point an article on the site even claimed that Puerto Ricans "lacked linguistic ability" I'm afraid I don't understand how any people can lack linguistic ability, simply because they can't speak English doesn't mean they lack any linguistic ability, at least no more than Rep. Steve King does, so let's be honest in that respect.

Subsequently, I came across a horrid video on the website where Rep. Steve King claims that English embodies freedom, and that because of this horrendously racist and ignorant claim that this should make English the official language in all of the USA. These claims are horrible. Terrible. Deplorable! Who would make such a claim! He speaks of the wonderful "free" nature of English, as if it somehow embodies freedom. Well, unfortunately for Steve it's how one uses the language that makes it embody good things, not the language itself. As is typical for a politician Rep. King is using the free nature of English to promote something quite less than freedom, and is promoting a world of hegemonic domination by the Western English speaking world, and one that would destroy many of the beautiful languages of the world for no other reason than ignorance and fear of languages other than English. It seems that my comments were also censored by the video owner on youtube, because someone couldn't take my comments. Apparently the person hosting the videos on their youtube account doesn't believe in  freedom of speech, and doesn't believe in the power of language to create community, to interact, and to create dialogue. I find the censorship of my comments abhorrent and unacceptable. If Steve King or anyone that is affiliated with him happens to be hosting the videos, then they ought to be ashamed for something so undemocratic. Although as luck would have it the videos have very few views, which I think is only becoming of something that preaches such intolerance and ignorance.

I would also like to take the time to remind Rep. King that English is not autochthnous to the Americas, and that as a result we should have respect for that fact. Everyone should learn Navajo, Cherokee, or just allow people to speak whatever language they like. Linguistic diversity presents its certain problems, but it has a richness of culture and thought that should never be forgotten. I suppose Rep. King has also forgotten the roots of English in French and the numerous loan words from Arabic that are part of the English language. All languages are official, and no language should dominate any other in the USA, because  no language has the right to oppress any other. 

I will include the first part of the video below for clarification purpose, and in the case that I have misquoted any of Steve's words the video below will clarify:
 

The story of Al-Asma'i. Long ago there was a tyrant of king in the Middle East with an exquisite memory, nearly an eidetic, he could remember anything recited to him after hearing it only once. He prized memory over many things and thus his servants were expected to be the same his attendants could memorize anything after hearing anything only twice and his maids after only three times. The king loved all literature and the prosody of poetry was his greatest joy, so thus he decided to hold a contest. He challenged the poets in the land to write an original poem that he had not heard, and if any of the poets succeeded, then he would grant the winner gold equal to the weight of the material the poem was written on. 

Many poets accepted the challenge and came to the royal court with the poetry in hand ready to win the prize, but after each poet recited their poem the king then his servants and maids would recite the poem, thus proving that the poetry was not new. As word quickly spread that the challenge was now more difficult a young and talented poet heard of the peculiar challenge. Al-Asma'i thought of a poem that would surely be too difficult to be memorized quickly. He spent days in the hills off of a marble quarry writing his poem. His work was difficult and not easy, but after he had successfully finished the work he himself had memorized the poem.

Al-Asma'i journeyed to the court. He had never seen the immensity of the palace and was astonished at the beautiful artwork and architecture that adorned every space that the eye could journey upon. Vaulted ceilings and high doors with gemetric symbols and cascades of light keeping no corner obscure. Soon he made his way to the royal chamber. The king duly surprised, but ready prepared his court the hear the poet recite his master work.

The poet confident although afraid of the power of the royal court stood quietly, until a servant signaled him to begin. The poet began, "I will recite the song of the nightingale" and he began in Arabic, "Sow too safee bulbulee, heyaa abqul al-thamalee ..." he continued on and the court listened patiently. Dust settled lightly in the silence that surrounded the poet as he recited his poem with rythmic excellence. When he had finished the king began to recite the poem, slowly, but soon his words faltered and he erred. He commanded his servants to recite the poem, they too began the recitation, but soon their worlds also faltered. The maids began for the third time, but their words too became lost in the immensity of the poem.

The king relented. He spoke, "You have been a worthy challenger. So I will thusly reward you gold equal to the weight of the paper the poem was written upon."

Al-Asma'i replied in eagerness, "Ah, yes, but I have not written my work upon paper."

Confused the king replied, "Then where have you written it?"

Al-Asma'i now almost modest in his reply said only, "On the marble in the marble quarry near my village."

The king was duly surprised, but without alternative he was left only to pay the noble poet with all the gold in the kingdom.
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The above is an adaptation of a common story told in the Middle East. It was recounted to me by my friend in Saudi Arabia and then my friend in Kuwait. I have adapted the story a bit, and it's just a rough sketch of what this great story could really be. Enjoy. 

The poem that Al-Asma'i wrote below: 

The situation in Israel and Gaza is of great importance. There are so many conflicts from day to day between these people, as each side parades its wounds about displaying how barbaric each side is. I wonder when these people will realize that if they begin to fight no more, launch no more weapons, then the other side may realize something in their actions. I wish that the human penchant for revenge were not so strong, and people could learn that to gain peace they must bear the suffering, remain without violence, and then remain with the eyes of the world waiting for someone to have the compassion to help them for once. 

THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK

by: T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

LET us go then, you and I, 
When the evening is spread out against the sky 
Like a patient etherized upon a table; 
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, 
The muttering retreats 
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels 
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: 
Streets that follow like a tedious argument 
Of insidious intent 
To lead you to an overwhelming question ... 
Oh, do not ask, "What is it?"

I'm planning on learning Russian during the winter break, and then continuing during the summer through formal classes. I really don't know why, but I'm going to anyway. I also hope to continue with my Portuguese. I've learned quite a lot. Still so much to learn, but the university setting has really been very slow. Although I've been under a lot of stress lately despite it all. Nevertheless, there is still so much to learn, and especially for a language like Russian formal instruction is something I will benefit from.

Russian has a lot of interesting features. Of course, because the language still includes declension makes it quite a challenge, but one I'm ready for.

I've been very interested in the culture phenomena of the internet, particularly the community aspects that have been created through the web, and the implications it has for the world and people in general. Why it allows us to be have a degree of freedom unseen before in social expression, but also to remove social constraints of appearance, color, manner of speech, and even language and geographical barriers. It is the subject of so much development linking everyone with a computer to the digital revolution that has given us so much to look forward to.

I present a very interesting lecture from an anthropology professor and the work he has done. I was impressed with the video that he created before addressing digital text etc., and I'm quite happy to see that he had a whole lot more to say on the subject. It's such a fascinating subject. Do I see a video blog in my future? Probably not...

As I was speaking about yesterday my friend from Iran introduced me to the Iranian author Ferdowsi who wrote the very famous Shanameh know in English as the Epic of Kings.

Ferdowsi was a Persian poet renowned for his works, as well as a peculiar non-affinity to Islam, although he was a Muslim.

You can read the translation here at the Epic of Kings. Also, a bit more about Ferdowsi can be found at Wikipedia, as well as some additional information about the Shanmeh.

The ADL(Anti-Defamation League) a pro-Israel defense organization published an article recently on the Middle Eastern Antisemitism. You can read the small article and view cartoons illustrating this so-called Antisemitism right here at the ADL.

The defamation league does a great job of defaming the opinions espoused in these political cartoons, which for the most part I don't in the least consider to be antisemitic. Middle easterners are certainly not guiltless of being antisemitic. However, their points are perhaps more poignant and more humane than people care to acknowledge. The fact is if any of the presidential hopefuls were to come out against Israel and tell the truth about the horrifying crimes Israel has committed and the flagrantly unjust support that the United States has given to Israel to commit crimes against humanity with little restraint, then these candidates would be ousted. An unfortunate result of support a nation or a people because they have been discriminated against does not give them a free ride to commit the same acts against other people. These cartoons bring to light the obvious duality in our thinking, as if one people and nation has a right invade others because of a tragic past.

Certainly Israel is not the only responsible party for its acts, nor is it the only party guilty of crimes, but Israel as a state has certainly acted irresponsibly and without regard for human life or compassion for it.

I fail to understand how these cartoon do more than point out the obvious love affair of the United States with Israel for the mere fact that Jews inhabit Jerusalem. There is no antisemitism in admitting the power that this faction yields in American Politics.

An interesting blast from the past a photo that I found by way of Novo-Mundo shows a photo of a great group of buildings used to hold those dying from disease. The author of the photo writes,

"Town of the dead, North Ossetia, somewhere in caucasus mountains. A great plague wandered across area of current Ossetia in 16-18th century AD. Clans built houses for sick family members and kept them away there, while providing with food. People died there in slow, alone agony. Once they died, the made place for others. the "houses for dying" are filled with bones." dziadek.mroz

these seemingly quaint little homes are located somewhere in Russia. My geography is rusty, but the picture by the photographer is absolutely breathtaking. It brings to life the happenings there, the grief, the sorrow, the agony, and still perhaps some thoughts of hope within it all. A really interesting photo.

(Photo Courtesy dziadek.mroz)