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Location of the Basque Country (courtesy of Wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>\n
One of the reasons that language stands as such a crucial piece of culture in the Basque Country is that it is one of three recognized pre-indo-european\u00a0languages (alongside Lithuanian and Finnish). It is\u00a0thought to be the oldest language on earth, as it has no traceable origin. Whereas the roots of English are found in Latin, Greek, and German, and the roots of Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian are found in Latin, while Basque has roots only in earlier versions of Basque.<\/p>\n
Even though some speculate that Basque is connected in some way with Japanese, the unique historical experience of the Basques has set the identity on\u00a0its very own course. One thing we were taught about this people is that when the Romans were conquering northern Spain (then called\u00a0Vasconia), they did not see fit to attempt the defeat of the Basques, because of their strength and autonomy.\u00a0Their\u00a0history is riddled with other such stories of being tough fighters and suave negotiators.\u00a0Whether\u00a0these stories are true or based in some sort of mythology of the region, the self-perception remains. To themselves they are an independent region and people and, history seems to indicate, will continue to be for a long while.<\/p>\n
Thus, through language and history, a Basque people is\u00a0identified. It has\u00a0become\u00a0more evident to me now here than ever before the way in which these cultural\u00a0settings\u00a0affect the identity of members of society where the culture is propagated. No human being is born and raised without the influences of\u00a0both\u00a0language and culture effecting their identity. It is the cultural soup in which we all must swim if we are to be inhabitants of the earth. We are all in some\u00a0sense\u00a0products of our family, city, state, and country.<\/p>\n
As a young person looking for purpose in life the situation of Iker and his desire for a cause greater than himself resonated with me. What college student or\u00a018-25 year old\u00a0in the United States isn\u00b4t yearning or searching for greatness of purpose in some way or another? The main pursuit of some is their career, their pursuit of knowledge,\u00a0their\u00a0religion, or the helping of others to make this world a better place. Each one of us young people is searching for the way we can be of use to the world, and not simply fall subject to our culture, but to\u00a0rise up\u00a0and contribute our strong voice into actions over time.<\/p>\n
There is no person to whom the\u00a0responsibility\u00a0does not fall to find his calling and purpose. Let us, however, be aware of the strong forces of culture that could\u00a0be causes that lead to ruin. Though Iker and his best friend were drawn into the purposes of ETA,\u00a0a terrorist group that had become characterized by murder and violence, may we take this warning to be prudent and wise in considering our missions and reason for living, not only as citizens of the United States, but also as citizens of the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yesterday, we left the mainland we have come to know so well this past week and a half, and took a boat to the Isla Santa Clara, the “pearl” of La Concha Bay. There we swam at a “ghost beach” … Continue reading