Really.
Every day I feel more at one with the Catalans.
This is weird though.
Someone today told me to, "Speak Christian."
This is actually a relatively grave insult from my understanding, and I presume it harkens back to the days of the expulsion of the Moors from Spain, and continued with expulsion of the Jews; which gives it a working and violent lifespan of around a 700 years or more. In recent times it has been used, and still is occasionally used, by Spanish speaking Spanish people (usually fairly right wing ones) against Catalans.
While Franco was in power, it was used quite commonly. The assumption being, of course, that you were not lovable in the eyes of God, were uncivilised and heathenish if you didn't speak Spanish. In all of these instances a certain level of threat was being invoked as well, in all of them fairly dire.
So, it is not a nice thing to say. Let's leave it at that.
I can also safely say it was said by a person from whom I have no concerns about his opinion...and never will. No threat was implied simply because of our relative age, and power.
Nonetheless he was swiftly and fiercely told. off.
And I got some great blog fodder out of it.
11 comments:
First of all, I'm sorry that happened! Glad you got some blog fodder from it. It always helps redeem a situation!
Secondly, last night I was watching a lecture (I'm a nerd like that), and the speaker was talking about MEANNESS. She said two things that struck a cord with me. 1. "Meanness has a history." 2. Meanness is a result of feeling threatened. The lecture was about ancient history!!!
When I read your account and the history behind it, I thought, "Aha! Maybe that speaker was actually on to something!"
This morning I came into class, and a student did something and I snapped at her. (I almost NEVER do that!) And I sat down and asked myself, "What made me feel threatened? And the damn answer was so obvious that I nearly fell out of my chair!
Good thing the student teacher was in charge!
Oh, and I'm not sure why "Christians" always feel so threatened and why they use threats against others. Makes me sad!
Fascinating insult - in terms of its history.
I hope you were able to tell him off in Catalan!
It's amazing how much blog fodder comes from fusses, fumbles and goofs isn't it?
Glad you didn't take any of his crap.
Sometimes it's perfectly appropriate to be snappish, raise your voice, or lose your temper. Glad to hear you stuck up for yourself (and blogged about it, too)!
This also provided material for my lesson with my night class (the kids who've failed English). We discussed when it's appropriate to be mean and when it's not. We came up with a lot of examples for both! It was so cool! Just wanted you to know that we had a great discussion and that your post inspired it.
That is a really remarkable insult, and succeeds in insulting you, Catalan, Christianity all in a few words. Quite economical and truly appalling.
She...oohh, where to start. It wasn't something that was even remotely going to bug me, so that was OK, but it was mean...partially because it was so thoughtless....he doesn't understand the depth of history and insult that he uttered, he just repeated what he hears....the dork. Interesting thought that meanness has history...often true, but worth thinking about whether it is always so...and the christians feeling threatened and mean...weird isn't it...between the teachings and the fact that they have a whole whack of the power you have to wonder....
Beth, no problem. I roll my r's something wicked when I am angry too.
Hula, blog fodder comes from the most amazing places...thankfully!
JG, and a good thing too, I have a good quick draw on anger when it is warranted...
Helen, I agree...it is highly economical and brings in some rather unattractive racist options as well were it said to a Jew or Muslim.....
Good for you!!
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