nunoncastors

With frightening efficiency Griff, Ifan and Betsan (hello by the way, it’s always nice to have new readers) descended upon yesterday’s glib post about horse abuse and nationalism to make a few observations. Chief among these is the fact that the BBC appears to have become lazy and feckless and that ‘Cai Maes Sais’ is gibberish in any language, especially Welsh.

I find this slightly alarming as I’m not used to sensible discourse cropping up here, it’s supposed to be all about me, my latent narcissism, and the conflicting rubbish that I like to spout. Please try to remember that, people.

Obviously I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a little exasperated with the BBC and it’s penchant for dumbing-down for quite a while now, to discover that they no longer check their output properly is, well, it’s a little upsetting, like having the rug pulled out from under you and your head kicked-in.

That said, there’s a part of me that’s highly suspicious about receiving three startlingly similar comments made, as if by rote, and without any apparent consideration for those that have gone before. My apologies if that offends, but they are very similar, you can’t blame a chap for stroking his chin and going ‘Hmm’ now can you?

Still, as the commenteers point out (and you can find them here by the way), ‘Cai Maes Sais’ means nothing in Welsh, which is interesting and raises a few questions. Obviously I know absolutely no Welsh beyond ‘Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn o lyswennod*’ so realistically it could be a diatribe about the state of the union for all I know, I’m inclined to believe Griff however as he translated, which was nice of him.

So, it doesn’t mean ‘English out’, which does make you wonder if it is indeed a Welsh Nationalist attack or just someone being a massive arse. I’m sure there is a distinction between the two.

Anyway, a few points about the comments. Firstly, I don’t understand why you all felt the need to slate the same translation service, granted it’s rubbish and Griff got there first (so this doesn’t really apply to you), but it just seems like you’ve an axe to grind or, potentially, that you’re the same unimaginative person. Please feel free to prove my suspicions false, it’s nothing personal, I just assume the worst.

That said, examples, yay!

Secondly, yes, I’d expect any self-respecting Welsh Nationalist to be able to read, write and speak Welsh otherwise what’s the point? However, as I’ve said previously, excessive nationalism isn’t exactly the realm of the enlightened. While it’s certainly possible that it’s a faked Welsh Nationalist attack, it’s also equally possible that it’s the work of some shaven-headed-tits who hate the English so much they’re able to overlook the fact they only speak our language. Either way, as Ifan pointed out, someone’s playing silly buggers.

Also, Griff, the owner injuring her own horse idea, no, just no.

Thirdly, and finally, unless I think of something else, I don’t really see how the story turns people against Welsh speakers, welsh Nationalists perhaps, but then the sort of person who will be turned against all Welsh Nationalists rather than the usual mental minority probably won’t grasp the argument anyway.

I can understand nationalism in a political context, self-rule and a chance to shape your own destiny is important, however it’s also needlessly divisive in our case. What, honestly, would be the point? Independence from the UK is a fine idea until you realise the economy wouldn’t support it, the situation’s much the same in Scotland, that’s without considering unemployment.

I’ve nothing against it mind you, if that’s what people want, but I often think it’s not so much about leaving the UK as it is about dragging control away from what is perceived as England. You know, despite the fact that we’re all the same country, the United Kingdom. At least, that’s what I’ve got on my passport; let me know if yours is any different.

I don’t know, perhaps I’m wrong, but in the UK talk of devolution always seems to smack of petulance over events that took place hundreds of years ago and didn’t affect any of us; it’s not like you hear me kicking off because Mercia’s no longer ruled from Tamworth is it? People should move on.

Protecting cultural identities is a different matter obviously; it’s something that I’m definitely in favour of, it wouldn’t do if we were all the same now would it? But nationalism, outside of the context of political independence, is something I’ve always thought of as being utterly pointless.

With regards to turning people against nationalists, particularly the sort active in the realms of graffiti, intimidation, anti-x attacks, excessive devotion to a nation and its interests, and the belief that one country is superior to all others, well, it’s hard to see how anyone could be for them, they’re idiots.

Ultimately though, attacking a horse = bad.
Graffiti gibberish = bad.
Intolerance and ignorance = bad.
That guy in the pub on Ynys Môn who refused to serve me a beer because I was English until my friends turned up and had a word in Welsh = Arsehole. It’s that sort of fuckwittery that angers people.

* My hovercraft is full of eels.