Lögberg-Heimskringla - 24.05.1985, Page 3

WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 24. MAÍ 1985-3
Letters to the Editor
Dear Jonas:
I am not a member of the Icelan-
dic National League, nor am I a Cana-
dian; however, I would like to re-
spond to the thoughts of Professor
Solli Sigurdson.
Professor Sigurdson wrote that the
Icelandic language should not be of
high priority. I disagree. The lan-
guage should be foremost on the list
of what should be preserved. Nearly
all of the literature and history of the
Icelandic immigrants is in the lan-
guage of the homeland. I would like
to see their work translated, and un-
til the translations are complete, the
language is very important. If our an-
cestors wrote in Spanish, French, or
German there would be no need to
attempt to preserve the language.
Spanish, French, and German are
taught everywhere. Icelandic is
taught at very few schools and
Universities in America. That fact
alone should be enough to make one
realize the importance of its preser-
vation. But Professor Sigurdson,
unlike many of us, grew up at a loca-
tion in which knowledge of the lan-
guage was easily acquired. I wonder
if his grandchildren will be so lucky.
Professor Sigurdson goes on to tell
:us that, to him, Thorrablot is a
meaningless tradition. I disagree.
Thorrablot is a celebration of all that
is Icelandic within us. It is not a
Christian celebration, nor is it a cele-
bration in honor of Iceland's in-
dependence. It is our personal
celebration in honor of our heritage.
As long as Thorrablot in Chicago
keeps its present format, my family
and I will continue to attend. How-
ever, if the celebration were to
become a celebration in honor of our
being American, we would stay
home and celebrate the Fourth of
July.
Professor Sigurdson also seems to
state that hé believes a select group
of words should be preserved: "Am-
ma, Afi, takk fyrir, elskan, teppi,
mjólk, kyssa, kofi, skammakrókur
and all the names of Icelandic food."
How can he possibly believe that
these words should be preserved but
not the language. Although I do have
a sentimental attachment to a few of
the words on his list, the limited
vocabulary that I carried from child-
hood into adulthood never gave me
the ability to read the words of my
grandparents, the sagas, the modern
literature of Iceland, or Saga Islen-
dinga í Vesturheimi. I am now study-
ing Old Icelandic in a class of one in
an attempt to be able to read the
literature of the immigrants as no one
in my area knows modern Icelandic.
It takes me hours to read each page,
but I usually do succeed. And I will
translate, if only for my children.
I could go on with this letter for a
long time, but I will stop after mak-
ing two additional points, both of
which are responses to Bob
Asgeirsson's article. I, too, believe it
is a pity that The Icelandic Canadian
seems to have received no support
from the Icelandic National League,
especially since the journal continues
to be published only as a result of the
love and devotion of a few people.
No one is paid for producing the
magazine, not even Axel Vopnfjord,
its editor, who has no office other
than his apartment. The Icelandic
Canadian is very important to the
preservation of Icelandic immigra-
tion history, as well as Icelandic
culture, as it publishes much that
would be lost if it did not exist, in-
cluding translations. Also, I would
like to see the Icelandic National
League give grants to individuals in-
volved in the study of Icelandic
immigration. However, as mentioned
previously, I am not a member and
I am not a Canadian. I am an Ameri-
can of Icelandic heritage and I am
very concerned.
Please allow me to add that "Tales
My Amma Told Me" by Indiana
Sigurdson and Thora Delaguis should
be published in book form, pre-
ferably with illustrations. These tales
are the one part of your newspaper
my entire family enjoys.
With kindest regards,
LaDonna Breidfjord Backmeyer
Dear Jonas:
I was very surprised to read in a re-
cent issue of the Lögberg-Heim-
skringla that I do not exist. Your
readers seem to have such a strong,
and may I add misplaced, faith in
your integrity as a news reporter that
it was only with considerable difficul-
ty that I managed to convince even
my wife and children, that I do, in
fact, exist, have not passed away, and
continue to conduct archeological
research in northern Manitoba.
I strongly suspect that your mean-
spirited denial of my existence was
influenced in no small part by some
Winnipeg-based anthropologists and
archaeologists who are deeply jealous
of my discovery. One of these fellows
is so sceptical of all Icelandic cultural
achievements that he has even gone
on record stating that real Vikings did
not have horns on their helmets! I am
sure that no right-minded Icelander
has ever believed this absurd and
ludicrous claim, except possibly a
few gullible Winnipeggers, but
anyone familiar with Guttormur's
poetry will tell you what sort of
Icelander a Winnipeg Icelander real-
ly is. My book The Symbolic Sig-
nificance of Horns on Icelandic
Helmets has sold very poorly in Win-
nipeg, but I am happy to say that it
has topped the Gimli best-seller list
for eight months now. I understand
that my little book has not only caus-
ed those men of true Viking spirit in
Gimli to wear their horned helmets
with pride, but has also resulted in
a sudden increase in reservations for
maternity ward beds in this fair
town.
It is my special pleasure to an-
Working To Keep Our Heritage Alive
CANADA ICELAND
FOUNDATION
SECRETARY: 1 - 204 - 475-8064
40 Garnet Bay
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 0L6
nounce not only that my Goose
Creek finding has proved to be an
authentic Viking campsite of the
tenth century, but also that I have
more recently discovered the re-
mains of a permanent Viking settle-
ment on Hecla Island. An especially
strong and clumsy golfer (from Ar-
borg) noticed some peculiar stone ar-
rangements when he went to replace
his divot on the fourth tee. He wise-
ly consulted yours truly, and the
result is an archaeological discovery
which may very well make the York
excavation seem insignificant.
For further details, your readers
will have to wait for the next Ice-
landic Canadian magazine. I am sure
that my good friend Axel Vopnfjord
will not mind my habit of spitting on
the floor and will not object to the
odour of my cigarettes (which are
not, as you reported, Mexican, but
Guatemalan) when I give him this
story. And I am sure he will not later
try to deny my very existence.
Yours truly,
Dr. H. Hvalfjord (R.L.B.)
CANADIAN FRÓN
Send membership fee of
$5.00 single or $ 10.00 family
to
Scandinavian Centre
764 Erin Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 2W4
Tclephone: 774-8047
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