Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.04.2004, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 9. apríl 2004 • 5
An open letter to L-H
Nelson Gerrard
Arborg, MB
It is encouraging that so
many leel as I do about our
place in Canada and have
taken the time to express this
directly. However, without
belabouring points already
made and with the future
direction of L-H in mind, I
would like to ensure that my
concerns are not miscon-
strued.
First of all, I am among
the many readers of L-H who
think both highly and fondly
of our former editor Lillian
MacPherson and appreciate all
her good work and faithful
dedication — and I join
whole-heartedly in wishing
the very best for Lillian at a
difficult personal time.
My recðnt letter to L-H,
however, was not personal —
notwithstanding the unfortu-
nate timing — and neither is
this one. Both relate specifi-
cally to the policy of L-H as
the “official” voice of the Ice-
landic-Canadian and -Ameri-
can community.
On the issue of appropri-
ate terminology and tone for
our paper, it is important in
this context to make a clear
distinction between formal
and informal use of labels
such as “Icelanders.” On the
one hand, formal use in public
media such as L-H (our com-
munity’s “official” voice) or at
public events should reflect
appropriate civic spirit and
protocol. Informal banter
around home and among our-
selves, on the other hand, is
different matter entirely.
Of course, many of us still
refer to oursélves and each
other as “Icelanders” in an
unofficial, informal context,
with no disrespect to being
Canadian or American. This is
NOT the same thing, however,
as applying an overtly nation-
alistic label in a formal context
(i.e. Order of Canada) in a
public medium (L-H), and I
submit that this is not a choice
to be made on the basis of
headline length. Obviously
other options exist. Just as L-H
reflects our community to our
fellow Canadians and Ameri-
cans, the tone of our paper
reflects on our community.
With all due respect, I submit
that it is therefore not the pre-
rogative of any editor — past,
present, or future — to regard
the appropriateness or inap-
propriateness of the paper’s
tone and content
as a matter of
mere personal
preference.
As for “turns
of phrase,” I
think it is safe to
say that in calling
us “Vestir-
íslendingar” our
cousins in Ice-
land do so out of
a charitable sense
of hospitality and
kinship — and in that context
we feel honoured. Like a com-
pliment, however, this is not
something that is ours to
bestow upon ourselves. The
original term does have a place
in history, but the English
translation is both inappropri-
ate and unbefitting in 21st-cen-
tury North America — for a
variety of reasons that have
already been explored in L-H
for anyone who cares to give
the matter due consideration.
Just as in poetry, where lit-
eral translation fails miserably
to reflect meaning (and sounds
ridiculous), the attempt to use
the English translation of this
term as a “convenient” label
for contemporary Canadians
and Americans rings hollow
and fails to reflect who we
now are. In fact, this label
sends all the wrong signals
and raises several “red flags”
in a multicultural society. I am
certain that people in Iceland
understand this in the appro-
priate context, and in fact con-
temporary Icelanders share a
robust distain for what they
call þjóðernisrembingar
(chauvinism, jingoism).
Thankfully, as Lillian has
justifiably pointed out, readers
of L-H have indeed been
spared this sort of thing to a
great extent during her editor-
ship, and I trust that equally
good judgement will prevail in
the future. When valid issues
such as these dc arise in our
community, however, I would
suggest that it is inappropriate
to dismiss them as personal
peeves or mere
controversy of
value only as a
spectacle for
readers.
F i n a 1 1 y ,
editors and
boards of L-H
routinely solicit
feedback.
Some com-
ments are
g 1 o w i n g
endorsements
while others may be unduly
critical, but I would like to
think that constructive input,
regardless of its gist (specifi-
cally, regarding L-H's mast-
head), is in fact considered on
its individual merits and
indeed acted on when appro-
priate. What, otherwise, is the
point of requesting feedback?
Perhaps we are all a little
guilty of stubborn pride (how
typical would that be?), but if I
have written about these issues
before and take time to do so
again, it is not for the sake of
creating controversy 4>r spend-
ing valuable time, but because
vqlid and important distinc-
tions are at issue.
After all (and without
diminishing our affection for
things Icelandic in any way),
as contemporary Canadians
we should not only be mindful
of our proper place in the
country and society that sus-
tain us, we should unpresump-
tuously, respectfully, and
gratefully remember to reflect
this in the way we present our
community.
In fact, this
label sends
all the wrong
signals and
raises several
“red flags” in a
multicultural
society.
LÖ GBERG-HE JM SKRIN Glj
Playing Whist in Icelandic
Joyce (Sigurdson) Grant, Asta Smart, Willie Hutchinson and
Glori Borczach are four students from Portage la Prairie who are
studying the Icelandic language under Gunnvör Asmundson.
Here, they practice their new knowledge while playing Icelandic
Whist. Joyce, who grew up in the Bru area south-west of Cypress
River, first played the game with her grandmother over 70 years
ago.
DINEIN *TAKE OUT* CATERING
GREAT FAMILY DINING
GII & E\-cIyn Strac han
Gimli 642-8588
Ccnt.re Strect, 8e 2nd Avenue
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