The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1968, Síða 29

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
27
A small group of Icelanders of the first three years of New-Iceland, provided a pattern
which clearly showed the Icelandic mind at its best. (p. 150).
The two world giants, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Rep-
ublics rightly oppose geographic expansion by force. There can be penetrating economic ex-
pansion and there can be expansion through undue influence, both of which, in effect, may
border upon force, (p. 328).
There is one world and there is one God, one Creator, a Universal Mind—no matter
what words are used. (p. 328).
What is emerging as part of the integration (of the Icelanders), or perhaps in spite of it,
is a growing sense of duty to an asset—a cultural asset ... If the harvest, as revealed in the
statistics, appears to indicate that the Icelandic approach has found its way to Canada, then there
has been a continuity of the Icelandic Mind in Canada . . . Then the responsibility rests
upon all Canadians of Icelandic descent to maintain that distinctiveness and make known the
foundation upon which it rests. Then it matters little that the outer vestments are purely
Canadian, (p. 467).
EXTRACTS FRDM REVIEWS AND COMMENTS
I have now read the book and I find it extremely interesting. You have
gathered together a great deal of valuable material and, not only pertaining to
the Icelanders in Canada, (but also impressive quotations on the people as well
as the culture of Iceland in general. I am sure that your book will be referred
to widely in the future.
Sigurdur Helgason, President, Loftlei<5ir Icelandic Airlines, Inc., New York City
Mer {jykir serlega vaent um Jnessa bok af jtvi aS hun er svo glbggt og .skil-
merkilegt yfirlit yfir sogu, sem hillir uppi i meiri fjarska en onnur islenzk sam-
tiSarsaga, en hefur meSfram jress vegna ekki minna aSdrattarafl. I>aS ber og til,
aS 6g hef miklar maetur a hofundinum og se i hendi mer, Jrott eg hafi enn ekki
getaS lesiS bokina vandlega, aS hann hefur leyst af hendi mikiff verk .ser til
saemdar og oSrum til varanlegra nytja.
Sigurbjorn Einarsson, Bishop of Iceland.
Eg er alveg sammala jjrer um “islenzkan anda” (Icelandic Mind), sem aetti
aS geta lifaff afram, Jrdtt Vestur-lslendingar tyni moSurmalinu. . . . (He con-
tinued in English.) “To be an Icelander in Canada ultimately becomes a matter
of taste; just as one can cultivate a taste in exotic food, unusual poetry, or
.strange music, it is also possible to cultivate a taste for one’s remote national
heritage. It may involve the deliberate cultivation of sympathy for ones ancestors
arid what they stood for, but this is likely to be well-rewarded: such a pursuit
could not only give one a great deal of personal pleasure and satisfaction: I also
believe that it would have beneficial effects on one’s character.”
Dr. Hermann Ptilsson, Professor of Old Icelandic and Old Irish Studies in
the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
You have completed an enormous task and the book is an outstanding
achievement . . .
VilhjSlmur Thor, of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Develop-
ment, Washington, D.C.