It's so important that the first cultural offerings brought to this
continent by Europeans be reexamined. Some of the comments others have
made on the Sanet listserve endorsing the continued use of the word
"Farm" certainly are well-meaning. However, an unwillingness to
recognize the roots of language diminishes it's importance in
representing our reality.
As an indiginous person, I belive that the English language itself is
incapable of adequately conveying a balanced and respectful
relationship with Turtle Island. Thousand of years of human spiritual
journeying and practical understanding of this place was
systematically (and through unintentional disease introduction) almost
completely wiped out by European invaders. Perhaps if you learned some
Hopi or Chumash language you would gain crucial cultural insights.
Now that we as a human family of peoples can recognize and honor
diversity, it is time for the indiginous culture which remains to be
fully valued and unburdened by the conquistador oppression which has
burdened our lives for so long. Whether you want to acknowledge it or
not, the word "Farm" is a manifestation of that oppression. It's hard
to re-examine some of our most cherished cultural concepts, but if we
don't, ecological apocalypse approaches. Thanks to European science
and machines, we at least have analytic documentation of the suffering
of our mother the earth.
I recommend the Native Seed/SEARCH catalog as a good place to start
cultivating consciousness which existed here more or less in balance
for thousands of years.
And I'd like to see more comments on this crucial thread from other
Sanetters if there is such interest, a great way to transform
awareness perhaps quickly enough to survive.
Aho,
VLC
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