THE OCCITAN CULTURE REVINDICATES MORE THAN JUST A LANGUAGE

Last Saturday, December 10th was a meeting in Barbasta (Gascony) in the Northern part of The Pyrenean Isthmus. PIF was there as invited, attending a very interesting meeting in which the future of a possible organization of a civil movement in favor of the Occitan identity, culture and liberties was deeply debated, without exclusions of anybody.

The language used was the Occitan and some of its dialects like Gascon and Bearnes, Bigorro, naturally. There were around forty people of several points of the Pyrenean Isthmus, and in an atmosphere of cordiality, respect and freedom several plans for their future were discussed. We were there as guests and simple observers. It seems like they are intending to create a political party to compete in the next municipal elections of France at a Pyrenean Istmus level.. I shall keep you updated on that.

Below is one of their most important claims from the Pyrenean Isthmus point of view:

The diversity in favor of democracy.

If the subject of the Occitan language and its culture is at the center of attention of the Occitans, is not necessarily because they defend one language and one culture only, but because they believe the diversity of languages and cultures is necessary for the human development. The general idea that diversity in languages and cultures is the key for rebuilding a more balanced world in which each person can contribute their vision of the future based on their culture, their language, their history and their respect for other cultures.

The Occitanism is a movement that defends the idea that the cultures and languages of the planet are interdependents in their development and survival, that they enrich mutually.

The phenomenom of globalization that threats the planet will not cause, if it comes to it, anything but finish up the human capacity to come up with new solutions of development, adapted to each territory and its singular circumstance

For this reason, the Occitanism says: "the language we speak is patrimony of the humanity", just like all other languages and cultures.

The linguistic subject is a political matter as far as the life of languages goes. as well as their protection, their respect. and its influence over the means which the citizens ought to preserve for the necessary diversity for democracy.

The Occitan language is the sign of a territory, the foundation of an open culture. The language is not a private property of the Occitans born in their territory, but belongs to everyone who lives there. It is responsability of all to take care of the language, including those who do not speak it. A language is not something that pertains only to the ones who use it, but to the last ones who can be sure to be able to use it, develop it and transmit it.