Ask a Basque Thread

[muhtesem insan]

I'm suprised ETA has so limited support the impression we have is different. So how is ETA seen nowadays. Are they respected for their struggle or seen as nutjobs?

 

[Josu]

Which model did you attend? Which model would you want your children to attend? (Or, if you already have children, which model are your children attending?)

How highly do you rank preservation of Basque language and culture when choosing a school or a political party?

I attended D model, completely in basque. However I attended high studies (an engeniering degree) completely in basque.

If I have children I would like them attending D model or B model.

Basque language and culture is highly important for me, I would never vote or choose a school who have not special care with basque culture

 

[Josu]

I'm suprised ETA has so limited support the impression we have is different. So how is ETA seen nowadays. Are they respected for their struggle or seen as nutjobs?

There is some people who respects them from their struggle, this people is the people who supports them. Nowadays there is a residual group, I would say that most people wants them to disolve.

 

[Josu]

Has Euskara changed much over the centuries?

Some languages, like English, have changed so much that if I travelled back 1000 years I would have enormous difficulty understanding people. But others, like Arabic (I think) or Greek, are still intellegible.

Sorry, Peter, I did not saw this message until today

Yes, Euskara has changed a lot over centuries.
Some post before I said that basque written literature is "young". First book written in basque is from 1545, it was written by Bernard Etxepare, and was called "Linguæ Vasconum Primitiæ" (Beginnings of the Basque Language) . It was a collection of poems written in Basque. You can see how much has the language changed, in this poem:

Original:

Berce gendec usteçuten
Ecin scribaçayteyen
Oray dute phorogatu
Euganatu cirela.

Standard Basque:

Bertze jendek uste zuten
ezin eskriba zaiteien
orain dute frogatu
enganatu zirela.

In English:

Other deemed it impossible
to write in Basque
now they have proof
that they were mistaken.


As you see text was speaking about the benefits of writting in basque.

After this book, some others come, there was a so-called golden years in XVII century.

The main problem of writting in basque at this years was that there were several basque dialects. There where some small differences between diferent dialects spoken in each valley. This happened because we have not had an unified and standarized basque language until XX century.
The project of standarization begun at beginings of XX century, and it was hard and long. People in basque language academy did not agree a standard for many years. Some of them considered that the standard should be similar to Lower Navarre dialect, as the beginings of basque literature happened in Lower Navarre. Finally a they made some kind of a mix with gipuzkoan dialiect, and called them batua (literally means unified). Gipuzkoa is in the middle of basque country, so the dialiect has more similaties with all other dialects that any other one. The project of standarization was allmost stopped during Franco's dictatoship, as any language diferent to Spanish (This includes catalan language and galician) was forbiden an prosecuted. However, in 1968, when Franco was still alive, a agreement over a standarization was arranged

Nowadays, we still have a controversy about this unified language, because some people thinks that it leads dialects to wipe out. However, Batua is the language touch in schools and basque language academies.

So as you see Euskera has changed a lot, not only over centuries, but over last years as well.

 

[Eniotna]

Do you like cycling? I've heard the Euskaltel team might drop its Basque-only policy. Do you know more about that?

 

[Masada]

You sir are awesome for being proud of being a small distinct culture and for not being an ass about it. That's rare, like unheard off. So hats off to you!

Also, Basque cuisine sounds freaking awesome.

*

A question, what do you think of people like Henri de Navarre/Henri IV King of France? How does he fit, if at all, into the Basque pantheon of cool Basque people?

 

[Josu]

Do you like cycling? I've heard the Euskaltel team might drop its Basque-only policy. Do you know more about that?

Yes. I like cycling, we have a big cycling tradition here in basque country. And yes, I have heard as well.
Let's talk a bit about Euskaltel's history in order to understand better this issue. As I said, there is big tradition here, on the 60's and 70's there were several basque sponsors in some cycling teams, for exaple KAS. In the 80's there was a economcial crisis, and there were no more professional sponsors. In 1993, Fundación Ciclista de Euskadi was created. The aim of this fundation was to promote basque riders, and if possible create a profesional team. This fundation was payd by particular associates, some small companies, and Basque Governmet. Some years later, Euskaltel, a "telco", entered as sponsor, increasing the amount of money for the team.

Nowadays, team's managemet, mostly people who pays more (euskaltel) has realised that they have to change policy if they want to grow as cycling team. I think that it is a mistake, because Euskaltel, as telco, operates just in basque country and some areas in Spain, where they are allready known, and it is being very hard for them entering in other areas, so i think that winning more races won't carry more bussines for the sponsor.

Furthermore, you will agree with me, if i say that there is no a team support tradition in cycling, that most people who loves cycling may support a rider, and cheers allmost every rider in the race. There is a diferent phenomenon with euskaltel, nowadays there is a sensation that Euskaltel is "our" team, people like me are associates of the foundation, we pay, we support, so that's why are they having this big support as team. With this decision they get out foundation from team, so we will support riders because we like cycling, but team won't continue being "our" team.

 

[Josu]

You sir are awesome for being proud of being a small distinct culture and for not being an ass about it. That's rare, like unheard off. So hats off to you!

I think that, best way of defending my culture is being informed and telling to the wolrd as it is.

Also, Basque cuisine sounds freaking awesome.

*

A question, what do you think of people like Henri de Navarre/Henri IV King of France? How does he fit, if at all, into the Basque pantheon of cool Basque people?

He is not in Basque pantheon of cool people. At least in mine. Probably it is because I have not too much information about Henri as King in Navarre, and kingdom of navarre in this years was just the region in the north form pirinees.
We have more information about Jeanne d'Albret, his mother, because she commissioned the translation of the new testament, into basque.

If you want some cool kings of navarre, you should read something about Íñigo Íñiguez Arista also know as Eneko Aritza (Eneko and Iñigo seems to be same name, and arista is an adaptation of Aritza, which means Oak), first king of Pamplona, or Sancho III

We have no a figure such as William Wallace. This is propably because most of basque generals and politicians made they work in Madrid or Paris. If you are interested in basque people who have some interesting or curious to tell, I have 3 names:
- Tomás de Zumalakarregi, carlist general. During carlist wars he defended the tradition, which was including basque charter. It is sayd that he could win the wars, but Carlos, the throne's pretendat he was defendig, did not hear his tips. He conquered allmost whole basque area, Bilbao and Vitoria were exceptions, and he advised to attack Vitoria instead of Bilbao, so that he could later win the area of Castilla and Madrid. However Carlos ordered an assault to Bilbao, which was more important than Vitoria. Zumalakarregi was wounded in Bilbao and died some weeks later. Carlos lost the war.
- Dominique Joseph Garat, basque from the french side, and french minister. He sent a mail to Napoleon defending the creation of a brand new country called New Phoenicia. He thought that basques were descendants of Phoenicians. So the country he was proposing was basque country. This story freaks me because it is very weird
-Lope de Agirre: Explorer, went to south america conquered some lands for the spanish king, and suddenly he "became mad" and rebelled against spanish monarch

Other, very interesting basque historic guys are in my opinion Arnauld de Oihenart and Juan Sebastian Elcano

 

[Masada]

Thanks! I appreciate the effort you put into that. And I know about Sancho II, he had a lot of potential. Shame it didn't work out in the end.

He is not in Basque pantheon of cool people. At least in mine. Probably it is because I have not too much information about Henri as King in Navarre, and kingdom of navarre in this years was just the region in the north form pirinees.

I thought Lower Navarre was Basque?

 

[Josu]

Thanks! I appreciate the effort you put into that. And I know about Sancho II, he had a lot of potential. Shame it didn't work out in the end.



I thought Lower Navarre was Basque?

Yes, lower navarre was the last part of kingdom of Navarre being independent and basque was spoken as well. After the conquer of Navarre by Castilla in 1512, Navarre get reduced to Lower Navarre, and the lords started to look to france, until Henry became the king of france about 70 years later. Propably this is the reason of why I don't have read much about Henri.

 

[Eniotna]

Yes. I like cycling, we have a big cycling tradition here in basque country. And yes, I have heard as well.
Let's talk a bit about Euskaltel's history in order to understand better this issue. As I said, there is big tradition here, on the 60's and 70's there were several basque sponsors in some cycling teams, for exaple KAS. In the 80's there was a economcial crisis, and there were no more professional sponsors. In 1993, Fundación Ciclista de Euskadi was created. The aim of this fundation was to promote basque riders, and if possible create a profesional team. This fundation was payd by particular associates, some small companies, and Basque Governmet. Some years later, Euskaltel, a "telco", entered as sponsor, increasing the amount of money for the team.

Nowadays, team's managemet, mostly people who pays more (euskaltel) has realised that they have to change policy if they want to grow as cycling team. I think that it is a mistake, because Euskaltel, as telco, operates just in basque country and some areas in Spain, where they are allready known, and it is being very hard for them entering in other areas, so i think that winning more races won't carry more bussines for the sponsor.

Furthermore, you will agree with me, if i say that there is no a team support tradition in cycling, that most people who loves cycling may support a rider, and cheers allmost every rider in the race. There is a diferent phenomenon with euskaltel, nowadays there is a sensation that Euskaltel is "our" team, people like me are associates of the foundation, we pay, we support, so that's why are they having this big support as team. With this decision they get out foundation from team, so we will support riders because we like cycling, but team won't continue being "our" team.

It's a real shame and I totally agree with you. Euskaltel is a pretty decent team right now imho. Sure, it's usually ranked in the top of the World Tour rankings but SSG and Anton are certainly world class cyclists. Maybe they're afraid to get out of the World Tour and risk not getting a wild card for the Tour de France? We should really do away with the World Tour, it doesn't make much sense anyway.

I do think there is some team support in cycling, but mostly with special teams that have been there for quite some time. I know Lotto and QuickStep are both popular in Belgium, and there's even a rivalry, especially during the Tour of Flanders. But it's true that Euskaltel is a special team in that regard. It's amazing to see all the Basque supporters cheering their team every year in the Pyrenees.

 

[Josu]

It's a real shame and I totally agree with you. Euskaltel is a pretty decent team right now imho. Sure, it's usually ranked in the top of the World Tour rankings but SSG and Anton are certainly world class cyclists. Maybe they're afraid to get out of the World Tour and risk not getting a wild card for the Tour de France? We should really do away with the World Tour, it doesn't make much sense anyway.

I do think there is some team support in cycling, but mostly with special teams that have been there for quite some time. I know Lotto and QuickStep are both popular in Belgium, and there's even a rivalry, especially during the Tour of Flanders. But it's true that Euskaltel is a special team in that regard. It's amazing to see all the Basque supporters cheering their team every year in the Pyrenees.

I agree with you. The problem is that they are afraid of getting out of the World Tour, so they have decided to forgot the initial aim of the team and forgot what cycling suppose in basque country.
If they are able to pay more for "foreigners", they should be able to keep all basque riders in team, and nowadays there are several young riders that hiring them would mean having a magnificent team: Igor Anton, Jonathan Catroviejo, Romain Sicard, Mikel Nieve, Beñat Intxausti, Amets Txurruka are all of them basques. Not "so young" people as Juan Manuel Garate, Xabier Zandio or Markel Irizar are basques as well. Samuel Sanchez is not basque, but he came being young to Basque country and ran in several youth categories in basque country, so he is accepted in euskatel's policy, so he must be included in this team as well. In my opinion it would be a very competitive team.

 

[Oerdin]

Can you send me some of that delicious Basque cheese?

 

[Josu]

Can you send me some of that delicious Basque cheese?

¿Idiazabal cheese?

You can buy it online here:
http://www.quesoidiazabal.com/
http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/prodview.aspx?prod=234S
http://euro.tienda.com/food/products/e-cs-46.html

All of them are D.O. (Denominación de origen), which means that they are protected by law, something like protected geographical status, so faking them is prosecuted.

For those who don't know about the cheese, this is a cheese made with sheep milk in the provinces of Gipuzkoa and Navarre.

 

[muhtesem insan]

How do general basque population feel about spanish people? Are they seen as enemies, or friends? Of course there are people in both extremes but i ask what an ordinary basque feels.
Who'll do you think win tonight? Barça or Madrid?

 

[Josu]

How do general basque population feel about spanish people? Are they seen as enemies, or friends? Of course there are people in both extremes but i ask what an ordinary basque feels.

People who is close to support to ETA see them as enemies and as people that denies our identity. In average I would see that people see them as any other people

Who'll do you think win tonight? Barça or Madrid?

Athletic Club!!
Athletic Club is playing tonight as well Cup match against Mallorca. I don't really care much about Barça or Madrid.
The match is in Madrid, so I think that Madrid will have their chances. I think that the second match in Barcelona, Barça will win. I am not sure about what team I want to pass. If Athletic reaches the final, it will probably be against this matches winner. In my opinion Barça plays better, but Madrid today is more efective, so it should be easier for us a final against Barça, or not?, I am not really sure. Madrid is playing fine in counterattack, and with awesome defense. We, as Athletic club, are palying really nice this year, but we are having some problemns against defensive teams, and playing better against teams that prefer attac, as Barcelona or Sevilla. Tthis season's Athletic-Barcelona and Sevilla-Athletic have been considered by media two of the best matches of the year 2011, if you have the chance I recomend you to watch both of them.

If you are interested in La Liga, please remenber that next Sunday Athletic Club will defeat Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu, or at least, we will try.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Athletic Club are my favorite Spanish club. I've watched about 8 of your games this season.

Anyway, I feel you are one of the few teams who can effectively counter Barca's gameplan, I think they'd be the preferred opposition. Either team would be very difficult though.

How do you feel about Bielsa's use of Javi as a defender and Bielsa as your manager in general?

 

[Berzerker]

what are Basque words for the sun, moon and planets and god(s) or spirits associated with them and why is the # 7 considered sacred? What's the Basque creation myth?

 

[Josu]

Athletic Club are my favorite Spanish club. I've watched about 8 of your games this season.

Anyway, I feel you are one of the few teams who can effectively counter Barca's gameplan, I think they'd be the preferred opposition. Either team would be very difficult though.

How do you feel about Bielsa's use of Javi as a defender and Bielsa as your manager in general?

As you know, Bielsa is known as "El Loco", the crazy, at the begining, when he started to use Javi as defender, many people thought that we were watching a reason of why is he called that way, now, I have realised thar he was not the "Loco", we were the Loco,

I think that Javi Martinez is so awesome player that he can play even as goalkeaper, and I have realised that as he is awesome as middlefielder, he is gorgeus as defender.

I don't know if you know one fact, in spain almost all teams are limited companies, which means that the stock holders are team owners, and they choose team's president/owner.Due to some historical reasons Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic club and Osasuna are non-commercial associations. In this clubs we have elections each 4 years, so that the "socios" or full members vote for a president.

Although, last 4 years were pretty good comparing the previous 4, we decided to introduce a new president, who came with Bielsa. It was an uncomfortable situation, because last year Caparros did a magnificient work.
So this year we have had some controversy around Bielsa, because there is many people who thinks that if something works, it must be changed. The season begining was not good, and Bielsa did not have many support, nowadays I think that there is no a soul in Bilbao who is not happy with the team (today we are more happy, yesterday we won 2-0).
Personaly, I think that Bielsa is going to make us bigger, and I am very satisfied with him, and his workteam

Curiously, the team's transformation begun when Javi started to play in defense. IMHO signing him is one of Athletic's best idea on last 10 years

 

[zjintz]

I think I have some basque in my family tree. From my grandmother side.

About Bilbao: Munain is a crack!.

My question: what about the beret?. is there some special reason why is so popular among your people?.