Article

2007-08-25 Europe

Car bomb explodes in Basque city in Spain; separatist group ETA blamed

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Posted by Fred 2007-08-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 I wonder how the Basque feel about being compared to muzzies? I wonder if the Basque people are ripe for conversion to Islam?

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-08-25 15:32|| 2007-08-25 15:32|| Front Page Top

#2 Based on reading about Basque history and culture, I don't think they are likely converts.

This is a people that quite likely are direct descendents of the original Cro Magnon humans in western Europe. They have distinctive faces, a language that cannot reliably be affiliated to any other known language in existence, a unique profile of blood types (many Rh negatives) and a culture and remaining homeland they defend fiercely. They give allegiance, not to a country or an ideology, but literally to a 'house' etxea, a clan symbolized by their ancestral homes which are given names of their own. Two Basques introduce themselves not by surname but by the name of their family house even if that building is no longer standing. A well known modern Basque poem goes, in English,

I shall defend the house of my father,
against wolves, against draft, against usury, against the law.

I shall defend the house of my father.

I shall lose cattle, orchards, pine groves,
I shall lose interest, income, dividends,
but I shall defend the house of my father.

They will take my weapons and with my hands I shall defend the house of my father,
they will cut off my hands and with my arms I shall defend the house of my father,
they will leave me armless, without shoulders, without chest
and with my soul I shall defend the house of my father.

I shall die; my soul will be lost; my descendents will be lost,

but the house of my father will endure on its feet.

ETA might perhaps consider some operational coordination with jihadis. But for their own purposes, not as converts. The Basques are not likely to embrace their dissolution into a caliphate.

Ignatius of Loyala, founder of the Jesuits, was Basque and is still highly revered there, although not necessarily by the ETA types.

Posted by lotp 2007-08-25 16:15|| 2007-08-25 16:15|| Front Page Top

#3 Another reason that I doubt Basques are good candidates for conversion to Islam is that among traditional Basque families women have an homored place as well as men.

For instance, traditionally each etxea has an etxekandere, an older woman who is seen as the spiritual head of the house and who looks after blessings and prayers for all members of the family, living and the dead buried in the house burial ground. This is true even in devoutly Catholic families, or so I've read.

Somehow it's hard to see your basic sexually screwed up jihadi dealing well with a people who stubbornly endure on their own terms even while in many cases doing quite well as explorers, capitalists and outstanding seamen.

Posted by lotp 2007-08-25 16:28|| 2007-08-25 16:28|| Front Page Top

#4 tis but a scratch!

Posted by Unutle McGurque8861 2007-08-25 16:55|| 2007-08-25 16:55|| Front Page Top

#5 ;-)

Posted by lotp 2007-08-25 18:56|| 2007-08-25 18:56|| Front Page Top

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