We all have the right to speak our own language

(Letter to the South Wales Evening Post)

I can’t remember when a statement in the Evening Post has caused me more anger than G Levell’s contention that, “Languages other than English are divisive and the cause of wars” (‘English will unite the world’, Have Your Say, 31 October).

Such jingoistic claptrap borders on racism.

G Levell and all the other Welsh haters should note that the ‘UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ defines genocide (in part) as,  “Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities.” (Article 7(a))

Language is an intrinsic part of any culture.  To destroy the language is to destroy the culture.  To seek to do so deliberately is cultural genocide.

If G Levell doesn’t like the fact that Welsh people have the right under international law to speak their own language, perhaps he should consider moving to the USA, which he cites as a “template of this future” and where they have a general tendency to ignore international law.

Although with nearly 15% of the US population speaking Spanish as their first language, that might not be such a good idea!

Yours,

Keith M Ross

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