Last week I replied to a sort-of negative reaction to using Native American
images in a commercial (it could have been interpreted as free advertising
at a time when awareness of our "wonderful characteristics" could be to our
advantage, but it seems it was interpreted as a tresspass on our spirituality)
.... only the guy who designed the commercial knows what the intentions
were. My response was:
> > is to concentrate on our survival in 1992, and we NEED public sympathy
> > or at least public curiosity, not public apathy and boredom with "yet
> > another complaint" .... also known as "Ma ishtana ha layla hazeh"
> > ...
> > lyn
>
> I picked up the above phrase on NATIVENET. Can anyone explain the
> construction, tell me which word is which, and what language it is?
> Marion Gunn
>
> [ Wouldn't surprise me if the language is Yiddish. As for what it means,
> we'll have to ask Lyn. --Gary ]
o.k..... Gary is so bright! Yes, it is Yiddish .... transliterated, which
from the Passover Hagadah, where the youngest son asks the father, "why is
this night [or day] unlike any other night"..... I responded thusly because
it is a very easy way to say "what else is new?" [neu?]. Yes, we want our
spirituality respected and protected .... but you don't see the Japaneese
jumping up and down to protest "lack of respect" to Buddah, do you? As a
result, they are not labelled ....trouble makers..... less often.
lyn
[ Lyn wrote to tell me she'll be out of commission for about ten days, due
to an operation about to be performed on her wrist - seems she may have
one of those dread keyboard diseases. So don't be surprised if she can't
answer right away if anyone wants clarification on the above. I'm sure
she'd appreciate get-well wishes, though. --Gary ]