#just because several european minorities have been either partially or fully subsumed by the national(ist) identity | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

saucerfulofsins · 5 months ago

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People vastly underestimate the number of minority/native/ethnic groups in Europe. The majority of these people have a strong sense of local identity, often with an independent history preceding the countrypnationality they currently fall under. Not all groups still strive for full independence, but several did at different points in the past, and others are finding ways to exercise the right to, for example, use their native (minority) language in court.

(Also these are the recognized groups, there are undoubtedly more not explicitly defined because the identity markers - such as the perceives difference between language and dialect - are less obvious)

I hope western leftists know that standing for a free Palestine is not the end of decolonization. I've seen far too many white leftists who proudly stand for freeing Palestine which is good but then get nervous and apprehensive at the idea of decolonizing the very land they are on. Norway will recognize Palestine but actively tear down Sámi liberation. Liberation for one people means it for us all. If you support Palestinian liberation but deny it for the Indigenous people of the land you're on then you didn't stand for Palestinians or any of us to begin with.

#and educate yourself on the history of indigenous oppression in your own state/country!!#just because several european minorities have been either partially or fully subsumed by the national(ist) identity #doesnt mean it's always been that case!#do you know which indigenous minority languages are spoken in your country #and which died out?#i know theres the perspective of indigenousness linked to people looking different (often PoC)#but Europeans gotta recognise thats not always the case #and the nationalist identity often twists real history in favour of the nationalist idea(l)#if you have negative preconceptions towards any of these minorities and/or languages they speak and/or their identity #dismantle that #my personal experience (frisian) means i know sometimes sharing a country (and to some extent national identity) can work #depending on the size of the minority and resources available #but also countries need to work harder to accept that local identities exist and should be accepted and respected and taught/talked about #in schools etc #because why is it okay to constantly tell me my accent in dutch is ugly and my first language is ugly #or to go stand in the corner simply for being frisian?#and i know that's a lot milder than the harrassment many people face!!!!!#the wars between holland and frisia are long over #but like #it still hurts #and it still feels part of the sliding scale into outright apartheid #and frankly i think ALL of this needs to be addressed because it's all part of the same system of beliefs #just to different degrees

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