Collective Sigh (Ochenaid) Cymraeg

Here he goes again! Collective Sigh: Ochenaid the noo och aye. Was having a convo in a Cafe in Cardiff this afternoon and was discussing the Welsh Language in English. Half an hour previously I had been in an other establishment talking in Welsh and was met with disdainful looks by passers by to the table. Yes in the Capital City of Wales and I am not being paranoid. The second conversation went along the lines that if all Welsh Speakers were to wear the above badge then spontaneous conversations could be had by people who would otherwise not know you spoke it. Especially in the Capital City more conversations could be had between strangers. Life can be breathed into it by this one simple, small action. At the moment it is being taught in Secondary Schools but it stops generally at the school gates as people don't wish to be forced to do anything especially young people. There is a distinct lack of self confidence regarding the language. Surely as a nation it would be in our best interests to become a stronger bilingual nation but we must get over this obsession with England and the English and their yoke of oppression. The truth is that it happened all over the world. We just happen to have the Castles to prove it. In Cardiff on Saturday Welsh Nationhood will be tested to its absolute limits. For the urbane English it will be water off a duck's back whether they win or lose but unfortunately for us it is a matter of national pride and this is VERY unfortunate beacuse we appear to have nothing else to hang our collective three cornered hat upon. If we can strengthen Welsh Language and Identity then to use a footballing analogy success breeds success. The Assembly will become stronger and we will have a stronger more confident sense of self. You must have noticed that Alex Salmond and the S.N.P have become rather quiet of late because Scotland's membership of the EU will not be automatic should its people vote for Independence. Heart over Head we would all wish for Wales to be an Independent Nation but the rules of the Market apply unfortunately and with a population of 3 and 1/2 million people we do not pay enough tax into the collective Westminster coffers to be allowed that luxury at the moment. It is a duty upon every Welsh Speaker to now become an Ambassador for the language. To nurture and encourage Welsh Learners wherever they may be found. To wear the badge to encourage conversation in the street. I saw somebody wear the badge in Canton and we got into conversation. He was from Anglesey and had come to work in the Assembly. I conversed with two Nurses in Welsh at the Heath Hospital purely because they were wearing the badge. I would not have known otherwise and an opportunity would have been missed. I don't know about you but I feel better after I have spoken Welsh not to make money or to show off, just for its natural intrinsic value. For me it is like going back to the source of  the river and I do not wish to do it in bars and clubs where drink manufacturers will reap the benefits of me crying into my beer. If somebody has a problem with the native language as some do, that is their problem, not ours. They will have a problem with anything and anybody different to themselves.

 I won't translate this blog post into Welsh because in the words of the Cardiff Bigot

 "They all speaks English Anyway"