A few years ago I was "enlightened" by a Basque. Amongst the heated discussions about social programs, multi-national corporations, the purity and ancient nature of the true Basque people and the fact that everything that we know today was actually invented/discovered/coined/populated/grown/etc. by the Basque people, we began discussing the language, music and culture.

Basque is truly a unique language, which, it has been postulated by many linguists, stemmed from influence of neighboring regional languages (ie: Gascon, Castillian, etc.) mixed with a pidgen language adopted by Basque sailors to aid in communication at various ports around Europe and Africa. Regardless, this extremely old and (I must say) beautiful language is as unique as the people who speak it.

Without delving much deeper into the Basque culture (which would take way to long but is worth at least a Wikipedia search if not a visit to Bayonne, France!) I want to mention my most memorable Basque experience. Each year from the first Wednesday in August to the following Sunday countless people flock to Bayonne for the famous (and infamous) Fetes de Bayonne. Traditionally a celebration of freedom (The King Leon throws the keys of the city -and thus the power to govern- to the loving, partying people of Bayonne), les Fetes de Bayonne has become both a cultural activity and a drunken escapade full of fun and vomit. Not to be missed. A year and a half ago, in August 2006, my wife and I ventured into the city walls of Bayonne where we met up with some friends (Basque, American, French, British, Mexican) and had a great time.

In preperation, my abovementioned Basque friend sent me a CD of songs that I would absolutely hear and maybe want to join in on the singing during Les Fetes. He suggested that I learn as many of them (in Basque or French) as I can as it would be more fun. One song that stuck with me is called Txoria Txori -- commonly refered to as "Hegoak". Below you will find the lyrics and their rough English translation:


Hegoak ebaki banizkion
Neuria izango zen
Ez zuen aldegingo
Bainan horrela
Ez zen gehiago xoria izango
Eta nik
Xoria nuen maite
Eta nik,Eta nik
Xoria nuen maite

The bird, which is a bird
If I had cut her wings off
She would have been mine
She would not have flown away
But if I had done that
She would no longer be a bird
and for me, it is the bird that I loved

There are a couple interpretations for these poetic words - some much more obvious than others. The most obvious interpretation would be a man letting his lover go so that she can be who she is without changing. That one is simple. One could also read these lyrics in a political way -- the bird is the Basque country held by Spain and France, seeking freedom and independence. For me, however, the idea of identity preservation in any relationship is what stands out.

When we are in a relationship (not necessarily a marriage or sexual relationship but friendship, citizenship, membership in an organization, etc), there is a certain amount of respect for others necessary to preserve individualism and ultimately happiness. If you constantly try to mold and change people into what they are not in order to control them, you will lose what actually held you together. When I look around in the world today it is both fascinating and troublesome how the cutting of the wings has become common practice. I find that American culture breeds feelings of labeling, conforming, limiting and general sameness. Everyone strives to belong to a group, associate themselves with a label and most of all make people like they are - but at what cost? It is the differences in the world that make the place so unique and why that threatens people is beyond me.

Think about it next time that someone tells you that it is your responsibility to convert people to follow your belief system, the next time you read about a hate crime, the next time that the president insists on sending an army to a foreign country, or a Jihadist blows up people simply because they are different from him/her. We all have the right to be who we are without anyone cutting off our wings.