provincialism
Greetings, friends.
Perhaps some of you have noticed that I recently removed the term provincialism from my interests list. This is no regular shuffling of interests. I have actually decided recently that I no longer identify as provincial. Allow me to explain..
Most dictionaries define provincial as something like "Of or characteristic of people from the provinces; not fashionable or sophisticated [...] Limited in perspective; narrow and self-centered." However, I couldn't disagree more with this definition. I think it truly shows the bias or limits of our language sometimes when there is no word to describe the sense of alienation that people from outlying areas feel towards the "Centre" or urban areas. True, I do live in the Capital of the nation; but I rather still felt a sense of resentment towards larger megacities such as Montreal, Toronto, and New York City.
One by one I overcame my feelings. I wouldn't call it "growing"; there's nothing wrong with being suspicious of the forces that dominate our society. But I realized that Montreal was a beautiful place in a sense. And then I realized that Toronto too was not an ugly hole on the side of the world. It too has joy and sadness and little cafés.
I think what really changed me was, strangely enough, my reading of a bit of Yiddish literature recently. It made me realize that these cities (esp. NYC) are not simply bastions of power. They are giant communities of people from all walks of life, an actual country-within-a-country. When I saw fashions trickle down from NYC or Montreal; true, I always felt resentful. But when I read and came to realize just how much of our slang and our North American English actually originated from the linguistic mishmosh of Brooklyn or other boroughs--why, how could I remain angry? This language is my joy in life. I suddenly feel not so different from them.
The unpleasant "power" I hate is not in NYC or Montreal. It is in every city, in proportion to its size and economic importance. If I'm going to hate NYC, I might just as well hate Ottawa, or Winchester, or anywhere.
Now, to whoever will cure my suspicion of the USA and Europe, I will give you all the flowery gifts available to me.
Perhaps some of you have noticed that I recently removed the term provincialism from my interests list. This is no regular shuffling of interests. I have actually decided recently that I no longer identify as provincial. Allow me to explain..
Most dictionaries define provincial as something like "Of or characteristic of people from the provinces; not fashionable or sophisticated [...] Limited in perspective; narrow and self-centered." However, I couldn't disagree more with this definition. I think it truly shows the bias or limits of our language sometimes when there is no word to describe the sense of alienation that people from outlying areas feel towards the "Centre" or urban areas. True, I do live in the Capital of the nation; but I rather still felt a sense of resentment towards larger megacities such as Montreal, Toronto, and New York City.
One by one I overcame my feelings. I wouldn't call it "growing"; there's nothing wrong with being suspicious of the forces that dominate our society. But I realized that Montreal was a beautiful place in a sense. And then I realized that Toronto too was not an ugly hole on the side of the world. It too has joy and sadness and little cafés.
I think what really changed me was, strangely enough, my reading of a bit of Yiddish literature recently. It made me realize that these cities (esp. NYC) are not simply bastions of power. They are giant communities of people from all walks of life, an actual country-within-a-country. When I saw fashions trickle down from NYC or Montreal; true, I always felt resentful. But when I read and came to realize just how much of our slang and our North American English actually originated from the linguistic mishmosh of Brooklyn or other boroughs--why, how could I remain angry? This language is my joy in life. I suddenly feel not so different from them.
The unpleasant "power" I hate is not in NYC or Montreal. It is in every city, in proportion to its size and economic importance. If I'm going to hate NYC, I might just as well hate Ottawa, or Winchester, or anywhere.
Now, to whoever will cure my suspicion of the USA and Europe, I will give you all the flowery gifts available to me.