Re: Hakka language,culture,survival,Jews

[edchan@vossnet.co.uk (Ted)]

On Dec 06, 1996 10:48:51, 'teoh@cs.utk.edu' wrote: 
 
 
>>From jow@mda.com.au Mon Dec  2 20:36:15 1996 
>Subject: Re: Hakka language,culture,survival,Jews 
> 
>[moderator:Please cc a copy to fhakka@asiawind.com  Thanks !] 
> 
>>>From Greg.Zeng@hotlinebbs.com.au Thu Nov 28 08:39:35 1996 
>>Subject: Re: Hakka language,culture,survival,Jews 
>> 
>>Secondly, we are Hakka not because of our first dictionary language.  
>>Some psychologists say that it is because f what they cal: "values".  I 
>>m not a psychologist.  I believe that "values" are transmitted, not be 
>>genetics, not by formal language, but other "memes" e.g. "baby 
>>language". 
>> 
> 
>This raises an interesting point. But what distinguishes Hakka "values"
from 
>Chinese or Han "values" (or Confucian values)? Hakkaness has so far been  
>defined by some subscribers of this list in terms of Hakka language  
>and culture. Whilst there is little argument that the Hakka language is 
>unique enough for it not to be branded as a dialect of Mandarin or
Cantonese, 
>it is not so obvious with Hakka culture. Hakka culture is Han culture,  
>isn't it? Even Hakka cuisine is unmistakeably southern Chinese.   
> 
>Does this mean that we are Hakka because we say so?  
 
I would say that 'we' are Hakka because of a common heritage and history. 
We share a common background in the fact that several hundred years  
ago, we were forced to flee Northern China to escape persecution and  
have suffered severe tragedies since.  Any so called 'persecution' 
today pales besides the millions of Hakka who died in the last two  
centuries. 
 
This unique history makes us Hakka.  Unfortunately, while adversity united 
the Jews and made them stronger, I know that, perhaps due to the  
Chinese 'mentality', many Hakka have forgotten or wanted to forget.  
Thus Hakka today try to grasp at such things as 'culture', 'language' (and 
even 'cusine') to define themselves. 
 
This is in contrast to the Jews.  Many Jews from completely different  
cultures, speaking completely different languages identify with 
each other because they share a common history, and thus enrich 
and strengthen themselves as a people. 
 
I respect the opinions of others who state that what defines a Hakka 
is simply language or culture and I agree that these items do  
contribute to 'Hakkaness', but I believe that our common heritage  
is what truely defines a Hakka. 
 
 
>-- 
>_____Josef Widjaja_____  MacDonald Dettwiler Pty. Ltd. 
>| jow@mda.com.au        | Level 9, 60 Miller St.,  
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