Images from Durango, Durango
Iñaki Zubeldia
2008ko abenduaren 07a
Dani Blanco
I took the title to my friend Juan Kruz, because Igerabide does have a nice book with this title. And with the cauldron that the Defense Agency for Equality has created, this repeated name comes in handy.
Durango is also the name that preserves our identity. During Franco’s time, when we were gathered in the portico or cimiento of the Church of Santa Maria, the Basque Country wanted to maintain its character, preserving and stimulating its language, literary creation, music, culture... Since then, the Durango Fair has evolved more commercially and things have changed quite a bit. All right, all right. It is true that today it has also been massified and transformed into a different kind of non-cultural meeting place. But can you imagine a Basque Country without the Durango Fair? With a hat or a pamela, as you like, because that's just props. If there was no Durango Fair, it would have to be invented. Otherwise our entire literature and music industry kaput. And where writers would publish their creative works. What materials would our students use in school? Erdar like in the old days? Those who have not known that time speak easily, but I do not wish anyone to return to those times. A people must encourage and support their creativity and the Gerediaga Association had this inspiration in the 1960s. Great efforts have been made since then to increase, improve and expand Basque production. Sometimes I find it hard to swallow several critical torpedoes, such as Xabier of the Anointers: “What is Durango for? What brings us? A place to maintain the industry and buy Christmas gifts? An important place for Basque culture? If it’s not for business, I won’t even bother.” These
words must be understood in their context, but I have no place here to include their full mention. However, they are very hard. It is true that this is also Durango, but isn’t that one of the characteristics of today’s society? That's just Durango. Don't people buy books, music and culture in Durango? If they buy, will at least some of them read, listen and enjoy our productions? Should we leave all this to the Yankees, the Spaniards or the French? What the hell is happening to us? Have we become mere partners? You Basque psychologists have a good job of decoupling all those involved.
Durango is also the name that preserves our identity. During Franco’s time, when we were gathered in the portico or cimiento of the Church of Santa Maria, the Basque Country wanted to maintain its character, preserving and stimulating its language, literary creation, music, culture... Since then, the Durango Fair has evolved more commercially and things have changed quite a bit. All right, all right. It is true that today it has also been massified and transformed into a different kind of non-cultural meeting place. But can you imagine a Basque Country without the Durango Fair? With a hat or a pamela, as you like, because that's just props. If there was no Durango Fair, it would have to be invented. Otherwise our entire literature and music industry kaput. And where writers would publish their creative works. What materials would our students use in school? Erdar like in the old days? Those who have not known that time speak easily, but I do not wish anyone to return to those times. A people must encourage and support their creativity and the Gerediaga Association had this inspiration in the 1960s. Great efforts have been made since then to increase, improve and expand Basque production. Sometimes I find it hard to swallow several critical torpedoes, such as Xabier of the Anointers: “What is Durango for? What brings us? A place to maintain the industry and buy Christmas gifts? An important place for Basque culture? If it’s not for business, I won’t even bother.” These
words must be understood in their context, but I have no place here to include their full mention. However, they are very hard. It is true that this is also Durango, but isn’t that one of the characteristics of today’s society? That's just Durango. Don't people buy books, music and culture in Durango? If they buy, will at least some of them read, listen and enjoy our productions? Should we leave all this to the Yankees, the Spaniards or the French? What the hell is happening to us? Have we become mere partners? You Basque psychologists have a good job of decoupling all those involved.