Peace. It is so refreshing to have this word connected with groups that, unfortunately, have been associated with violent struggles for so long. At 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Special Events Center at Boise State University, Father Alec Reid, director of the Redemptorist Peace Ministry and a facilitator of peace talks in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country, will speak on the peace process in these regions. Besides the benefits of being aware of these unique situations, clearly the current state of affairs in the Middle East makes understanding a process of peace particularly timely.

This editorial originally appeared 4/18/2007 at: idahostatesman.com

This weekend also corresponds with the 70th anniversary of the bombing of the Basque town of Gernika. Made famous by Pablo Picasso's painting, this devastating chapter represents only one moment in the centuries-long conflict that has mired much of Irish and Basque history and taken hundreds of thousands of lives. Sadly, press attention has focused so thoroughly on the violence that this connection has become the sole identifier for many of the public — particularly with the Basques. Just as Idaho's one-dimensional connection with potatoes ridiculously minimizes the beauty, complexity and diversity in our state, so, too, does simple, singular connections with terrorism drastically diminish the heritage and culture of the Irish and Basques. Moreover, many would argue that the failure to understand distinct historical contexts of communism led to faulty assumptions and misguided foreign policy in the 20th century. Therefore, it is all the more imperative to understand the cultural contexts in which terrorism is defined to be active in the 21st.

Reid's talk is one portion of a weekend-long conference and tribute organized by Boise State's Basque Studies Program in collaboration with the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies, and the Boise Basque Center (Euzkaldunak). Boise State hopes to offer more lectures and conferences to complement the Basque studies degree and certificate, which includes coursework in Basque language, history, politics, cuisine, dance and other topics.

The Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies endeavors to assist in the preservation of Basque culture.  Visit www.cenarrusa.org

Highlights of this conference include: a 6 p.m. keynote address Friday evening in Boise State's Special Events Center by Ibon Mendibelzua, the Basque government's delegate to the European Parliament in Brussels, who will speak on "The Basque Country within the European Union Today." On Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Boise State Student Union Building, the public is welcome to attend panel presentations and discussions by Basque scholars from around the world on topics that include: Basques in the First World War, diaspora digital nationalism, Basque tree carvings, and dietary culture and tradition among the Basques.

Finally, the weekend will culminate on Sunday with a tribute by the Basque community to Jimmy Jausoro, a local Basque musician that made an extraordinary and exemplary contribution to Basque culture and the arts in the American West. A memorial Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Center, followed by a 3 p.m. tribute performance at Boise State's Special Events Center, followed by a 5 p.m. reception at the Basque Center.

It is fitting to end a weekend focused on peace by having a tribute to Jimmy Jausoro. His personality and demeanor modeled openness and acceptance to all. His music animated Basque boarding houses, dance halls and troupe performances throughout the American West and the world. His decades-long ministry of music broke barriers for Basques and non-Basques alike. We hope you will join us for a tribute to such an honorable man and learn more about the process of peace in Ireland and the Basque Country.

For more information go to an earlier Astero story at:
Basque Studies Conference: Boise, ID

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