The Gaelic hub – Philosophy
Ionad na Gàidhlig – Feallsanachd
SEONAG Cha do sguir Alfie a bhruidhinn mu phoilitigs bhon a chaidh e dhan phàrlamaid còmhla ri athair. Cha bhithinn air a chreidsinn gun gabhadh e leithid de dh’ùidh anns a’ chuspair.
Alfie hasn’t stopped talking about politics since he went to the parliament with his father. I wouldn’t have believed he’d have taken such an interest in the topic.
RONA Na bithibh a’ bruidhinn mu luchd-poilitigs. Chan eil mi a’ faicinn gu bheil duine aca – clì, deas, uaine no eile – a’ dèanamh mòran gus na daoine as miosa dheth a chuideachadh. Dè is coireach gu bheil leithid de dhaoine ann an dùthaich cho beartach a’ tighinn beò air carthannas?
Don’t talk about politics. I can’t see that any of them – left, right, green or other – are doing much good to help those people worst off. Why are there so many people living off charity in a rich country?
SEONAG Tha na ceistean mòra uile agad an-diugh, a Rona!
You’re full of the big questions today, Rona!
RONA Tha fo-thaghadh gu bhith san roinn-pàrlamaid seo ‘s tha mi air a bhith a’ leughadh mu na geallaidhean “brèagha” aig a h-uile tagraiche. An gabh iad creidsinn ge-tà?
There’s going to be a by-election in this constituency and I’ve been reading about each candidate’s wonderful pledges. Are they to be believed though?
SEONAG Hmmm… tha e soilleir gu bheil seo ga do rothaigeadh! Tha na geallaidhean stèidhichte air feallsanachd nam pàrtaidhean - feumaidh iad a bhith susbainteach. Nuair a bha mise san oilthigh, bha feallsanachd ga theagasg mar phàirt dhen cheum, rud a tha feumail airson a bhith a’ beachdachadh air na ceistean mòra.
Hmmm it’s clear that this is winding you up. The pledges are based on the parties’ philosophies – they have to be substantial. When I was in university, philosophy was taught as part of the degree, something which is useful for considering the big questions.
RONA Seadh a Phlato, cùmaibh oirbh!
Go on then Plato, carry on!
SEONAG Bha na h-òraidean, mas cuimhne leam, mu thuigse fhaighinn oirnn fhìn ’s air an t-saoghal agus an t-àite a th’ againn ann.
The lectures, if I remember correctly, were about gaining an understanding of ourselves, the world and the place we have in it.
RONA Ach nach fhaod feallsanachd cuideachd a bhith mu na beachdan a tha gad stiùireadh agus an dòigh anns am bi thu gad ghiùlain fhèin?
But can’t philosophy also be about the opinions that guide you and the way in which you carry yourself?
SEONAG Tha am facal ga chleachdadh ann an diofar dhòighean san latha a th’ ann. Feallsanachd sgoile, feallsanachd eaglaise, àite-obrach…
The word is used in different contexts today. Educational philosophy, church philosophy, workplace…
RONA An gabhadh e ràdh gu bheil feallsanachd aig na Gàidheil dhaibh fhèin?
Could it be said that the Gaels have their own philosophy?
SEONAG Ma tha feallsanachd againne, chanainn ‘s gur e a bhith a’ cuideachadh càch a chèile agus a’ deanamh cinnteach nach eil dìth air duine.
If we have a philosophy, I’d say it’s helping each other and making sure no one wants for anything
RONA B’ fheàrr leam gu robh barrachd den fheallsanachd sin ri fhaicinn san latha a th’ ann. Nam biodh, cha bhiodh càil a dh’fheum air na bancaichean-bìdh.
I wish there was more of that philosophy to be seen today. If there was, there would be no need for food banks.
SEONAG Ach ‘s dòcha gu bheil na bancaichean-bìdh nan eiseimpleir den fheallsanachd sin? As t-Earrach nuair a bhios a’ chaora caol bidh am maorach reamhar!
But maybe the food banks are an example of that philosophy? In spring when the sheep is thin, the seafood will be fat.
RONA Dh’fhaodadh gu bheil sibh ceart.
You could be right.
SEONAG Carson nach bruidhinn thu ri na tagraichean?
Why don’t you talk to the candidates?
RONA ‘S dòcha gun dèan mise sin ma-thà, agus dh’fhaodadh gun dèanadh e feum dhan “fheallsanachd” aca uile nan cuidicheadh iad aig a’ bhanca-bìdh airson greis!
I might just do that, and maybe it would benefit their philosophy if they could helped out at the food bank for a while!