Madam,

I work and live in Ceredigion. I was last week called a racist by a colleague for greeting ‘bore da’. The prompt for the name calling was that my greeting was in Welsh (he is an Englishman who has made his home here).

My nationalism was then attacked. I believe that Wales should be a sovereign nation. I do not believe Wales to be better than any other country but I do believe it is equal, and should be treated so on the world stage.

I also believe that only when we are a sovereign nation can we really start building a fairer, more prosperous, more equal country for the people who have chosen Wales our home.

My colleague says that he condones nationalism. I agree that nationalism, as is reported too often in the press can be ugly. But there are two kinds of nationalism. One is the kind that sees their country as an important player within a larger, diverse world. The other is the kind that sees their country as the most important part of a less important world. But I’m sure your readers can see the irony of his accusations. In his condemnation of my daring to speak Welsh in Wales, and daring to believe that Wales has a right to exist, it reveals what kind of nationalist he is.

My plea to the people of Ceredigion is not to let such name calling and accusations make us shy away from ourselves – from our love of our country and the language. Insults like these play a crucial part in anglicising us as we are forced to apologise, confusedly, for our existence. The name callers want us to become their ‘norm’, and that truly is scary nationalism.

But indeed such attitudes should strengthen our argument and give us further reasons to drive towards sovereignty for our country at even a quicker pace.

Yn gywir, Name and address supplied.

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