Canberra Diaspora video project kicks off

trevar said :

Perhaps you guys should submit a video of yourselves talking about some of the joy you’ve experienced playing semantics in Canberra?

The website is clearly for former visitors to Canberra – not current Canberra residents OR the Canberra diaspora.

I like the idea, even with the questionable use of the word. Unlike New York where the bulk of the residents reside permanently in the city, transients characterise our population. I think Cordelia and LSWCHP are just playing semantics, which is also a great Canberra pastime. Perhaps you guys should submit a video of yourselves talking about some of the joy you’ve experienced playing semantics in Canberra?

Cordelia said :

There seems to be a profound definition problem here. If I go and work or study in New York, and then go elsewhere – or come home – I am not “New York diaspora”. In fact, I’d be castigated by any New Yorker for making such a claim. “Canberra diaspora” can only be Canberrans – people born or raised from childhood in Canberra – who go and live, work or study elsewhere. As a Canberran, it’s troubling to see people from elsewhere, and now back elsewhere, being described as “Canberra diaspora”.

Spot on. Transients simply can’t be counted as part of a Diaspora, as I understand the concept.

There seems to be a profound definition problem here. If I go and work or study in New York, and then go elsewhere – or come home – I am not “New York diaspora”. In fact, I’d be castigated by any New Yorker for making such a claim. “Canberra diaspora” can only be Canberrans – people born or raised from childhood in Canberra – who go and live, work or study elsewhere. As a Canberran, it’s troubling to see people from elsewhere, and now back elsewhere, being described as “Canberra diaspora”.

Why, oh why, does this project’s webpage have a silhouette of Parliament House as its branding? Please, diaspora peeps, you should be aware that Canberra is an entity apart from the feds!