Jerome...
I think your interpretation of "A Sangunie Bunch" is excellent has been additionally proved by Shelly. The title "A Sanguine Bunch" - note the quotation marks! - goes into the same direction like "blood brotherhood" and makes an allusion to a so-called peaceful coexistence of the ethnic groups in Bukovina, which as a matter of fact wasn't tension-free at all.
So let's follow Shellie's advice, that "we have to read a lot more to get what the author is trying to tell us" and therefore I'm suggesting another excerpt from the author's conclusion [p. 433 et seqq.]:
"Although Jews had been in Bukovina long before the Austrians arrived, their number rose significantly after the occupation because the living conditions the young crownland offered were significantly better than those in the surrounding areas. In general, the new rulers pursued an active immigration policy, but their position with regard to Jewish immigrants was inconsistent. Nevertheless, as government regulations further enhancedthe position of its Jewish citizens, the number of Jews coming to IBukovina continued to rise. Their presence in agriculture was negligible and they were mainly active in trade (including alcohol) and money lending. Jewish Bukovinians eagerly embraced the newly created possibilities to send their children to school and as such greatly improved chances for
Jews on the labour market. However, the focus on secondary and university education held in the different nationalist but to an even greater extent in Jewish circles also caused tensions: Bukovina lacked trained craftsmen and farmers and saw itself confronted with a large surplus of academics. There was a successful Jewish business elite in Bukovina, but also a substantial proletariat. When the local economic situation deteriorated in the late 1800s, many of the emigrants from Bukovina were Jews.
Poor living conditions in Bukovina had always been closely related to irresponsible money borrowing and excessive alcohol consumption. Since money lending and spirits trade were mainly in Jewish hands, Jews were generally blamed for the ensuing misery. The nationalist discourse of the time was best served by the image of classless national solidarity and not by tensions between an exploitative upper class and an irresponsible peasantry. As such, the Jews were the perfect scapegoats. Aware of their vulnerable position, they regarded the Viennese authorities as the essential guarantee for their well-being in Bukovina and had the reputation of being very loyal to Empire and Emperor."
In my understanding there is nothing wrong with this, quite the contrary, it's an accurate interpretation. Warmest wishes as always and thank you all, that by your interventions you're participating in this interesting thread!
Edgar Hauster
----------------------------------------
> Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 15:41:53 -0800
> From: romers_at_shaw.ca
> To: CZERNOWITZ-L_at_list.cornell.edu
> CC: fredhotman_at_yahoo.com; annymatar_at_gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Cz-L] Book of the Month, January 2015: "A Sanguine Bunch"
>
> Fred...
>
> At first I could not understand what you were getting at when you said:
> "The tittle does tell a lot about the direction of the book". Then, this
> morning, Anny Mater wrote to me: "...Jew hatred was nothing new and the
> title "sanguine"= French, for bloodsuckers can't really tell anything
> favorable about the Jews."
>
> I began to see the multiple ways in which 'sanguine' is being used and
> interpreted by the folks discussing this thread. So... how to really
> understand the 'title', "A Sanguine Bunch"?
>
> It is my understanding that 'sanguine', usually refers to a rosy,
> optimistic disposition, or one's favouring the best possible outcome.
>
> At the very end of the summary section, talking about the 1908
> Celebrations in Vienna, the author says:
>
> "Czernowitz had commemorated its 500th existence shortly before with a
> parade focusing on Austrian
> accomplishments [...]
> It was hardly surprising that in the press the traditional criticism
> surfaced again: nobody in the West really knew about Bukovina and the
> cheerful folksy tableaux on display hid the persistent economic misery
> in the land."
>
> Is it posible that this may be the 'sanguinity' in the title rather than
> 'bloodsucking'. In other words, the 'Pollyanna-ish' attitude of the
> Monarchy?
>
> Best,
> jerome
>
On 2015-01-03 8:04 PM, Fred Weisinger wrote:
>> The tittle does tell a lot about the direction of the book.
>> I extract from the comment & snippets of the book t
>> who is going to be the ultimate scapegoat.
>> Yet, the Church as the largest landowner appears to be the "Mother Theres=
>> =C3=A4 "
>> The Christian absentee landowners appear like the benevolent society.
>> Only the Jews are the bloodsucking "usurers" Its shows it lacks research
>> and editing
>> and to be more specific about these pesky Jewish usurers.
>> Biased generalities should not be accepted.
>> Fred. Weisinger
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 4, 2015 at 3:37 AM, Merle Kastner <merlek_at_bell.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I tend to agree with you Jerome. It's unfortunate that the author
>>> wrote it in this manner. It's upsetting.
>>> Merle
=
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This moderated discussion group is for information exchange on the subject of
Czernowitz and Sadagora Jewish History and Genealogy. The opinions expressed
in these posts are the opinions of the original poster only and not necessarily
the opinions of the List Owner, the Webmaster or any other members
or entities connected with this mailing list. The Czernowitz-L list has
an associated web site at
http://czernowitz.ehpes.com that includes a
searchable archive of all messages posted to this list. As a result,
Messages sent to the list are available to the general public within days
of posting.
Please post in "Plain Text" (help available at:
<
http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/PlainText.html>).
To remove your address from this e-list follow the directions at:
<
http://www.it.cornell.edu/services/elist/howto/user/leave.cfm>
To receive assistance for this e-list send an e-mail message to:
<owner-Czernowitz-L_at_list.cornell.edu>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on 2015-01-05 07:24:16