From the Editor
It’s All Relative By Yvette Neshi Lokotz
I knew I wanted to select the topic of relatives for this editorial in the May issue. I remember when I was selecting topics for 2020, this possible topic came up, and I knew then I would be writing about this specific topic.
Many Indigenous people believe Earth Day is every day. I believe that We, all humans, are a member of nature and not sep‑ arate from nature. Humans, also known as Two Leggeds, are one of Grandmother Earth’s children; one of her many children. As I pondered the topic “Relatives,” my belief about Grandmother Earth, and Humans,
a phrase came to my mind. The phrase, “It’s all relative,” is an idiom that has multiple meanings. Let’s get on the same page in our understanding of “it’s all relative.” What is an idiom? I wanted to be sure I knew the definition of an idiom, so I looked it up online using Merriam-Webster.com Here is the definition of the idiom: “an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the con‑ joined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “unde‑ cided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way).”
Star Nations Magazine • May 2020 • 4
Does the definition of idiom help? Not as much as I would have liked the definition to have a better understanding. There is no clear cut, agreeable, understand‑ ing of an idiom. The way we use it depends on the understanding or interpretation of the idiom’s meaning. Great. Clear as mud. Did you notice I used more than one idiom to explain an idiom? Yes, I used “let’s get on the same page” and “clear as mud.” In my research for my editorial, I realized that the full meaning of “Relatives” could be a challeng‑ ing definition to understand and take in its rich meaning because a person may not be able to agree that a stone or a lake is a “Relative”.
Credit: unsplash.com
We just finished up celebrating Earth Day in the U.S., on April 22. It was the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. This year acknowledg‑ ing our planet, I would add that She is a sentient Being, we expe‑ rienced Earth Day quite differ‑ ently than in past years due to the Safe in Place all across the United States in response to COVID19.
