What are some good ways to promote Esperanto on a local level? I have been learning Esperanto and it's one of those things that really inspires you to help with the Movement, and I'd really like to do more to help spread Esperanto in my area.

I'm planning to put posters up at the downtown library in Oklahoma City and maybe at a few other libraries around town. I may also try to put up some posters around school, but I am hesitant to do so. (I've been ridiculed for learning Esperanto before, even by my own friends!) Does anyone know any other ways to help spread awareness of Esperanto? Dankon!

Well,I tried that one too but didn't work.why?'cause most of people got

no concience at all of what mankind is;unfortunately most of the people here believes that the U.S is the world and the world is the U.S

mi logxigxas en sudokarolino kaj cxiu popoloj ke mi konatigxis diris ke

mi estas frenzas.malfacila aceptigxas sed estas vero.

oh I forget to mention racist and xenofobist and all that ignorants combined

together that'll be like millions though!

Trying to introduce a new idea, like a universal language, to any group is a challenge.  Looking at who is logged in to this Web Page at any time of the day or night gives you a good idea of the vast array of peoples that are speaking, or trying to speak, Esperanto, a fair number are from the US.

Most of the people I mention Esperanto to have heard of it but are surprised that someone would actually use it, and I work at the University of Pennsylvania, a fairly progressive world class institution.

We have to keep the faith, not make comments to people that completely turn them off on the concept of a universal language and keep practicing our language.

I also have posters around my area at work, turn the volume up a bit more than I should when listing to Esperanto programs, tapes and if asked explain the language.  I also try to have them speak there language, most of the people I work with are not native born US citizens.  I have no one to talk Esperanto to, most people give me a verbal "Pat on the head" but we'll get there.

I will try to respond in English, although I would prefer in Esperanto, but as this is an english speaking forum...

I think the best way to promote Esperanto is to speak about it whenever there is a chance, but not to insist, just evoke the different sides of the language: easy, not-national, Pasporta Servo, music, contacting people, spirit of people using Esperanto, science, ... you never know what is the small thing that will make the other one listen suddenly and get him interested.

The second thing ist: live Esperanto, use it and make the others know about it: travelling to lands you would have never gone else, speaking about ideas or reactions of friends you may have somewhere in the world, send your New Year's greeting cards partially in Esperanto, make your shopping lists in Esperanto, ...

If everyone get's one or two other persons to learn Esperanto, and those do the same, ... it will not be very long before many people will speak Esperanto, or at least know about it.

Ĝis,
Beatrice  

Interesting thread here.

 

I'm curious.  What are your thoughts on using religion to spread Esperanto?  As an example, if one is a Christian, then perhaps he could read the Bible in Esperanto, and maybe even memorize a few Psalms, the Lord's Prayer, or other verses of the bible in Esperanto.  the same could apply for any other religion and their religious texts too, of course.

 

And what if the target group shares a religion other than ones own?  Well, then I'd immagine that the target group would be more than impressed if one should have had the opportunity to read, and perhaps even memorize, a few sacred texts from their religion.

 

Also consider that there are various religous organizations in Esepranto, including Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Baha'i, Oomoto, Wonbulist, etc. etc. etc..

 

And even the sacred texts of some of these religions, such as those of the baha'i Faith, even encourage mankind to learn Esperanto!

 

One reason why I think religion might be a powerful way to promote Esperanto is simply that religion can be extremely influential in ones life, and so if one can connect Esperanto wito ones religion in a meaningful way, I'd suspect that it might have a strong impact.

Your thoughts?

Sounds too good but that would be utopical put it into practice.why?

because we're humans and selfish enough to believe that god or whatsoever concept u have about is in your side and not the other's side.

that's why one the pillars in the esperanto manifesto is being A-political and

I might add A-religion.we got all kind of backgrounds here and if we try

to or at least intend to navigate in religional waters our sinking will be guarantee as a group per se.

there's others means of  promotion like music that should be take into consideration;most of us love dolcxamar!.

 

Sorry, Seymour.

Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly in the previous post.  I was using Christianity as an example, based on the assumption that many English speakers are at least somewhat familiar with Christianity.  In fact, I don't profess the Christian Faith myself.  The example in my previous post could apply to all religious communities, including Muslim, Buddhist, etc.

And yes, you're right, the movement per se must remain a-political, but if I should meet a communist, I'd be quick to point out that there is in fact a communist Esperanto association in existence, and I don't see such a move thretening Esperanto's a-political nature in any way. And I'm not a communist myself by the way.  And so I believe the same applies to religion.  I'm not Muslim myself, but if I did meet a Muslim, I'd be quick to point out that there are in fact quite a few Esperantists in Iran, that Khomeini (in as much as I don't look up to him myself, many people do, believe it or not) himself praised Esperanto, that the Qur'an is translated in Esperanto, and that there is a Muslim Esperanto league in Pakistan which they could join.

After all, I don't believe a-political means anti-political, or a-religious means anti-religious.  I just believe that the various faith communities are in fact an untapped resource for the Esperanto community, perhaps precisely out of fear on the part of esperantists that to promote Esperanto in religious communities will lead to the Esperanto community losing its a-religious nature.  On the contrary, I believe that to actively promote Esperanto within religious communities could even lead to the movement becomming even more open to the various faith communities.  Consider, for instance, that within North America and in other places, Muslims might feel somewhat excluded from the community since 9/11.  So for the Esperanto community to welcome them might even result in their feeling freer to express themselves within the Espernato community than elsewhere, which could lead, therefore, to faster growth within the Muslim community.

 

I might be wrong in my assumption, but then I'm also open to other perspectives on this.

Hi, everyone, I'm from China, I just began to learn Esperanto last week.

A friend introduced it to me. He said Esperanto is very easy to be learned and I will grasp it in a short term. hehehe... ^_^   But after I start my study, I found it is not as easy as he said.... hehe... there are still much words need to be kept in mind...but I think it is much easier than English and Chinese! haha

I will do my best to learn it. Hope I can insist on learning it for a long time. So, Let's improve Esperanto together!



Wei

Sometimes esperanto isn't supported by religions and cultures. For instance, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, and after long hours of trying to find some of our religious texts in esperanto, I found that the church didn't really support it, because we believe in giving the gospel to all men in their native tongue, which makes sense.