"We speak for ourselves"

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to translate a specific phrase into Russian, and I'm wondering if any of you can help. The slogan of the environmental justice movement in the US is "we speak for ourselves." Is there non-awkward Russian translation for this?

The meaning of this slogan is that marginalized communities a) have opinions about what they want to happen to their communities and b) have the right to participate in decision-making. No one can pretend to speak for them.

For example, a predominantly black or Latino neighborhood will fight against a garbage dump being located there just because rich white people don't want in their neighborhoods.

Another example: In my city a couple of years ago, the transit agency ended the zone system and instituted a flat fare across the city that was higher than any previous fares. They claimed this helped poor people who lived on the outskirts of town and therefore had to travel longer distances. But none of the poor people I talked to about it liked this approach or had been consulted before it was put in place.

Is there a common Russian expression for this kind of feeling? Or if not, is there a way to express it in one sentence?

Thank you! Spasibo bolshoe!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/__whoami__/]

I'd say, "решать - нам!" or "здесь решаем мы!"

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[marsianka-selma.livejournal.com]

"Решать - нам!" or "Нам решать!" sounds great to me!

[leonore.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, "Нам решать!" is the best option. It means "It is us to decide!" and has the additional meaning of what is described in the second situation (about the poor).

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Another vote for this one! Noted. Thank you!

I desagree

[lion-casserole.livejournal.com]

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They are not judges nor masters, they are looking for a honest judgement and they are ready to provide their arguments and fight for their rights.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__whoami__/]

That's right, they are looking for an honest judgement. But it's clear (well, to me) that the main idea through the post's text is that they wouldn't want anybody to decide for them, would they? They want to participate in decision making, actively; and perhaps be the only decision makers! Hence, I employed "решать" here. Btw, the second option was "выбирать", which would also be about right.

They want powers listing

[lion-casserole.livejournal.com]

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They don't want somebody they don't trust speaking for them.

Their problem is: they aren't represented in discussions or their opinion is represented in a wrong way. They do not trust their current representatives (lawyers, delegates, Government men, I don't care who is there to speak for them). They want to participate in discussions because they aren't satisfied in current situation, they have sound arguments, and they are looking for legal changes and justice. They are acting according to the laws, they aren't breaking the law. That is how Democracy should work for people.

My point here is: when a group of people pretends they are the solo decision maker, that is a way to a fight, a war, or a dictatorship.

"Мы заставим вас cоблюдать закон и учитывать наши интересы" vs "Будет, как мы продиктуем".

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

I think you're both right, and it depends on the situation. Sometimes there are competing valid interests, and a government has to make a decision after hearing all sides. But sometimes a group feels that its specific needs so clearly override other interests that there's only one right decision to be made. And in that situation, "We decide!" seems appropriate, because if things were fair then their opinion would be the only one that counted. Environmental justice movements have included both situations in the past.

I guess this leads me to wonder: Can Нам решать! include the idea that people want to help decide, or does it strongly suggest that the group is the only one doing the deciding?

Depends on intonation

[lion-casserole.livejournal.com]

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When they have to choose from a range of proposed and discussed options, then "Нам решать" means "We have to make the decision, that is our responsibility":
- Мы может взять такси или подождать автобус, это нам решать.

When they don't care if there could be another valid option or opinion, then "Нам решать" means "Shut up everyone, we are the boss here":
- На каком языке вы обязаны подать заявление - это нам решать.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__whoami__/]

You are right again: "Будет, как мы продиктуем" is inappropriate here, and the "Нам решать!" I suggested didn't mean it, which I explained in the previous comment already. Besides, you are talking about the exact same idea of the context of use in another comment below, so the problem's solved, and the translation is fine.

[larqui.livejournal.com]

Probably the best version. Translates the meaning well.