[thechat] 103 Pak prisoners return from US - PakTribune

[Erika Meyer]

Drew wrote:

>  I explained by saying it was exaggeration, rhetorical, and that I 
>was Irish, >and therefore that's normal communication for me. I was 
>attacked in no >uncertain terms, by people calling me racist and 
>saying there was "no such >thing as culture", only individual 
>behaviour.

oh, let me guess: you were attacked by white (American?) males.

"no such thing as culture" what a crock.  That's like the "race is 
invisible to us, la la la" people.  They think that by denying race 
or culture, it doesn't exist...

In actually, by denying that cultural differences exist, you make 
every behavior that doesn't jive with your definition of of proper 
somehow "deviant."  Now THAT is racist.

Native North American children from every tribe I know are taught to 
always defer to elders.   Elders go first in food lines, or children 
make plates and carry them to their grandparents.

In "generic American culture" it's first come, first serve.

So who gets to make up the rules?  Who is right, who is deviant?  Are 
the Native children who hang back "not assertive enough" or are white 
American children who serve themselves first greedy and inconsiderate?

"No such thing as culture," give me frickin break!
Could anyone other than a white American male come up with that statement?
If so, I would like to know.

>   Democracy is the best form of government.

possibly. and yes, we are taught this in school.  Schools are places 
where this stuff gets planted in our heads...

>   Money is good, more money is better.

You are depressing me, but you are probably right.
(This is another thing that goes directly against most Native 
cultural views, by the way, especially when the expense of 
wealth-gathering is the long term survival of humans and other living 
things...)

>   Freedom of speech is the most important right, after life.

Maybe, again.  I certainly have a fond spot for free speech. (not 
sure about "after life" -- I'd nix the "life one...  We have the 
death penalty, we like war...  the abortion debate is fueled by 
extremists, IMO)

-- Unfortunately when "freedom of speech" can be bought and sold at 
such high prices, is it really free anymore?

>   Television is the normal form of entertainment.

Television is more than entertainment... but yes...

Also, Americans need royalty, need mythological figures, and we tend 
to build them out of our entertainers: TV, movie, rock stars.  And 
the line gets blurred between politicians, royalty (Princess Di), and 
entertainment stars... they are all mythological heros for us... and 
we love to see them rise and fall...

Erika

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