Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
If there was to be a distinction between the perceived differences between two generalizations, I have used the "caricatures" of both regions to work with. What is the American caricature? The classic small-government rugged individualist, who fears government running their lives. Does this include everyone in America? No. Are there similar small-government rugged individualists in Europe? Yes, although I suspect they are much fewer that in America.
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I don't accept that it's possible to have a meaningful discussion of cultural differences based on caricatures. In fact, I thought the point of this topic was to get past such over-generalizations, and try to understand each other better. I guess you really do stand by the quote in your sig line.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
As far as having an ax to grind, I do. I will explicitly describe it, for the benefit of the readers. I have no problem with other people organizing themselves as they see fit. I get tired to death of other people determining they are going to organize me to their whims. So when someone explains how good it would be if everybody does X for reason Y, I get annoyed. I have no use for urbanites, who I suspect have no real grasp of the resource chain, trying in insist upon law changes that make sense for their limited environs, but that will be an utter disaster for large groups of other peoples, I get aggrevated. And when said people tell me to shut up (not you, NekoChan) because I (obviously) don't understand modern realities, I get incensed. Finally, when I see the same politicans who caused major economic disasters still in power and fawned upon, I get disgusted.
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Similarly, when I read someone defending short-sighted strategies in the name of individual liberty, I also get frustrated. My view of the resource chain includes the living and working conditions of those who perform the labor that the "modern" standard of living depends on. Does yours? (Not a rhetorical question.)
I'm part Cherokee. To me, the "American experiment" you're so fond of entailed one group seizing resources from another group, with no better justification than the historical accident that gave them access to more advanced weapons. If we want to include a historical perspective in this discussion of cultures, we need to include the less savory side of history as well. And I'm not saying that various countries now in the EU don't also have dark sides to their pasts-- it might be helpful to examine the contrasts and comparisons of these negatives as part of our discussion of cultural differences.
Or, we can settle for "I'm entitled to my opinion, and nothing you say can change my mind!" In which case, I think I'll spend my time in other threads.