tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post113199577101539120..comments2023-10-15T10:46:24.276-05:00Comments on Parables: land of the free, home of the braveespíritu pazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1137622567921023122006-01-18T16:16:00.000-06:002006-01-18T16:16:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.asdfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955909231054937508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1136682489222609782006-01-07T19:08:00.000-06:002006-01-07T19:08:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.asdfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955909231054937508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1136580468337631562006-01-06T14:47:00.000-06:002006-01-06T14:47:00.000-06:00Peter...to your last comment and my "Thought:" FYI...Peter<BR/>...to your last comment and my "Thought:" FYI That really wasn't to you personally (I really have no idea who you are)--I hope you are not taking it like that. To me it was more like a extreme statement for shock value upon whomever it lands.<BR/><BR/>As for your statement<BR/>"I argued that most of the decisions we make are made by heart/feel, and subsequently we try to rationalize them."<BR/><BR/>I'm astounded! I almost can't believe you said it. I've suspected this to be the case for years! but no-one has admitted to it like you just did. This is like a mini revelation.espíritu pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1136552309432997092006-01-06T06:58:00.000-06:002006-01-06T06:58:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.asdfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955909231054937508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1136481762417467102006-01-05T11:22:00.000-06:002006-01-05T11:22:00.000-06:00I believe you make some assumptions here, that I u...I believe you make some assumptions here, that I understand but diverge from…<BR/>You seem to have strong confidence in the effectiveness of personal choice. Perhaps not quite to but almost to the point where all “outside influence” (outside one’s person) is reduced to mere peer pressure. Please see my more recent post on “who is the self”. <BR/><BR/>I am not surprised that you sense you’ve been dumped into another world. Religiousness aside, one of my more foundational beliefs is that the self is very restricted in its ability to “make itself.” Grace (or luck, if you will) or the lack there-of and the defining other” are other self-positing factors. Your definition of the self seems more heavily self-made. How would that change if you suddenly became an invalid? My guess is that one would consider suicide…a physical demonstration of the expiration of personhood based on your ascension to the belief system of those who surround you. <BR/><BR/>As for making the general statement that the communes failed—who are we looking at? I know of some communes that have existed through generations and show no sign of stopping. What criteria are we using to assess that they have failed? Conversely, what criteria would one use to determine if the free-trade enterprise has failed? Does psychological health and well-being factor in?<BR/><BR/>Thought: If life is not a struggle against opposing belief systems…then, congratulations, you are at your prime, settled amongst those who are most like you. Yet, be thou careful not to alter your life too radically. Do not read anything too upsetting or different. Do not succumb too wholeheartedly to the thirst for adventure. Nor should one develop too close relationships, even marriage should be at gentle arm’s length.<BR/><BR/>Good conversation.espíritu pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135380834376499442005-12-23T17:33:00.000-06:002005-12-23T17:33:00.000-06:00The word I was looking for is Utopia.The word I was looking for is Utopia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135380753472009162005-12-23T17:32:00.000-06:002005-12-23T17:32:00.000-06:00Oh no, it goes on:You say you're either a piece of...Oh no, it goes on:<BR/><BR/>You say you're either a piece of the rebellious masses, or part of the silent masses.<BR/><BR/>Which is the majority in your case, the silent or the rebellious.<BR/><BR/>You say 'whatever system you create...'. You are ambitious; think you can (should/want) create a system that solves the problems you discuss. I think it is the holy grail of humanity, with an eternal quest for it throughout human history. The communes of 1848 and 1878 failed; the social experiment in USSR failed. Many much more 'local' communes failed. Big intentions, but perhaps human nature is too self-involved/egoistic for it to work. BTW am opposed to socialism, but if true communism could exist, I think nobody could be against it. However, I think I'm already too cynical for it to believe it to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135380219931651432005-12-23T17:23:00.000-06:002005-12-23T17:23:00.000-06:00Been doing some more thinking.Firstly, American do...Been doing some more thinking.<BR/><BR/>Firstly, American dominant culture is different from European/Dutch. I considered them both to be Western, but they differ, esp. qua 'gradation'. I was thinking too much from my own cultural background. USA is probably much more consumption-oriented than over here, generally speaking. But see below.<BR/><BR/>Secondly. Why feel you have to surrender to mainstream American culture? I think you feel you have to choose between the two. Pick up from American society the things you like (e.g. ability to choose) whilst continuing to live according to rules/ideas from your past, or at least those which still seem fitting. Being non-religious e.g. doesn't mean you have to be promiscuous. Nor that you have to stop doing good deads. Nor that you have to be consumerist. Nor that you can't live to the 10 commandments (I do (to part of), though I'm not religious; they're just 'common sense' written down).<BR/><BR/>Something I once heard that really struck home: You don't necessarily have to be a good Christian to lead a good/worthy life. Monopolisation of morality by Christians is one of the things I oppose. Implicitly stating that if you're not a believer (pref. the exact same belief as that person) you can't live a worthy life. Or that it would be an empty life you'd lead.<BR/><BR/>Just another thought on the matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135308272945205682005-12-22T21:24:00.000-06:002005-12-22T21:24:00.000-06:00When you arrive there your are exhausted?I think I...When you arrive there your are exhausted?<BR/><BR/>I think I'm missing something very big here. Am I commenting on the weather while there is an elephant sitting in the room?<BR/><BR/>Not an ounce of fight left? Why are you fighting. What's the cause? To end dominant culture in general, or just this specific one.<BR/><BR/>Finally, whether you want it or not, you do realize you're part of dominant culture, when viewed on a global scale?<BR/><BR/>I thought I understood what you were saying/explaining (though perhaps disagreeing), but apparently I'm on an entirely different road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135299525698681782005-12-22T18:58:00.000-06:002005-12-22T18:58:00.000-06:00Consider the 'dominant culture' a fact of life; li...Consider the 'dominant culture' a fact of life; like gravity.<BR/><BR/>Yup. I think that is what I've just arrived at. And when one arives at that place of complete defeat--crushed, bleeding, broken and bruised--not an ounce of fight left. One is either reduced to cursing and ranting or anguished prayers.<BR/><BR/>I too am opposed to cultural relativism.espíritu pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135287034648225902005-12-22T15:30:00.000-06:002005-12-22T15:30:00.000-06:00Consider the 'dominant culture' a fact of life; li...Consider the 'dominant culture' a fact of life; like gravity.<BR/><BR/>Many social experiments, big and small, tried to address the issue; from the small living communities to large countries.<BR/><BR/>Whether you like it or not, you too are part of the dominant culture; even minorities in USA are part of dominant culture, on a global scale. Even countries that claim to want to bash America, secretly admire much of it. (Coco-Cola, McDonalds, bubble gum, to name a few things :-)<BR/><BR/>Know any country that doesn't have a flag, national anthem, is not a nation-state, with a president, etc.? Shows dominance of western culture on the rest of the world. Not necessarily a bad thing. Provides for some structure and unity? Look at places that have lost these things, like Ethiopia/Eritrea, or esp. Somalia.<BR/><BR/>Must stop now before it turns into a rant, but I strongly oppose 'cultural relativism': (typed a long explanation; but this is not the time and the place)<BR/><BR/>BTW, dominance can be good (almost everyone in the world speaks english?), but diversity has its merits too. Relativity, where would we be without it.<BR/><BR/>A paper on Yihad eh? Might be interesting. In The Netherlands we have had a few issues with this as well...<BR/><BR/>----------<BR/>Peter.<BR/><BR/>On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. (Saint-Exupéry)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1135208279482614152005-12-21T17:37:00.000-06:002005-12-21T17:37:00.000-06:00Thanks for stoppin by akauffman.Havn't put up anyt...Thanks for stoppin by akauffman.<BR/>Havn't put up anything too exciting in a while. Lost some steam this past month. But I'm working on a paper now that has got some good fuel against Jihad in a historical story sort of way.espíritu pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679107.post-1133993553034305652005-12-07T16:12:00.000-06:002005-12-07T16:12:00.000-06:00Hmm. Thanks for the compliment on the writing.Exce...Hmm. Thanks for the compliment on the writing.<BR/><BR/>Except I might see it as a journey from a certain freedom into bondage cloaked in stars and stripes. Personally, I feel much more objectified and unfree as a woman in the likeness of the Western image of beauty than I did in my Menn. presentation--Coming from a woman who's turned heads in grocery stores with a bonnet and dress to one who turns heads in jeans and ponytail but in a different way. <BR/>I've started to cross myself when the later happens.espíritu pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483308467615005496noreply@blogger.com