04-14-2015, 05:15 PM
alright ironyak, i'm game for a bit on a few points,
"And yet given all these commonalities, many disagreements and misunderstandings still abound. Why?"
...there's a huge age-old question for humanity. far from a simple and single answer and one which could be asked of any society, each with it's problems both of a more shared universal nature and those characterized more by it's particular ever-changing assortment of more regional circumstances.
though i'm not exactly sure of your point in asking this question in the context here. people can and do have disagreement and misunderstanding for virtually infinite reasons under the sun. the fact that disagreements and misunderstandings exist, as they do anywhere, obviously does not in itself necessarily indicate the side by side existence of some starkly contrasting and defined cultures fundamentally unable to understand each other, as seems to be suggested as a driving force here in this day and age in our locality.
are those living and breathing among our neighbors, friends and family suddenly now some other distinct culture we fundamentally can't understand? to that i would again have to say... please, let's not romantically exaggerate, let's have a reality check here on that count.
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".....No need for anyone to be an "exotic other" to have very different and often insightful beliefs."
you may have misunderstood my meaning. by "exotic other" i was describing the result of a way of perceiving something novel which tends to exaggerate an esoteric impression upon the beholder.
actually, that pretty much fits in with my point. a large array of belief often does exist within a cohesive society, particularly a progressive and inclusive society which aims to safeguard the right to diverse belief.
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"As I've noted, there is plenty about this movement that is baffling or bothersome; the reaction to it is even more odd and disturbing IMO."
perhaps a story for another day, or perhaps not... but i grew up in part quite close-in (though not partaking) with a Puna-specific brand so very reminiscent of the type of cultural-centrist activism and idealism we have been seeing of late. you may be surprised, below the tarnished idealism there is likely more ugly baggage and poisonous double standards galore involved amongst the fervent bandwagon than you might suspect.
"And yet given all these commonalities, many disagreements and misunderstandings still abound. Why?"
...there's a huge age-old question for humanity. far from a simple and single answer and one which could be asked of any society, each with it's problems both of a more shared universal nature and those characterized more by it's particular ever-changing assortment of more regional circumstances.
though i'm not exactly sure of your point in asking this question in the context here. people can and do have disagreement and misunderstanding for virtually infinite reasons under the sun. the fact that disagreements and misunderstandings exist, as they do anywhere, obviously does not in itself necessarily indicate the side by side existence of some starkly contrasting and defined cultures fundamentally unable to understand each other, as seems to be suggested as a driving force here in this day and age in our locality.
are those living and breathing among our neighbors, friends and family suddenly now some other distinct culture we fundamentally can't understand? to that i would again have to say... please, let's not romantically exaggerate, let's have a reality check here on that count.
----------------------------------------------------------
".....No need for anyone to be an "exotic other" to have very different and often insightful beliefs."
you may have misunderstood my meaning. by "exotic other" i was describing the result of a way of perceiving something novel which tends to exaggerate an esoteric impression upon the beholder.
actually, that pretty much fits in with my point. a large array of belief often does exist within a cohesive society, particularly a progressive and inclusive society which aims to safeguard the right to diverse belief.
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"As I've noted, there is plenty about this movement that is baffling or bothersome; the reaction to it is even more odd and disturbing IMO."
perhaps a story for another day, or perhaps not... but i grew up in part quite close-in (though not partaking) with a Puna-specific brand so very reminiscent of the type of cultural-centrist activism and idealism we have been seeing of late. you may be surprised, below the tarnished idealism there is likely more ugly baggage and poisonous double standards galore involved amongst the fervent bandwagon than you might suspect.