Erik said:
You're probably right. I do tend to get somewhat unreasonable when dealing with people and opinions I feel are fundamentally wrong to the extent where it pisses me off. That, and I was under the influence of some alcohol in the beginning of this thread, heh heh. Sorry about that. Except to TaylorC, you're just being intolerably stupid now to the extent where I won't bother with your posts.
Well, knowing this I can understand why you were being harsh.
FUCK you piss me off with bullshit concepts like "world culture." What the fuck is that? That doesn't fucking EXIST! Different races and different people of different nationalities have their own cultures. There is no such fucking thing as "world culture."
Yes, I know that. World culture is a culmination of all of those cultures without destroying them. I don't know if you've ever been to New York City, but that is a great example of people from distinct and diverse backgrounds coming together and sharing a little of everyone else's. It can be seen in ethnic neiborhoods, restaurants, accents, and other places I can't even fathom at the moment.
GLOBALIZATION ALWAYS MEANS THE DESTRUCTION OF INDIVIDUAL CULTURES
Perhaps your view of globalism is different from mine.
Gee, you think? The Swedish youth of today seems to imply otherwise. Maybe if you were here to see the damage globalization is doing you wouldn't be so FUCKING sure anymore.
Things have to get worse before they get better. Eventually, a resurgence of nationalist spirit will most likely cause Swedish heritage and general Swede-ness to re-emerge in the populace. This always happens after the initial advent of so-called 'Americanization.' Traditions just don't die without a fight. Eventually they will be integrated into the new global culture. Sweden will always be Swedish.
This can never be achieved. "Integration" of different cultures into one obviously results in one big mediocre grey fucking mess that is ideal for noone and has zero value.
That does not have to occur. America is hardly one big gray mess.
Compromise... how American. No -- what I am witnessing is the D E S T R U C T I O N of our native culture, much like you destroyed Native American culture. See, I realize that there are other cultures, and I respect them -- I love the fact that there are still pagan tribes in the world who have yet to succumb to Christianity or American anti-culture -- but I realize that first and foremost, I have my OWN culture and traditions which I should cherish and carry on. A world full of grey fucking people with no identity is boring.
That first line was unnecessary. The destruction of Native American culture is a dark part of my nation's history, and I know I will live the rest of my life regretting the mistake of my forefathers. What we can do now is attempt to rebuild and regain the spirit of the Native American culture in those still alive. All is not lost. It's not good, but there is no rule saying that Native Americans must remain in reservations. I hope that in my lifetime I can see a resurgence in native pride and the re-emergence of some aborted semblance of the Native American tribes' former glory in some way. We must look to the youth. They are constantly seeking their roots. Maybe if we as a nation work together, they will find them. I only hope.
You obviously see no value in native culture, so anything I say is like speaking to a fucking brick wall. Perhaps get out of your fucking Christian mindset and try again.
These are all generalizations. I see the opposite, in fact. This in no way contradicts the dire need for globalization.
crimsonfloyd said:
The fact that "bitch", a derogatory and degrading word towards females is acceptable but a word used to describe fecal mater and a word used to describe sex (both perfectly natural acts) are not shows how backwards this country is.
I think they should all be abnned, or they should all be allowed. I fear the latter as this provides the opportunity for abuse. That may seem vague, but draw your own conclusions as to how someone like Howard Stern can degrade pop culture if given free reign.
Necro Joe said:
Oh man what a worthless post this is. If Eric is upset by the destruction of his native culture and traditions to make way for a culture which (he belives) is rooted in Christian ideals then of course he is going to become anti-christian since the only other alternatives are to passivly accept (or encourage as Nick is suggesting) the change taking place. So the anti-christianity is just a reaction to what he sees as an agressive intrusion by another culture/religion. Your idea that this is somehow becoming his culture and replacing his traditional values is laughable and pathetic. His hate does not come from a dislike of things which are different but rather from desire not to see his culture destroyed.
I feel deeply sorry that Erik is seeing the destruction of his native culture. That may seem pointless and foolish over a BB, but I sympathize with anyone who feels something so personal as this. He should not have to. I'm simply trying to suggest that globalization does not have to be destruction. All the globalization that I have witnessed has been increasingly positive. I can only hope that the end result is not a destruction of swedish or any other culture, but a true merging of American worldview with sWedish custom and tradiiton as is intended.
Unfaithfully Metalhead said:
As for christian culture, I would say Islamic culture is a whole lot more of a threat then christian culture ever is or was.
Your post was good-natured and polite, but this piece of fallacious dogshit has furrowed my brow in disappointment at you. This is a myth. Islam has never had the Christian mindset of spreading the reliigon and forcing it upon other people. Our religion forbids forced conversion. All conversion should be a conscious decision of the converter, otherwise he/she is not a true Muslim. Islam has room for other cultures under its umbrella. The only warning was given as a precaution that on Judgement Day, the nonbelievers would be judged by Allah for their lack of faith. Every day, prayer for the forgiveness of these people(a large number, y'know) is undertaken by Muslims. Do not misjudge or make blatantly false statements that reflect ignorance, please.
Erik said:
You misunderstand me a bit. You're not personally, neither is your country really because let's face it, you're not really FORCING anything upon us. I know perfectly well that it is my own country that is diluting its culture itself, because the general public doesn't care... The solution is to reinstate interest in our culture in our youth, but as things look today that just is not happening -- hence the general hopelessness I feel...
I lament your hopelessness. Just have faith. Your culture will not die. Ever. Trust me. It will resurface. Sweden will always be Sweden. Allow the people of your country to share some thigns with America. It's not all that bad. And if you think it is, the onset of infatuation is short-lived. You have to trust me.
Anyway, I thank you for retaining a coherent and mostly friendly tone in your post. Things get easier that way.
For the record, I don't think I have done any less.
Black Winter Day said:
On the other hand, there ARE many of us who reject the shallowness of commercialism, advertising, consumerism, spiritual flatland, etc. There ARE many Americans who live wholesome, enriching, daring, questioning lives. Most are labeled "deviants" and such, but it doesn't matter. It's true, I do want to get out of this country and see the rest of the world, other lands, other cultures (I'm probably going to study a semester abroad in London, France, Sweden or Germany) and know that culture is something that should be eclectic, multiple and vast, to be aware that we are all fucking people on this earth despite of culture. I want to travel and live... but at the same time, I love this country and I wouldn't change my birth and growing-up in America for anything in the world (including Swedish meatballs).
There are far more of us than you might think. I don't know where you live, but the people I know are eager to be worldbeat and show a geniune interest in other cultures and tradiitons. Many have preserved some aspect of their cultural heritage, and many also partake in American tradiitonalism as well.
Erik said:
Being labelled "deviant" from something like that which you describe should be nothing but a badge of honour.
I consider the closed-minded people in my country to be the deviants from what America is all about. Sicne the beginning, we have always attempted to be global. Only when Wilson first brought the idea to life did it truly take off. W're people, too. We have to evolve. After civil rights and such came about, only then did the true spirit of globalization sweep the nation. 9/11 aided it with some nationalism, and now I see people making severe efforts to try and understand other cultures. In that respect, I suppose 9/11 did us some good. Hopefully, we can fully realize the concept of a "global village" before another attack on our nation is required, as horrible as that sounds. 9/11 was a reminder of how fragile life is, and how we can't afford to not share ours with the world.
Globalization hardly equals mediocrity. Americans have their own culture as well. There are some things that are decidedly American, and they are beautiful things. I bet you've never met an American nationalist. They sure do exist. Perhaps what you're witnessing is Swedish people tossing aside nationalism and Swedish culture for this newfound world culture. But regardless of how globalized a world becomes, the loss of individualism and individual cultures cannot occur. There will always be heritage, and there there will always be unique tradiiton. What globalization seeks to do is integrate all cultures into one without destryoing the individual and simultaneously crushign separatism. What you're witnessing is the crushing of boundaries meant for separation, as opposed to uniqueness. Isolation is hardly a good thing. Individualism is the opposite. Know who you are, but also know that you are not the only one. Compromise.
