November 5th, 2004
Why is race still an issue for Americans? It’s been a billion years since Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Kennedy and Johnson did all that work to blur the lines and bring us all together as Americans.
I think the problem has to do with our culture, or lack thereof.
What do we have to offer? Capitalism? Democracy? But what about social rites, rituals, and a real sense of community? In those areas we’re sorely lacking. We’re a culture of consumers. We buy and sell.
I wonder what it would be like to come from a more distinct culture – perhaps from Italy, or Brazil, or China. Other nationalities tend to have their own distinct flavor and unique social milieux.
We’re missing out on some good stuff… probably some bad stuff too. But I wish we had more to offer. Maybe if we could build our own strong national culture these racial lines could become less distinct.
Entry Filed under: The Black Hole
8 Comments
1.
Samantha | November 5th, 2004 at 5:38 pm
Funny, I just heard someone else say that the US had no culture.
2.
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3.
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4.
Hannes | November 6th, 2004 at 7:27 am
If your beef is with racism, then trust me on this the Americans and Canadians might be the most tolerant in the world. As a Chinese person, I can tell you this straight up, China is not tolerant.
If your beef is with culture then sure other people have been around longer and therefor have more culture but America really is a distinct culture itself. The entire concept of capitolism, democracy and freedom is a culture. It’s a lifestyle that’s foreign to so many other places and just in a few short years that the United States has been around, it has procuded so much in terms of art, literature, inventions, music, etc. History comes with time right, and you can’t say your history up to a minute ago hasn’t been interesting right.
5.
Neb | November 6th, 2004 at 2:51 pm
Have to agree w/ Hannes. I think we’re so immersed in our “culture” that we don’t see it as distinct. After you’ve lived in another country for awhile (more than a few weeks), it’s easier to get a feel for what “American” is. Think, too, of some of our distinctive cultural icons, like Daniel Boone, Molly Pitcher, Harriet Tubman, Jedediah Smith, to name a few. They all have that uniquely American “rugged independance” and pioneer spirit, and that’s VERY American.
6.
Fallen Plebeian | November 8th, 2004 at 5:40 pm
Well, that goes for almost any other nation especially here, racism that is. It may not be as widely documented as before, but here in the Philippines, a lot of people think that most non-Filipino races are far more superior than the natives. Colonial mentality. Most people here tend to look down on their own countrymen, which is something I can’t quite understand why. So much for nationalism here. By the way, I already updated the link to your site in my blog. Your new site’s really good, if I may add.
7.
BT | November 11th, 2004 at 10:26 pm
This is the correct motorcycle.
Our country, as a whole, is a cultureless technocratic wasteland. These days, however, you risk being branded a humanist or culture warrior for focusing on things like…the arts.
Earlier responses regarding the chinese, for instance, are only partially valid IMHO. The Chinese, Japanese, Persians for instance have a REAL aryan culture…that is, for thousands of years.
Racism in America is different. Racism in America is about hate and ignorance.
I agree. Its stupid..its lame and only fuckheads are racists. But has it really been that long ago?
8.
noodge | November 13th, 2004 at 4:02 pm
Not only is race still an issue, but what about gender?