The 5th and a half state

short-schrift

dailykos

What I'd do, only better

There's a genocide going o, in case if your forgot

homebase to find the future of news. Googlezon

Smart words from the ivory tower

Ah, the press, which I'm now loosely a member of.

At best I try not to inform, but to examine, and hopefully articulate my analysis of what the facts could mean. What the world can do.



Such as...

I was thinking today on the train how the world hates America. But it's not that they hate us, as much as they're afraid of losing themselves. Western democracy and capitalist ideals are as much a religion to American's as anything concerning God.

We have complete, unwaivering faith in the ultimate good of freedom and free-enterprise.

We're willing to forfiet cultural identity, and ethnic isolationism if it hinders the progress of freedom of choice. Especially when that choice involves what I can or can not buy (except for drugs and services like abortion, American's on both sides of the political divide believe in the opportunities afforded by free and open markets).

But that doesn't mean it's the best system for the rest of the world (despite of how benifical it would be for the US to have an entire world of free consumers).

What I propose as a step towards dissuading the fears of those who believe our hegmonic culture will assimulate theirs is to embrace theirs.

If Western Culture adopts more from the rich and vibrant cultures we pollute with fast-food and enslave for cheap labor, maybe the word wouldn't see us as one giant peach colored blob of culturally deficent lard-asses.

Before I continue, let me state. I know this won't save the world. In fact, if done in the wrong spirit it could appear like we're treating other cultures like spoiled children we must placate. All I'm saying is, if they're afraid rap music and a pair of jeans is the first step to erasing their culture from future generations (which it can), then let's embrace world culture with something more than a token booth at Epcot.

STEP ONE:
Hats


If some boy in Saudi Arabia is caught by his parents sneaking a little too much MTV, but his parents see the fly girls dancing in a traditional Afghani pokol, well maybe American culture isn't so bad.

STEP TWO:
Iraqi movies
Place Iraqi actors on the big screen. In fact, tell some of their traditional stories besides the one where Mork is a genie. I doubt that's how the original goes.



STEP THREE:
Stop running shows that sound like we're promoting the US as a hethen religion. What show(s) might I be refering to...American False Idol. Hmm, when you think about it, we vote for just another pop star to ruin anything true and culturaly valid in our country. Thank you FOX.