Quote:
Originally Posted by bitontheslide
(Post 10057663)
Hi Maru, I appreciate your thoughts and explanations, but these are metrics used to measure things. You may not agree with their methods of measurement, but they sit there as a method of comparing one country against another etc. Looking from the outside I have seen a big change in the USA in recent times, it is no longer a bench mark that others would aspire to, far from it. I think that manifests itself with these metrics.
The current Trump administration are hell bent on bringing down the establishment. Lying to the people they are supposed to represent. Trying to dictate that the absurd be the new gold standard. If this group weren't in power it would be completely different, but they are in power and so very much do threaten democratic values.
|
Thank God, Bits. I've always disliked the idea of the hero US being held up as some sort of rubric in the way of a "benchmark". I think every country has its issues, its own culture, and for that reason, it's super awkward for me to feel I can compare one to one so simply and easily. Even in the West, our cultures differ quite considerably.. but it can't always be compare everything to the US. We are not infallible. That was always a recipe for disappointment imo with the growing pains of a rebellious culture that would soon gain access to the quick firing information power of the internet. We're a culture of sh** stirrers, for better or worse. :laugh:
I always thought it was kind of funny too that the liberals here will act as though they're more emotionally reserved than the other. Except they too are rife with this rebel blood. Both factions have a common thread in rebellion and toward opposition.
Anyway on the topic of rubrics, one of most damaging aspects of the modern Western culture imo is the narcissism that is baked into this idea of We are better. It assumes we're always the benchmark. So ridiculous, because I think even the West is not perfect and is capable of some seriously heinous practices. Our ignorance of the externalities we create being one of our biggest flaws.
I think it's also finally time our culture in the US faced the music on a lot of things in this area. So actually, Trump is good in that he forces us now to turn towards ourselves and give a hard look at our flaws, actually look at them for a change. Not just the grandoise vision of our culture, but along the lines of what the Founders predicted could happen if we went too far with idealistic promises and fantasty logic. Imo, our system, as it has been designed has a fair bit of room to absorb Trump Syndrome...
I generally think we have a tendency to oversimplify politics in the West and the way cultures work, and I think a large part of that is due to the narcissism that often comes baked into Western culture... when actually, self-awareness is a major flaw of the West and is our single largest blindspot. That is why I think all that has transpired... is my opinion. |
