Archives For November 30, 1999

It appears one of the worst things people decided to do was bring the concepts taught in anthropology to the masses. Unfortunately people took the science and bastardized it into some ridiculous guilt tripping scheme to control peoples thoughts- much in the same way most sciences are abused. It is incredibly humorous to read through the racism, cultural appropriation, feminism, etc. tags and read all the bigoted and stupid thoughts that pop into peoples heads. It’s fascinating how people are now on the complete opposite spectrum in regards to assimilation and cultural appreciation. Why is everyone paranoid if someone appreciates another culture? Why are you not able to fully appreciate another cultural experience without facing potential annoyance from overzealous internet anthropology nerds? I find it fascinating that when I go to other places on my travels, the native people want you to experience what their culture has to offer. But here in western culture we are told essentially hands off. This seems very hypocritical from the championed liberal multi-cultural and global rhetoric preached in schools and work settings currently. Are we really going to throw a hissy fit every time someone not Irish wants a Guinness, someone black wants a mohawk haircut, someone Japanese wants a cheeseburger, someone not Chinese getting a character tattoo, etc. etc. etc. 

People need to stop taking it upon themselves to defend trivial and perpetually changing abstractions that make up culture.

Been trudging along in Master and Commander for a while and decided to take small break to learn all these nautical terms. Hopefully I can then comprehend what exactly is going on but otherwise an excellent read. 

Other books I am reading simultaneously: 

An Experiment in Criticism – C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis

Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu 

A History of Korea – Michael Seth

I would like to finish half of them plus Soccernomics by November. 

Been getting into several discussions in recent times about the issue of homosexuality so I thought I should construct this little piece to get my views out in the open. These days simply stating the bland fact that the word marriage means the union of the two opposite, complimentary halves of humanity, is cause for hysterical hatred and accusations of bigotry from the liberals and gay activists. It’s simply what the word marriage implies. The words ‘heterosexual’ and ‘homosexual’ have different meanings too, but it’s not insulting or diminishing to gays in any way to simply apply those terms correctly – why should the correct use of the word marriage be an outrage? Businesses like Chic-fil-A, Barilla pasta company, and that poor chap in Seattle who was run out of business for insisting upon the actual definition of marriage, aren’t condemning, persecuting, or harassing gay people – they are merely defying Orwellian new-speak.  Marriage only means one thing, even outside of religion – but the liberals and activists now demand to change the meanings of words, and the ancient institutions they describe, for the sake of political correctness alone. Many people, religious included, have no problem with gay couples receiving identical legal treatment  as married couples – the problem arises when special interests insist upon mandating redefining words in order to accommodate the unique circumstances of a comparatively tiny percentile of the population.  Everyone has the right to eat Pizza, but a small minority doesn’t like Pizza – so they drastically alter it to suit their specifications. They remove the tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni and all the traditional toppings and replace them with say, cake icing, fruit and candy. The new innovation may be delicious – but it’s not Pizza anymore, and cannot accurately be named such. But, instead of accepting the logic of this reality, the government is called in to mandate that the official new treat of those who who have no taste for traditional pizza be called Pizza as well, simply in order to spare feelings. Soon, those who openly state that only the traditional Pizza is really Pizza are called food bigots and run out of business by zealous snack reformers. Silly analogy, admittedly. But this is the source of a great misunderstanding and division in society today – and it could all be solved if gays and liberals would simply concede that the word marriage does not apply to same-sex couples, even though love and commitment does apply. Gays are embarking upon a life partnership, certainly, but its not marriage, merely because gays don’t happen to be complimentary opposites – it has nothing whatsoever to do with inequality.  That gay couples want legal obstacles removed is entirely reasonable. But when they cross over to tyrannizing language – it’s the hypocritical intolerance that only comes from pure ideological zealotry. Words have meaning – and 98% of the population shouldn’t be forced to alter their understanding of those words simply because gays have a different circumstance. Anyways these are my views on the matter presently and I will gladly answer questions. However, if you wish to dissuade me from my position it would be a real waste of your time. 

It does get annoying when people group all people of Caucasian appearance into one group. People ought to be more specific when naming historical oppressors or wrong doers rather than put the blanket label of “white” as the culprit. People ought to specifically call out “white” southerners (not Italian, German, Jewish, etc. immigrants) for their slavery and discriminatory practices until the late 1970s. People ought to be upset at specific European powers for their squeezing of all resources in their specific colonies, not upset at Europe as a whole. Its far from fair to label everyone together simply due to the fact that not all “whites”  have the same levels of culpability (or none at all) in relation to past global conflicts. Furthermore people need to understand the historical causes and see how it effects their lives today. But one should not bind their free will around these effects, especially if one understands the causes. Your ancestors may not have been treated with compassion and loved as the wonderful human creations they were but that does not mean you must harbor animosity presently. As the great sage Lao Tzu stated, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner." 

One of the great things about this up and coming generation is its acceptance of different types of people and ideas. And yet, one of the troubling things about this up and coming generation is its acceptance of different types of people and ideas irregardless of the absurdity. This and the pervading slightly selfish idea that one is required to do whatever makes his or herself “happy.” That everyone is a winner and everyone can be satisfied with his or herself rather than make improvements and grow as individuals.