Cultural Dissolution?

[kreeden]

All good points . I agree , things tend to even out in the end , and histroy is being written every day . The very nature of politics is to get other people to do things the way you want them done , so there is bound to be differences in opinions .

Ok , back on topic . An excample of what Druidus is talking about , I believe , is Pepsi's brand of soft drink called Mountaun Dew . It is one of the heaviest caffeined soft drinks that Pepsi makes in the US , but here in Canada , there is a law stating that critus drinks can't be caffinated . So Pepsi has been working hard to over turn that law . A company , not a country .

Is this right ? Pepsi has the money and resourses . But should a company be allowed to buy their desires ? They have been making caffine free Mountain Dew here for years , I'm not sure why they figure the caffinated would sell better ? Makes little difference to me personally , as I'm a Coke drinker .

This is actually a larger issue then the US taking over cultures . It is an issue of Gobalization and what it would mean for the little guy .

A side note : Since Free Trade , most Canada beer tastes like American beer , IMHO .

 

[Mr Spinkles]

kreeden-- Companies like Pepsi employ many people, and many people buy and enjoy their products. Pepsi represents a group of people--and in a democracy, the people have a right to be heard in government. I'm not defending their position--just their right to have a voice.

 

[huajiro]

I believe it is but why stop it?

I don`t believe the world will become "Americanized" either because American culture itself is changing by integrating other cultures, slowly finding compromise, and successfully living with it.

I understand the desire for diversity and seperate identities but I just don`t really see what benefit they offer.
The more alike we are, the more we will understand each other and the less intolerence there will be.

The "melting pot" is a lie.

 

[Sunstone]

The "melting pot" is a lie.

With all respect, I wouldn't call it "a lie" so much as an over-simplification. Have you ever read Sowell's Ethnic America, Huajiro?

 

[huajiro]

With all respect, I wouldn't call it "a lie" so much as an over-simplification. Have you ever read Sowell's Ethnic America, Huajiro?

No, but I am open to anything, what is it about?

 

[linwood]

The "melting pot" is a lie.

I agree, I wouldn`t want a "melting pot" considering it implies an emulsification.
I prefer a mosiac analogy that keeps adding and accepting bits and pieces to form a greater whole.

but here in Canada , there is a law stating that critus drinks can't be caffinated .

Well there goes Canada...I gotta have my Mountain Dew.
Is there nowhere I can run?
Sweden perhaps?

 

[Sunstone]

Ethnic America by Thomas Sowell is a book that examines the experiences of about a dozen ethnic groups that came to America. It focuses on how those ethnic groups succeeded in the American economy. The scholarship is excellent. In fact, the scholarship could be used to set a standard for what good scholarship is.

The reason the book might interest you is because it's conclusions support the idea that America is not a true melting pot.

 

[kreeden]

kreeden-- Companies like Pepsi employ many people, and many people buy and enjoy their products. Pepsi represents a group of people--and in a democracy, the people have a right to be heard in government. I'm not defending their position--just their right to have a voice.

But neither Canada nor the US of A are Democracys . Canada is a Confederation and the US is a Republic .

However , some would say that the little guy has as much right not to be bought out as a company has the right to be heard by the government . Which is the whole point of this tread as I see it . Just because something is done one way here , doesn't mean it has to be done the same way over there .

 

[huajiro]

Ethnic America by Thomas Sowell is a book that examines the experiences of about a dozen ethnic groups that came to America. It focuses on how those ethnic groups succeeded in the American economy. The scholarship is excellent. In fact, the scholarship could be used to set a standard for what good scholarship is.

The reason the book might interest you is because it's conclusions support the idea that America is not a true melting pot.

I think I will get it, it sounds interesting

 

[Mr Spinkles]

But neither Canada nor the US of A are Democracys . Canada is a Confederation and the US is a Republic .

From www.dictionary.com :

de·moc·ra·cy
n. pl. de·moc·ra·cies

1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2. A political or social unit that has such a government.
3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4. Majority rule.
5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

Neither Canada nor the U.S. have a direct democracy--but both Confederacies and Republics are types of democratic government. Indeed, if we confine ourselves to purism, no government on Earth is a "true" anything.

 

[Druidus]

Except for despotism. You can't argue that it's not a pure dictatorship.


Consider this, Mr. Spinkles:

In this world, we have over 6000 languages. However, these 6000 are being replaced by English, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and a few others. Why is this? Because It has become a nescessity for people to learn these languages. One might say that it may be good to have a common language, however, it will impact us, in ways we don't imagine now. These languages can be compared to the cultural dissolution. We have at least the same ammount of cultures as languages, but these are being fast replaced as well.

Mr. Spinkles, have you ever read "Guns, Germs, and Steel"?

 

[kreeden]

Neither Canada nor the U.S. have a direct democracy--but both Confederacies and Republics are types of democratic government. Indeed, if we confine ourselves to purism, no government on Earth is a "true" anything.

And that is my point Mr. Sprinkles . Many Americans appear to think that their way of life is the only " true " way . Do you recall the saying " Better dead then Red "? The American spin doctors pumps that stuff out to the point where it almost become Fascist .

Now I am not saying that Canada , or any other nation has a better way of doing things , only different . And in my opinion , differences should be respected .

 

[linwood]

Now I am not saying that Canada , or any other nation has a better way of doing things , only different .

And in my opinion , differences should be respected .

I agree to a point but what i`m saying is that those differences could be assimilated into American culture in a way that dissolves much of that "Fascism".

Thats my hope at least.

 

[huajiro]

I agree to a point but what i`m saying is that those differences could be assimilated into American culture in a way that dissolves much of that "Fascism".

Thats my hope at least.

What if people don't want to be part of American culture (or lack of)? I myself feel like I am not part of this culture. I get a lot of crap from my fellow Americans because I don't say things like "God bless America", don't have a flag on my car, don't sing the national anthem, etc. I was born here and have every right to be here, but I don't see why people should have to assimilate, leave that for the Borg on Star Trek shows.

 

[linwood]

What if people don't want to be part of American culture (or lack of)?

Then you don`t have to, thats what the constitution is for.

However it really doesn`t matter how you go about life you are a part of your societies culture one way or the other, you don`t have to agree with every bit of it to be a part of it.

 

[huajiro]

Then you don`t have to, thats what the constitution is for.

However it really doesn`t matter how you go about life you are a part of your societies culture one way or the other, you don`t have to agree with every bit of it to be a part of it.

You would be amazed at how many people in this country judge you if you don't "go with the flow".

Imagine if they knew that I am not a Capitalist.

 

[kreeden]

I agree to a point but what i`m saying is that those differences could be assimilated into American culture in a way that dissolves much of that "Fascism".

Thats my hope at least.

We're working on it . What do think all of those " snow birds " are doing ? Sure , they appear old and harmless ..

 

[linwood]

You would be amazed at how many people in this country judge you if you don't "go with the flow".
.

I am amazed.
Remember, I`m a left leaning conservative atheist living on "Mainstreet USA in Jesusland".

I`m not exactly "flowing"

We're working on it . What do think all of those " snow birds " are doing ? Sure , they appear old and harmless .

Hmm..you may be onto something I hadn`t thought of.
They are insidious aren`t they?

 

[Mr Spinkles]

And that is my point Mr. Sprinkles . Many Americans appear to think that their way of life is the only " true " way . Do you recall the saying " Better dead then Red "? The American spin doctors pumps that stuff out to the point where it almost become Fascist .

Now I am not saying that Canada , or any other nation has a better way of doing things , only different . And in my opinion , differences should be respected .

I'm confused. What does this have to do with Pepsi's right to be heard in government?

 

[kreeden]

Pepsi has been heard , for years they have been heard . Both of your governments are pretty much ran by lobbyist , or at lest the lobbyist are there and have the ears of our governments . But big lobbyist is the American way , not Canadian . Hey , it works up here too , some times . Free Trade is an excample of well well it works here . That pretty much killed the party that brough it in . And we , the Canadian people are still stuck with it , for awhile at lest . Things appear to be heating up along those lines .

Anyway , we have our own way of doing things up here . Many are very unAmerican . Health is one of those things . It is a very Socialist form of Health Care . And something many Canadians are quite proud of . I guess that what I'm getting at here is that many of us don't like the idea of big business , or big government making those decisions for us . Canada is a Confederation after all . By defination , it gives smaller groups more freedom . { weak central government and all } . In Canada , it is the Provinces that actually have the power of veto .

Yup . A Province can actually veto the Federal government here . The language laws of Quebec for excample . There is a completely different mind set up here . And that differs from Province to Province , to a degree . It is hard to explain the " Canadian Identity " to a Canadian , so it is that much harder to explain it to a non-Canadian . And my head is lost in space tonight , or somewhere . I hope that this helps . If not . let me know and I will give it another go .