Will you marry me?

[Spiller]

I watch a lot of Star Trek myself and know exactly what you mean.. we have to suspend disbelief a lot as, If the producers changed too many aspects the show could become unwieldly and difficult to comprehend with our 21st century sensibilities.
I'd certainly like to see more of those occasional moments where alien social mores are pointed out, just to bring the setting itself into clearer focus.

I think our hope is in the current mixing of cultures we're seeing as people migrate from one country to another - I find it odd that many people have a problem with this myself as I'm looking forward to rubbing shoulders with other races.
Some have very strict rules of conduct which might benefit our own privileged and spoilt Western ways which, I feel, may need a little discipline, while others are far more open minded and forgiving than I find my own culture in the UK is.

Maybe from the Africans we'll learn courtesy and emotional discipline.. from the Indians and Asians, Faith and acceptance.. from all of them, respect as I think we've lost that in our consumer-driven society.

 

[Cosmophylla]

I watch a lot of Star Trek myself and know exactly what you mean.. we have to suspend disbelief a lot as, If the producers changed too many aspects the show could become unwieldly and difficult to comprehend with our 21st century sensibilities.
I'd certainly like to see more of those occasional moments where alien social mores are pointed out, just to bring the setting itself into clearer focus.

I think our hope is in the current mixing of cultures we're seeing as people migrate from one country to another - I find it odd that many people have a problem with this myself as I'm looking forward to rubbing shoulders with other races.
Some have very strict rules of conduct which might benefit our own privileged and spoilt Western ways which, I feel, may need a little discipline, while others are far more open minded and forgiving than I find my own culture in the UK is.

Maybe from the Africans we'll learn courtesy and emotional discipline.. from the Indians and Asians, Faith and acceptance.. from all of them, respect as I think we've lost that in our consumer-driven society.

Yes, it's interesting (and frightening, too) that there is a continuing swing to the political right, which I associate with narrow-mindedness, xenophobia, and worse. While we are slowly opening up to each other across the continents, thanks to digital technology and faster transportation, there is simultaneously a retreat into familiarity, homogeneity. It saddens me. I haven't voiced this before but I fear it could end up in world war three.

I wholeheartedly agree that mixing of cultures can only benefit us. But at the same time it's a frightening prospect if seen in a different light: that of losing one's uniqueness. I always loved that song, Melting Pot. It seems such a positive message! But I can also see how some want to retain their own cultures. What bothers me is when countries like my own (Oz...not the Baum one, the down under one) go and try to claim their culture would be ruined by accepting other races and religions... It's so ridiculous! This country is a nation of mongrels and the culture they are trying to defend has a poor history of human rights abuses against the indigenous people who have every right to be here! Gah, this is getting too political, sorry.

I also agree about taking the best aspects of other cultures... Would be good! After living in Japan for 8 years it was a huge shock to return home and see how incredibly impertinent salespeople are here. In Japan, customers are treated like royalty. Here, and in other "Western" countries, we are at worst treated as an inconvenience! However, there is blatant racism in Japan, too. It was actually a formative experience to be in the receiving end of it and I wish those who are racist had the opportunity to see it.

Sorry, mina, for kind of hijacking your thread.

 

[Spiller]

I wholeheartedly agree that mixing of cultures can only benefit us. But at the same time it's a frightening prospect if seen in a different light: that of losing one's uniqueness. I always loved that song, Melting Pot. It seems such a positive message! But I can also see how some want to retain their own cultures. What bothers me is when countries like my own (Oz...not the Baum one, the down under one) go and try to claim their culture would be ruined by accepting other races and religions... It's so ridiculous! This country is a nation of mongrels and the culture they are trying to defend has a poor history of human rights abuses against the indigenous people who have every right to be here! Gah, this is getting too political, sorry.

People seem to fail to realise that, not only does the UK have a history of affecting almost every other culture in the world by force, but our culture is made up of a variety of european peoples' mixed in with the native celtic heritage.
Not only is this is a natural process of cultural evolution but how can we want contact with the rest of the world only on our own terms?

People seem to say they want equality.. as long as it's their equality.

Nice to know I'm not the only one that sees this

Sorry too Mina

 

[Cosmophylla]

People seem to fail to realise that, not only does the UK have a history of affecting almost every other culture in the world by force, but our culture is made up of a variety of european peoples' mixed in with the native celtic heritage.
Not only is this is a natural process of cultural evolution but how can we want contact with the rest of the world only on our own terms?

People seem to say they want equality.. as long as it's their equality.

Nice to know I'm not the only one that sees this

Sorry too Mina

Yes! And yes! We are of the same mind, Spiller and we aren't alone. My husband is the same and there are others here. Recently there were protests regarding immigration detention, and demands to accept more Syrian refugees. Nice to know that some people are willing to open their arms to diversity. I was very moved by the images of refugees reaching Frankfurt recently and being welcomed with toys and hugs and welcome signs. Brought tears to my eyes.

 

[Spiller]

I cried too!

I was taken ill over two years ago, lost my business and was forced to live on minimum benefits for a year - I was only able to afford three small meals per week and was weakening from malnutrition - don't forget I live in the UK, a supposedly rich country.

I had a heated conversation recently with someone who posted on fb a picture of UK benefits claimants queuing at a charity food-bank with the caption "Look after our own before letting in immigrants - 'like' and 'share' if you agree"

My answer was that, as one of those starving people myself, knowing what it feels like, I would never hesitate to help another in need.

I don't know anyone here who has been hungry like I was for so long, but I do know recent immigrants who work at very poorly paid jobs - some of them homeless (again, like I was.. six months of sleeping in my car) and still managing to send money home to support their families.

Would we act differently if we were forced to leave our own country?

 

[Cosmophylla]

I cried too!


Would we act differently if we were forced to leave our own country?

Undoubtedly. There's nothing like first hand experience to teach us life's most valuable lessons. Funny, though, how those who complain loudest tend to be the most complacent and least philanthropic?

(I didn't know what rating to put on your post... I wanted to put and and wishful all rolled into one. So I gave you a heart.)

 

[Ste11aeres]

I'm watching Star Trek Next Gen a lot at the moment (been ill for a couple of months, with a lot of bed rest... A good excuse to indulge in some sci fi) and I had a mini epiphany related to this topic... I don't know, maybe it's a bit of an oblique reference but perhaps it's relevant or at least interesting.

It's actually something that has puzzled me for ages. Next Gen is set a couple of centuries into the future, yet look at the interactions between males and females. They are firmly entrenched in the 20th century. I find it puzzling that the writers didn't seriously try to move on from social conventions or try to create new ones. Throughout the series there are references to sexism having long been left behind, and equality between men and women, and yet the characters go on "dates", males give females flowers, females wear heavy makeup and seductive clothing, males hold out chairs for females to sit down, and so on. Even now that seems so outdated to me! Maybe I'm just too highly evolved, teehee.

I love Star Trek for the science aspect, but it does make me a little sad that it seems to reinforce those stereotypical social mores. Not much help for Aspie guys if it looks like even ten generations from now those silly conventions will still be in place!

You think Next Generation was bad....have you ever seen "The Cage," the pilot episode of the first Star Wars?
Sexist but in a really clumsy way that ends up being bizzarely funny. Even more bizzare because it clumsily (and very very very briefly) tries to treat of themes of possible male and female equality...and falls flat on its face.

Spoiler

The really horrible part is the last scene, though. I'm not going to include nor describe it since it makes more sense in the context of the whole episode.
If the episode was less clumsy and clunky and bizzare, it would be horrible.

So I guess the meaning is that, in the future we will have devolved to utter sexism, but even later on, by the time of Star Trek Next Generation, we will have left sexism behind to such an astonishing degree as to have come close to the state of things during 1990s America.

 

[Maelstrom]

Culture is not, and never will be a substitute for true Christian virtue , if you want a nice world you need nice people, and there is only one path with a proven track record on that. The communists and socialist failed miserably on producing goodness through education, and any other similar efforts to climb over the wall into the sheep fold of goodness, (without God), will end miserably as well.

 

[Tom]

Yes, but it could be for multiple reasons. Anxiety over providing, some internal checklist still not completed, not being sure of their partners feelings... My NT wife proposed to me. That was very reassuring/validating and helpful for me.

 

[Cosmophylla]

Culture is not, and never will be a substitute for true Christian virtue , if you want a nice world you need nice people, and there is only one path with a proven track record on that. The communists and socialist failed miserably on producing goodness through education, and any other similar efforts to climb over the wall into the sheep fold of goodness, (without God), will end miserably as well.

To clarify, when I say "culture" I include religious beliefs. I'm not religious at all but I accept that people need belief systems to help them make sense of the world. However, I don't promote any one over the others. At my son's school (a public school with no religious affiliation) they have biennial visits from the Gyuto monks of Tibet, and during the visits the monks talk with the children about their beliefs. They're not preaching or trying to convert anyone, if that's the impression I give. If they "preach" anything it's tolerance, kindness, gentleness, self-control, mindfulness and peace. I can't think of any wars or invasions started by Buddhists

This could get out of hand so I will leave this topic here and take my hat off to Tom for putting the thread back on track. (ADD distractions are too easy for me...)

 

[zurb]

I can't think of any wars or invasions started by Buddhists

Hahaha, SE Asia is a place of such harmony and peace throughout the ages.
Now back on topic...