Cultural Identity

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hi Sleepy,
Reading what you have written is very interesting for me because you are at a similar age to that when I first went to Germany;which was before you were born.
Now, as you can imagine, I was told the Germans were a terrible people who had exterminated millions(?) of people etc. etc. etc. Despite this, they had produced the greatest music, which is my passion, any nation has ever produced. When I went to Germany to visit Beethoven's birthplace I discovered a people and a political system that far outweighed the silliness of the welfare statism of the UK. From then on, I watched as the UK slumped further and furher into dependency, relying on handouts from the German central bank and the International Monetary Fund to keep the UK afloat. I learned to speak German and discovered that, on average, they were far more educated than their English counterparts. My acquaintences in Germany ranged from university professors to working class people but, generally, I found them to be intellectually superior to their UK equivalents.

Hmmm, I don't know that much about Germany, from personal experience that is, but what you say doesn't surprise me one bit, especially about the last point. On top of that the points from which you quoted, about millions following a particular TV program (if millions watch it then it must be good) and to the hectic lifestyle that seems a standard thing no matter what area you work in, just makes me feel quite depressed, because, well, it is just so true! Maybe there is a strong link between TV and poor education? In fact I'm certain there is. Of course if people just switched of the bloody TV once in a while and got out and did a night class or something it would at least be a start. British people watch more TV than any other nation barring America, and doesn’t it show? (Typical Americans though tut, tut.)

I'm not being "stuck up" or anything about education, it is not even about being educated at all really, it is just about not being totally mindless buffoons or morons, or ignorant and rude - you know the common sort of decency that seems to be eroding fast! I'm tired and ranting, a little, but you get the picture.

Speaking to a Greek lady I work with today and shortly she is going back over there to teach because the respect in English state schools (at least a good selection of them) is virtually non-existent, and tonnes better in Greece – why the hell is this? What has gone wrong? I tell you this country is going downhill very fast, but I guess you already know that too well?

I do genuinely think that there is a big link between education/respect Vs TV and media output too, especially advertisements. Adverts creates desire and want, which if it is not satisfied leads to dejection and frustration resulting in negativity, but I’ll talk about that another time, must get some beatuy sleep to keep all the laddies happy.

[Virgil]

Yes, its not really American bashing in a nasty way, its more like a gentle mocking. You know you might here a silly news story alongside the conclusion of "typical American" with a shake of the head and a tut, that sort of thing, not anything really nasty - honest.

None taken. I loved my time in England. I found the people great.

[Paulclem]

None taken. I loved my time in England. I found the people great.

As the person who mentioned American bashing, I was joking of course. All generalisations about people tend to be rubbish. I merely jest.

I do genuinely think that there is a big link between education/respect Vs TV and media output too, especially advertisements. Adverts creates desire and want, which if it is not satisfied leads to dejection and frustration resulting in negativity, but I’ll talk about that another time, must get some beatuy sleep to keep all the laddies happy. Neely

I've never known a time when I didn't have access to TV, but I feel it's said it all it has to say to me. I watch very little now by choice. The only thing I watch that can be guaranteed to be different is the football on match of the day.

As for the media - i do think it has a huge undemocratic influence. It is respnsible for our ignorence of world current affairs, our insularity and the focus upon trivia.

You would hardly think that any other troops were fighting and dying in Afghanistan - including American troops - except for the Brits. Of course there is a focus upon our troops, but to the exclusion of all the other nations taking part? It inflates the sense of importance, and gives the false impression that the Afghan mission is in British hands when it is a joint effort by Euro, Australian and US troops. (I think there are other troops involved too).

You can surmise this if you look and think, but don't try and rely on the news media for any real information, balance and perspective. This is only one aspect of a media that I think is a huge undemocratic leviathon in Western democracies. Freedom of the press? Freedom to skew public opinion, deflect and focus public attention upon the aspects it wants to promote or destroy, and the freedom and money to evade any meaningful challenge to its approaches and bias.

I want freedom of the press, but this freedom is curently abused to our detriment.

[SleepyWitch]

hehe, guys, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying England is all cr*p and Germany is so much better or anything. If you read my post closely, you'll see I'm stuck somewhere in the middle.

[LitNetIsGreat]

hehe, guys, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying England is all cr*p and Germany is so much better or anything. If you read my post closely, you'll see I'm stuck somewhere in the middle.

No, I'm not saying that you said that, nevertheless I can't help voicing a little dissatisfaction now and then at the things that bug me. Of course with that said, nowhere is perfect, there are bound to be problems and issues that arise even in the best of places.

Yes Paulclem, some good points there, well put.

[Paulclem]

hehe, guys, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying England is all cr*p and Germany is so much better or anything. If you read my post closely, you'll see I'm stuck somewhere in the middle.

We're stuck in the middle too. perhaps we've been protesting too much, but the things you mention annoy a lot of English people. The points are good for discussion.

[OrphanPip]

[COLOR="DarkRed"] It inflates the sense of importance, and gives the false impression that the Afghan mission is in British hands when it is a joint effort by Euro, Australian and US troops. (I think there are other troops involved too).

That being said it doesn't take much effort to actually look up the troops involved in Afghanistan.

Which are the US, the UK, and an international NATO force mostly consisting of French, Italian, Canadian, German, Australian, Polish and Dutch troops.

Casualties:

1,542 killed
US: 935, UK: 239, Canada: 132, Germany: 40, France: 36

Wounded:
US: 4,640, UK: 3,141, Canada: 1,075, Germany: 147, Australia: 84.

[Paulclem]

That being said it doesn't take much effort to actually look up the troops involved in Afghanistan.

Which are the US, the UK, and an international NATO force mostly consisting of French, Italian, Canadian, German, Australian, Polish and Dutch troops.

Casualties:

1,542 killed
US: 935, UK: 239, Canada: 132, Germany: 40, France: 36

Wounded:
US: 4,640, UK: 3,141, Canada: 1,075, Germany: 147, Australia: 84.

You're right, and you and I can do it. But there are people who won't because they aren't aware in the first place. If I can find my own news, or that is the expectation, then what is the media news for?

[Scheherazade]

The OP:

So what is the make up of your cultural identity? How do you define yourselves?

Off-topic posts will be removed without any further notice.

[Shannanigan]

To be on-topic...

I was born in Los Angeles, California. I am Caucasion, and thus, was a "white girl" and was treated as such (in both positive and negative ways, depending on my surroundings.)

I had no idea until my mother moved us "back" to "her home" in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, that I had some "other" in my blood. You want cultural identity confusion? Here it is. These islands have been ruled by SEVEN seperate nations, were SOLD to the US (people and all) in 1917, and aren't a US "state" but also are considered too "American" by the rest of the Caribbean.

Turns out, my mother is a "Frenchie," an ethnic group that traces their roots back to French huguenots who escaped to St. Barths in the 18th century and then migrated to St. Thomas when the news of the opportunity for farming and fishing industries reached them. So, I guess I am half French-Caribbean, but I grew up until the age of 16 as a "white American" (with no knowledge of any European background until my move) and definitely act and speak like a "white girl." Then, from 16 until the present, I attended school and am now teaching as a "I-think-she's-Frenchie"...kind of a local, but not quite.

Frenchies are fairly accepted here as "locals," though they obviously don't have the "African heritage" (or skin tone) and culture that is celebrated around Carnival time and taught in school. But you have to speak with the local dialect to truly be accepted, and I didn't have that, and still only rarely use it, because I wasn't "born here" and don't feel I have the right to.

My father's side of the family comes from places like Germany, Newfoundland, and Ireland...but it's all so far back in the family tree that I don't identify with it at all. I wasn't raised with any notion of "my culture;" I was a child of a couple parents who had achieved "The American Dream."

These days, I've decided that I truly am "half white, half Frenchie." I have the blood and cultural experience and attachments to both sides of that...and while that identity does not satisfy most people, it satisfies me, and that's all that matters as far as I'm concerned.

[Paulclem]

I think it's great to have an interesting geneology, and to be able to identify associations with different cultures.

[TurquoiseSunset]

Apart from one or two disparaging posters, this has been a really succesful and very interesting thread. I'm too lazy to check who started it, but thanks to you whoever you are

[Scheherazade]

Apart from one or two disparaging posters, this has been a really succesful and very interesting thread. I'm too lazy to check who started it, but thanks to you whoever you are

Why, thank you!

[Maximilianus]

I agree with TurquoiseSunset. It's one of my fave threads by Scher Great idea, Scher

[blazeofglory]

Cultural identity is likened to religious or racial identity and it seems to help people for a while as they feel culturally united and they can have an identity that distinguish them from the rest of genres and that keeps people safer in point of fact.

But this identity at times ruins people and in order to forge their identity they fight with one another.

Today people following or choose to reorient their culture stir acts of violence and they become crueler. T