So, How Do We Open Our Minds....

[Bob]

I don't know, H. Does it mean that I am not open-minded because I don't respect the culture that forces it's women to extend their necks with rings, mutiliates their feet with bindings, forces them to cover themselves from head-to-foot or face beatings, or the cultures that kill people for the mere fact they are gay?

Maybe being open-minded and knowing right from wrong are two different things?

these observations in a country that settled through genocide, slavery, and subjugation of females. a country which is the only to have used nuclear weapons, fought over one dozen wars of occupation, and only recently afforded full rights to it's black citizenry. open minded? do we wish to cast the first stone?

 

[CampCreekLou]

these observations in a country that settled through genocide, slavery, and subjugation of females. a country which is the only to have used nuclear weapons, fought over one dozen wars of occupation, and only recently afforded full rights to it's black citizenry. open minded? do we wish to cast the first stone?

Absolutely, we can cast the stones. World War I, World War II, mass exterminations by Stalin and Mao - your anti-American arguments are WEAK.

 

[CampCreekLou]

Does Bob always come in and ruin a perfectly interesting conversation?

If you go through Sowal threads, you will find that the ones where there is a good discussion of an issue tend to not focus on/mention political parties or assign someone's opinion to a certain political party.

Once the party nonsense comes in it usually goes downhill fast because the discussion then becomes an us vs. them instead of an exchange of ideas from various sources.

Oh, I guess he probably does......

 

[GoodWitch58]

There are no absolutes when it comes to accepting certain cultural habits I guess. All good points.

IMO there are few absolutes when it comes to almost everything.

 

[CampCreekLou]

Here's the definition I am using:

respect: deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment

Dismissing an entire culture or group of opinions is what gets us into these messes in the first place. And we aren't above reproach.

You can keep bringing up the example of how awful it is to kill someone for being gay and dismiss THAT culture, but since gays are still beaten, harassed and killed in the US because of their sexual orientation................

But it is not legal nor is it viewed as acceptable (nor is it frequent) in our culture. We punish and prosecute the perpetrators.

Let's step back from the gay thing. How about adultry? Perfectly acceptable in our culture since the 60's, but apparently not in Iran:

Man convicted of adultery stoned to death in Iran - Digital Journal: Your News Network

Can we judge them?

 

[Winnie]

Here's the definition I am using:

respect: deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment

Dismissing an entire culture or group of opinions is what gets us into these messes in the first place. And we aren't above reproach.

You can keep bringing up the example of how awful it is to kill someone for being gay and dismiss THAT culture, but since gays are still beaten, harassed and killed in the US because of their sexual orientation................

I think this is a difficult subject. On one hand, I don't approve of many aspects of many cultures. I don't dismiss the entire culture because of it. I do think that if I go to a country, I should try to abide by their rules and customs. When they come to our country, they should do likewise.

As an example, I don't think it should be allowed to obtain a Florida Drivers License without a photo from which the driver can be identified. If it is part of ones religion that they remain covered in public, not having the privilege of driving is a consequence.

In the cases of harm to others however, I think showing "respect" is akin to showing approval.

Another example: I always speak up when somebody makes racists comments in my presence. If I didn't, they would assume I approve.

This where it gets more difficult for me. Take a country like China. We know they have a dismal record regarding human rights. What should the US do? I don't think there is an easy answer.

 

[Beanstalk]

BUMP


I found this interesting and Bump back up for further opinions since Religion and Politics are of interest.

 

[scooterbug44]

What I found interesting was that 2 people posted the same article the same day w/ different titles/intros and the 2 threads went very differently. One was a discussion of the article, the other became a multi-page cluster that just served to further illustrate the divisiveness mentioned in the article.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/politics-current-events/36226-how-tell-if-youre-liberal-conservative.html

 

[GoodWitch58]

What I found interesting was that 2 people posted the same article the same day w/ different titles/intros and the 2 threads went very differently. One was a discussion of the article, the other became a multi-page cluster that just served to further illustrate the divisiveness mentioned in the article.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/politics-current-events/36226-how-tell-if-youre-liberal-conservative.html

LOL, Scooterbug, I wondered if anyone else noticed that.

Fascinating, isn't it"

 

[Yarmap]

What if your spouse asked you if you loved him or her? Your answer was "yes, but": I want to change the way you do your hair; I want to change what your religious beliefs are; I want to change what you wear; I want to change what kind of car you drive; I want to change how you educate your children; I want to change the expression on your face; I want you to change your complexion; I want you to change your occupation; I want to change your attitude about abortion; I want to change your attitude about gay marriage; . . . and I want to change dozens of other things about you. I want to remake you into the spouse I want you to be...but, yes, I do love you. The question "just what was it that you loved about me again?" may come up at some point. Or "did you just love me because you found me to be vulnerable and you thought you could change everything about me and control me?" It would appear that there is a vast difference in how people try to get other people to open their minds and try to get accross to others their "Love of America".