American Civilization

[C.F. Kane]

What is it?


I was just reading the thread about Congressman elect Ellison petitioning to swear on the Koran instead of the Bible. The pundit being quoted in that thread said that the act would "undermine American civilization".

But how? So much of American culture is imported: we celebrate Christmas with German Tannenbaumen and wait for a Dutch Sinterklaas to bring presents. We speak a language imported from Britain and during our existence we have continued to add new words from languages as varied as Spanish, Hindi, Iroquois. In March, every American regardless of how much Irish blood they have in them celebrates St. Patrick's Day. So many of us listen to Jazz, which is simply the meeting of African rythmic style and European tonality. Few of us blink at Japanese video games or think twice about eating "Tex-Mex" food. Italian pizza and spaghetti, German beer and hamburgers. And now, the Arabic hookah is becoming popular on college campuses. Few things about "American civilization" have their roots directly in America.

Could this congressman's decision to swear on the Koran simply be another culture adding to our own?

Is our culture defined solely by assimilation and amalgamation? Is this bad?

 

[Mee]

This is a thinking man's thread.

 

[psychocheeseman]

American Civilization is an oxymoron isn't it....

 

[enterthemadness]

What is it?


I was just reading the thread about Congressman elect Ellison petitioning to swear on the Koran instead of the Bible. The pundit being quoted in that thread said that the act would "undermine American civilization".

But how? So much of American culture is imported: we celebrate Christmas with German Tannenbaumen and wait for a Dutch Sinterklaas to bring presents. We speak a language imported from Britain and during our existence we have continued to add new words from languages as varied as Spanish, Hindi, Iroquois. In March, every American regardless of how much Irish blood they have in them celebrates St. Patrick's Day. So many of us listen to Jazz, which is simply the meeting of African rythmic style and European tonality. Few of us blink at Japanese video games or think twice about eating "Tex-Mex" food. Italian pizza and spaghetti, German beer and hamburgers. And now, the Arabic hookah is becoming popular on college campuses. Few things about "American civilization" have their roots directly in America.

Could this congressman's decision to swear on the Koran simply be another culture adding to our own?

Is our culture defined solely by assimilation and amalgamation? Is this bad?

You make a lot of good points. I dont' see the fuss about him doing this now.

and I learned from your post.

 

[black_dust]

I do find it crazy that you all celebrate St.Patricks day when most of you aint Irish

Worlds become smaller anyway soon it will just be a lump of people with one culture

 

[C.F. Kane]

^ yeah, but how much of current culture will be lost in the process?

 

[Kaboom]

What is it?


I was just reading the thread about Congressman elect Ellison petitioning to swear on the Koran instead of the Bible. The pundit being quoted in that thread said that the act would "undermine American civilization".

But how? So much of American culture is imported: we celebrate Christmas with German Tannenbaumen and wait for a Dutch Sinterklaas to bring presents. We speak a language imported from Britain and during our existence we have continued to add new words from languages as varied as Spanish, Hindi, Iroquois. In March, every American regardless of how much Irish blood they have in them celebrates St. Patrick's Day. So many of us listen to Jazz, which is simply the meeting of African rythmic style and European tonality. Few of us blink at Japanese video games or think twice about eating "Tex-Mex" food. Italian pizza and spaghetti, German beer and hamburgers. And now, the Arabic hookah is becoming popular on college campuses. Few things about "American civilization" have their roots directly in America.

Could this congressman's decision to swear on the Koran simply be another culture adding to our own?

Is our culture defined solely by assimilation and amalgamation? Is this bad?

Resistance is futile.

 

[Kaboom]

I do find it crazy that you all celebrate St.Patricks day when most of you aint Irish

Worlds become smaller anyway soon it will just be a lump of people with one culture

i also celebrate cinco de mayo and im not mexican?

whats the point?

 

[Corinthian™]

i also celebrate cinco de mayo and im not mexican?

whats the point?

funny thing.. American celebrate more Cinco de Mayo than Mexicans

for us is just like your President's day

 

[Kaboom]

we just like to take every opportunity to drink and be merry

 

[Mr Sparkle]

What is it?


I was just reading the thread about Congressman elect Ellison petitioning to swear on the Koran instead of the Bible. The pundit being quoted in that thread said that the act would "undermine American civilization".

But how? So much of American culture is imported: we celebrate Christmas with German Tannenbaumen and wait for a Dutch Sinterklaas to bring presents. We speak a language imported from Britain and during our existence we have continued to add new words from languages as varied as Spanish, Hindi, Iroquois. In March, every American regardless of how much Irish blood they have in them celebrates St. Patrick's Day. So many of us listen to Jazz, which is simply the meeting of African rythmic style and European tonality. Few of us blink at Japanese video games or think twice about eating "Tex-Mex" food. Italian pizza and spaghetti, German beer and hamburgers. And now, the Arabic hookah is becoming popular on college campuses. Few things about "American civilization" have their roots directly in America.

Could this congressman's decision to swear on the Koran simply be another culture adding to our own?

Is our culture defined solely by assimilation and amalgamation? Is this bad?

yeah, the other day I was watching a show and they where saying something along the lines of "multiculturalism" doesn't work.
as opossed to what? the time honored tradition of "making **** up" all languages have a ton of crossbreeding, and If you read "the power of myth"all religions have common themes and values, as well as fears shared by all mankind.
the strangest thing is that, perhaps people forget where their supossed culture comes from.
they think that it somehow symbolizes them, when really it's merely a reflection of their past, culture is awesome and all, but there are some aspects of culture that we could do without.
culture and exchange between different races will become basic in the future when all culture suffer from the effects of globlalization, there's an idiotic notion out there that all cultures will become the same. we can't do that within the same country, what makes anyone think that we could do this to the world?
heads of empires are always the most affected by this, and they have to deal with birth pangs of the new culture, it's this stage which proves the most difficult.
in the end, it becomes a question of wether we are ready to receive a new culture, a golbal culture.

it think we are not, and we are showing as much.

 

[terry78]

We only use multiculturalism when it's a benefit to us. If we have to accomodate someone else, screw it.

 

[Mr Sparkle]

We only use multiculturalism when it's a benefit to us. If we have to accomodate someone else, screw it.

but that's the most important part isn't it? It's almost always a benefit.
living in a border town, i guess I see it more clearly than others.
multiculturalism is awesome, I LOVE thanksgiving day, and I love dia de los muertos and Halloween.
so what?
I think I'm better for it, why would anyone want a stale culture, if you want to preserve the roots of your culture go ahead, but culture is nothing if it doesn't expand.

 

[heypapajinx]

i actually got into this discussion in a class of mine.
i asked if there's really a seperation between Church and State if we have In God We Trust on our money and on our court room walls.
and why do we make people say "So help me God" when they are about to give sworn testimony, but if someone fights the swearing on God or says they wish to swear to Allah, are held in contempt?
then is there really any seperation at all? or are we just using out own hypocracy and judgementalism to continue to enforce a specific religion?
and if so, aren't we just continuing the trend of a governmental enforced elite religion?

 

[black_dust]

i actually got into this discussion in a class of mine.
i asked if there's really a seperation between Church and State if we have In God We Trust on our money and on our court room walls.
and why do we make people say "So help me God" when they are about to give sworn testimony, but if someone fights the swearing on God or says they wish to swear to Allah, are held in contempt?
then is there really any seperation at all? or are we just using out own hypocracy and judgementalism to continue to enforce a specific religion?
and if so, aren't we just continuing the trend of a governmental enforced elite religion?

Yeah i dont belive in God but in Corut i still have to sware on a bible.... lame