8 Year Old Rape Victim Abandoned by her Family

[Peppergirl]

Now, someone with a less finely tuned sense than I might not be able to tell, but this time, she is in fact being sarcastic. By extension, I'd suggest the other time was serious.

Being sarcastic about being sarcastic?

I'm so confused, but will allow that I get confused easily.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, uh, with respect, my point was that you seem to have a problem with people who don't share your culture taking your precious tax dollars.

Considering that that was the first time I've posted on this thread, that is a fascinating observation.

Since I don't participate in American culture, do you have a preference for which country I should go to?

If you live in the states, then I'm afraid you participate in some facet of American Culture.

Yes, I have a preference. But I doubt seriously that it would be your preference.

As many things that suck about our country, the one thing that doesn't is that we have a lot of airports. We do have a border patrol, such as it is. However, they tend to try to keep folks out, not in, and they can't even manage to do that very well. You will not have to swim a river or be smuggled by unpleasant people carrying guns. In fact, anyone can leave this country via the first class section of a luxury airliner and a one way ticket. Spin a globe and stick a pin. Sip a martini as you fly off into the sunset. The world is your oyster.

Seriously. I notice that of all the people who whine about how they'd rather live somewhere else, nobody ever seems to be willing to move. That seems to be a pretty prevalent Americal cultural thing. It reaches a fever pitch every time we approach an election.

[BlaqueKatt]

Okay, so is Mardi Gras a cultural or a religious event?
Christmas?
Easter?
Halloween?

all of those were originally religious but they changed over time-and not all religions celebrate them and not all people celebrate them-plus there are non-religious ways to celebrate them. What about weddings-I got married in Las Vegas in a chapel, I was previously married by a judge-your argument does not hold water.

That sounds a lot like religion to me. Is the difference that religion is written down formally and culture isn't?

um try again

religion-a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Culture-the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group

also
the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.

is farming a religion? Some groups have a culture based around farming, some based on hunting or craftsmanship-does that make them religions-no it makes them cultures. A religion can be part of a culture but it is not the culture itself.

A wheel(religion) is part of a bicycle(culture) but it is not the bicycle itself.

does Russia have no culture as they had no religion for quite some time(hint it was outlawed)


another key difference between the two is change-religion does not change culture does.

200 years ago in American culture it was culturally acceptable to own slaves, now it is not.
100 years ago in American culture it was culturally unacceptable for a woman in America to wear a dress above the ankle.
50 years ago in American culture it was culturally acceptable to have segregated schools.
20 years ago in American culture it was culturally unacceptable to be an unwed mother.
10 years ago in American culture it was culturally unacceptable to have visible tattoos or body piercings.

that's called "culture shift"-it's because the younger generations are growing up and passing their ideals onto the next generation-which is the very definition of culture.

2000 years ago in the Christian religion Jesus was accepted by the Christians as the son of God or the Messiah-has that changed at all? Anything you can think of that has changed in any religion in the last 200 years?

Hey, that sounds exactly like the Scripture of the religion that the majority of Americans follow!

yes but how many Christians actually follow it-answer-zero-and how many Hmong are Christian-it's also part of the culture in parts of Africa-also with a low Christian population-just because something is part of one culture and part of another's religion does not mean religion=culture.

[anriana]

all of those were originally religious but they changed over time-and not all religions celebrate them and not all people celebrate them
-plus there are non-religious ways to celebrate them.

So is your argument that they are cultural now? Or that they're still religious? You made both points...

[BroomJockey]

Seriously. I notice that of all the people who whine about how they'd rather live somewhere else, nobody ever seems to be willing to move. That seems to be a pretty prevalent Americal cultural thing. It reaches a fever pitch every time we approach an election.

Yep. I had friends on both sides of the political spectrum hitting me up for a spot on the couch if the other side won.


My couch is amazingly enough, still empty.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

My couch is amazingly enough, still empty.

Imagine that. Stop the frigging presses.

[Ree]

And how do you differentiate between culture and religion?

<snip>


I don't like American culture. Where should I go?

Unless "American" is a religion, I think you answered your own question.

[DesignFox]

Considering that that was the first time I've posted on this thread, that is a fascinating observation.

I think the comment about tax dollars was supposed to be aimed at me, and I think it was taken a bit more seriously than it was intended.

I pay taxes to help people who need a lift in life (partially, that's also what I donate to charity for). You want my money, you play by the rules. I don't contribute so people can kill babies, rape, murder, or otherwise upset the applecart and cry "my culture says so!" Sorry. NO. You moved HERE. You play by OUR rules. Or you go BACK where you came from.

Here's an extreme example:
I won't go to the Middle East. Know why? Well, I'm female, and I sort of have a problem with people telling me I have to cover myself, it's my fault if some dirtbag rapes me, or that my husband has a right to burn my face off if I piss him off. I'll stay here. Thanks. I don't like their rules. So I won't even visit, let alone move there.

You don't get to come here and break the law and then claim that your cultural or religious background protects you.

[Flyndaran]

...
2000 years ago in the Christian religion Jesus was accepted by the Christians as the son of God or the Messiah-has that changed at all? Anything you can think of that has changed in any religion in the last 200 years?
....

Are you joking about this, or do you really believe that christian sects haven't changed in the last two centuries?
Religion was used to promote slavery, and sexism. That changed quite a bit.

As an atheist I see a HUGE difference between culture and religion.
I can celebrate halloween as a party, without believing in magical life after death.

[anriana]

Unless "American" is a religion, I think you answered your own question.

The aspects of American culture I dislike are almost all tied into the Christian heritage... so...

[Nyoibo]

Okay, so is Mardi Gras a cultural or a religious event?
Christmas?
Easter?
Halloween?

Firstly, whose mardi gras?
Christmas, religious, it's to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Easter, religious, to mourne/celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.
Halloween, it depends on who and where you are, whether you celebrate it as Samhain, all saints day or just candy timeor if you even celebrate it at all.

Unless "American" is a religion,

Well there are some real weirdos out there.

You don't get to come here and break the law and then claim that your cultural or religious background protects you.

"When in Rome"

[Flyndaran]

...

Seriously. I notice that of all the people who whine about how they'd rather live somewhere else, nobody ever seems to be willing to move. That seems to be a pretty prevalent Americal cultural thing. It reaches a fever pitch every time we approach an election.

I see a disgusting number of problems with america. But I won't move away and admit defeat. I want to be a part of fixing it.

[Rapscallion]

"When in Rome"

...cross the roads quickly. Trust me on this. Look both ways and ways you didn't know existed before doing so. Many times.

You'll thank me for this advice.

Rapscallion

[RecoveringKinkoid]

All you have to do to cross a street in Rome is wait for a bunch of nuns to congregate on the corner, which they will do in very short order. You've been in Rome, you know this is true.

When they make a break for the other side, get in among them and go with them.

Ain't nobody gonna hit a nun in Rome. You hit a nun, you go straight to Hell.

[Flyndaran]

What's black and white and red all over? A nun hit by a car.
What's black and white, and black and white? A nun falling down the stairs.