Western cultural - your thoughts (ritual, tradition, evolution, Christian)

[GloriaPatri]

What are your thoughts on western culture? Good, bad, or something in-between?

Personally, I think western culture is the pinnacle (for now, it is going to progress) of human achievement, human rights, philosophy, and a whole lot of other things (I'm feeling lazy).

[Ody]

Originally Posted by GloriaPatri

What are your thoughts on western culture? Good, bad, or something in-between?

Materialism that disgusts me.

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by ‡Âlãn‡

Materialism that disgusts me.

yes, the highly materialistic value of our culture is not brilliant, and as i understand it, obesity in the west is on the rise, a factor in many cases of bad-health.

[Random]

Originally Posted by GloriaPatri

What are your thoughts on western culture? Good, bad, or something in-between?

Rubbish. Vapid, materialistic whoredom dressed up in the incompetent clobber of a rational "civilisation". Currently in decline.

[gnomon]

Don't like western culture? I wonder how many people who disdain Western culture are thoroughly steeped in it?

Me, personally, cannot get enough of the medical strides which now allow the majority of human beings on this planet to live a longer and better life. Haven't seen much of polio lately in the West though there are some African cultures where it still exists.

The music is great. From traditional folk and the evolution of the guitar to Bach to Hendrix.

Last I heard people still slobber over Warhol and Picasso. Not my personal tastes but fortunately Western art is so varied that no is at a lack to find something inspiring.

The United States has not had a civil war or some other large scale internal conflict in over 140 years. How fortunate.

Need I remind some that Western Culture is quite expansive and a bit too broad to be narrowed down into a pathetic Morgan Spurlock attitude.

[Djamila]

I think it's bland, sanitary, and boring. It's also held up the most devoutly by those for whom "culture" is a bit of a misnomer. Istanbul over London any day.

[Djamila]

Turkish Delight
After so many decades of trying to become Western, Istanbul glories in the rediscovery of a very modern identity. European or not, it is one of the coolest cities in the world.

By Owen Matthews and Rana Foroohar
Newsweek International

Spend a summer night strolling down Istanbul's Istiklal Caddesi, the pedestrian thoroughfare in the city's old Christian quarter of Beyoglu, and you'll hear something surprising.

Amid the crowds of nocturnal revelers, a young Uzbek-looking girl plays haunting songs from Central Asia on an ancient Turkic flute called a saz. Nearby, bluesy Greek rembetiko blares from a CD store. Downhill toward the slums of Tarlabasi you hear the wild Balkan rhythms of a Gypsy wedding, while at 360, an ultratrendy rooftop restaurant, the sound is Sufi electronica—cutting-edge beats laced with dervish ritual.

And then there are the clubs—Mojo, say, or Babylon—where the young and beautiful rise spontaneously from their tables to link arms and perform a complicated Black Sea line dance, the horon. The wonder is that each and every one of these styles is absolutely native to the city, which for much of its history was the capital of half the known world.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9024840/site/newsweek/

That's culture.

[Feathers in Hair]

*points to top of thread* This is discussion, not debate. Personal attacks are not welcome in either.

[Mavrikmind]

Well here are my humble opinions :P
I think we ahve become lazy and jaded. we take for granted what we have here and distain those who want a piece of it. As far as the medical field goes, I think they are the bain of our existance. Our immune systems are there for a reason. If we die from a disease then we have just made our gene pool stronger by illiminating a weak link.
This is just my opinion and I can't remember where I heard this line but " Revolution is a healthy thing once in a while" I agree with that statement. Sometimes we need to cleanse ourselves and let new poeple and new idea's come to the forefront.
On a lighter note, I agree that the arts are astounding. If you don't like the current genres then wait a minute lol.
I also think that we are starting to move in a generaly correct direction when it comes to social services. I agree it not the best but I think it's moving in the right direction albiet slowly.
Education is appalling but again, I think it's taken a generaly slow but correct direction