reading response #5

Well, we first talk about eurocentricim and how it overwhelmingly influenced many civilizations. What we see here is a clear understanding of the double-edged sword. On the good side, it got everyone on the “same page” many cultures were lost and completely unknown, the European nations went out, explored, and reported back, opening up everyone to new knowledge of Islamic cultures, Indian and Chinese cultures. And on top of that left a little of themselves there for those nations to learn about Europe. This is essential to the spread of lifestyle and the exchange of ideas.

Now it could be said that we left a little too much of ourselves there, maybe even over stayed our welcomed and intentionally tried to change these cultures that have survived many of years prior to our faces showing and yet somehow the European influence convinced them that their way of life was, subpar, only because it did not fall into the European mind set.

Next we look at globalization and markets then and now.  To sound cynical, unfortunately not much has changed. Then we had high volumes of consumer goods being exported to other countries at a significant price, harvested by people who worked for less than what their work was worth and normally in subpar conditions that are not fit for humans. Also many who are forced to work in order to well, breath. Today we see many places in third world countries working for pennies on goods we are willing to spend of upwards of $500 dollars. Here in America, we are willing to pay undocumented workers $5 an hour to harvest our goods and then complain because they are taking jobs away from the American people. Our history is full of people in charge willing to pay bottom dollar for labor in order to shore up their profits, unfortunately it isn’t even history repeating, it’s on going and is set to continue as long as profits drive motivations.

Finally looking at culture borrowing. You see this a lot in America where people practice Christianity, but picks and chooses what to believe also with a sprinkle of Buddhism and just a dash of Hinduism. There is a hipster mentality that goes with the purest though, say for instants with Islam, many Muslims denounce the attacks that are perpetrated in the name of Allah because that’s not how Islam is, many people who follow the exact letter of the law may view someone who does not go to church as a non believer. Overall I that people just have to deal with aspects of their culture being a part of another culture. In today’s society we see that a lot in fashion, many of what was viewed as “street” or “ urban wear” has become mainstream ideas of individuality and comfort, where as 15-20 years ago it would have meant you were brought up in a bad household or were part of a gang