| UnderseaLcpl |
01-06-11 12:16 PM |
It is a long journey to become a properly civilised nation from a group of isolated Eastern barbarians with bizarre cultural attitudes. Surely, we must spread the word of our superior cultural and religious understanding and engage in mockery where needed before these people can truly understand what it means to be acceptable to us.
You do yourselves a discredit by laughing at such practices. However right we may think our perception is, by any logic, we are not they, and we have no right to judge without first understanding their perspective.
Japan is a nation mired in traditionalism that cannot ignore western influence. Like any person or group of people, it seeks an identity on the basis of what it can see. This kind of emulation is only reflective of the Japanese desire to adapt and become what they see as right from their perspective. There is no reason to mock their efforts. Just as we westerners do not understand their culture, they do not understand ours, and this is shown in both their attempts to mimic western civilisation and our apparent readiness to mock their efforts.
Japan is trying to be like us, and yet better than us by inflecting cultural values they hold dear upon the borrowed system. This is why they adhere to bushido culture in business but also allow things that make no sense to our prudish selves; they are trying to be free traders, but with "free trade" as defined by our own frequently nationalistic and restrictive policies. This is neither strange nor unexpected. Everyone has gone through this process at some point, yes? Usually during adolescence? There is a need to be successful and independent as well, is there not? Is it a surprise that a group of like-minded people would undergo the process as well?
In any case, I trust my point is made. What judgement you feel qualified to pass is yours alone.
|
