Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkFish
I see culture as more than just moral values and norms. I see culture as the whole collection of things that differentiates one people from another. For example, that differentiates us Dutchmen from you Norwegians. While our values and norms are probably pretty similar, our cultures still differ. It's because we've got other architecture, other food, another history, other music, you name it. All these things, both material and immaterial in nature, define a culture.
It very well is a question of familiarity, but that is simply because culture in itself is a question of familiarity.
|
Well, in
that sort of context I do, too, which is one of the things I enjoy about going abroad, to experience different cultures in the sense you are talking about. And naturally I have a sense of what is "Norwegian" culture in this respect, too. But this is pure romanticism, and of no actual consequence beyond that. And this aspect of culture, too, must inevitably change. Neither of our countries have the same cultural flavours they did 100 or even 50 years ago, and it would be an unhealthy sign if they did. And the previous generations would no more like to live in our society than we would like to live in any future society.
Cultural "flavour" is something that gradually changes with each generation, and changes quite a bit with immigration. This is neither dangerous nor even lamentable. I'm quite the nostalgic myself, and am sad to see things of my childhood change. My late grandparents' house has been demolished and a new house is in its place, and another house where the barn was. My father recently sold half of the real estate their house is on, and with it a great, big willow tree as well as several berry bushes (red currant, black currant, raspberries, gooseberries...). All gone, now, and a new house in their place. My childhood neighbourhood looks radically different from when I grew up, but although it makes me sad I can't say that it's
bad. It's simply change.
Same thing with mosques, minarets and the like. There is no way you can say that it's
bad change, it's simply change you personally don't like.