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Tuesday, April 1st, 2003
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3:52a
I speak Russian. Do I know more about the history of vodka distillation than you because of this ability, even if I have just clearly demonstrated to you my lack of knowledge about the subject?
Я говорю по-английский. Тони Блэр - королева Англии. Право? (I speak English. Tony Blair is the queen of England. Right?)
Ah, the idea that one has access to specific "cultural knowledge" that outranks the knowledge of outsiders – yet another result of the world's most destructive ignorant attitude.
This attitude is that the world is made up of exclusive groups called "cultures" or "nations." In reality, the world is made up of individuals who participate in a web of social interactions which make up a global continuum of overlapping identities. The mistake is harmless enough (though quite annoying) when made by individuals, but when it has been made by individuals in positions of power and influence it is highly dangerous. It is impossible to enumerate the negative effects of this attitude, as it has been so pervasive through history, but I believe it is a conservative estimate to say that it is responsible for the great majority of humanity's most talked-about problems (i.e. war/terrorism, abject poverty, racism).
It is quite bothersome to me that every discussion that takes place in my classes is framed by the attitude, except sometimes those discussions in which I take part and in which I insist that "no, one has to think about this question more critically" or "no, it's far more complex than that." It is even more bothersome to see the attitude frame historians' and sociologists' ideas, sometimes including the ideas of my professors. It depresses me that I have met so few exceptions to this general laziness, to this lack of critical faculties among those who should have them, to the prevalence of "they" and "we" among those who should know better... Thank you to those of you who are the exceptions; you are the reason the struggle will not necessarily be in vain. Even if it were in vain though, it would be worth it.
Do I have to challenge and overturn the entire world's ignorance myself or are there enough people out there who can help me? Can we ever succeed?
current mood: arrogant, sad that I have to be
current music: Sky Giant, Transglobal Underground, Rejoice, Rejoice (5 comments |comment on this)
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