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Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

Now isn't it nice to know that American culture can be so easily assimilated into such diverse places?...what was (or is) it that the Spaniards most notably left in Central America?

I can think of a few - probably the language most obviously...then of course there are the cathedrals...

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

EH?
I assume you are referring to people playing golf in Afghanistan...?

Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

Well yes...that was part of my reference. I guess all they need now is grass for the greens! Laughing

Actually though, I was really interested in what people thought about Spanish cultural influences in this part of the world. Everything is different...or is it... Question

Phil_b · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 239 Location: Back in London

.......a lack of gold?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Given that the Spanish did all they could to eliminate indigenous culture(s), I'd give them a big fat zero for cultural sensitivity. It's just a good thing they were such lazy, corrupt hijos de la tiznada--or they would have been more effective with their genocidal impulses.

Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

Oh - come on - flattery will get you nowhere!

I thought of one more thing...the layout of the city centers are of European design...

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I'm surprised you didn't tell us they were based o the Bible.

Carina_Cisneros · Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:39 am Post subject:

In the "Americas" there isn't much of any other culture but American culture, less you count food, or grandma's music. The problem with the exceptions is that you can eat a million tacos and not learn a thing about Mexico, and you can memorize every piece of music from whatever hill-country tribe, and not really know anything about the people. Almost every non-Muslim culture in the world does little but imitate American culture (and the imitation usually reveals just how bad is the original - but, increasingly, that is all there is...so...). However, this is often a fact which for whatever reason is not bemoaned in the land of the imitators. It is mostly upper middle class white people from North America who whine about the fall of some ill-defined culture or belief system (and it is always outside their own country; they never save there own country, only their vision of someone else's country!). You do not see a lot of people in the altiplano complaining about radio, or fisherman crying over the intrduction of the outboard motor. No, that is a job for failed, left-wing "anthropoligists"!

Phil_b · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 239 Location: Back in London

Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

AHA Tim!..."The intricasies of the Europen class system..."

I imagine this applies to the many 'maids' and just plain lowly 'street laborers' that I see all around me. You know what though?...Although I'd be considered a 'Gringo' with a fairly decent job...it just doesn't seem to 'work' - I mean, there are people here with MONEY - they build 400,000 dollar homes on the hillsides and hope they don't slip in the next big earthquake. Trouble is, either here or at home, I could never dream of saving that much money in one lifetime...let alone two! Does anyone know how a person might get away from the 'rat race' (in whatever form it may take!)

"I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin' through the pourin' rain..."

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I agree with Phil_b. I have spent 13 very active years now in the cultural sector (primarily theater) of Latin America, and although I have to agree with Fidel Castro's comment a few years back that Mexican kids know more about Mickey Mouse than about Miguel Hidalgo, there is still a big effort made at the grass roots level as well as among intellectuals to maintain Mexican culture. There is currently a project for the pueblo to take back Culture--which has been in the hands of the government for 75 years. There are several publishers for both indigenous language and bilingual works which are contributing to a renaissance (better late than never) of indigenous culture.

In all cases there has to be a push from the "sociedad civil" to prevent culture being dictated by the Imperio del Norte, as except for the government of Venezuela, which promotes all the cultures in its country (indigena, africana, criolla, mestiza and mulata) the governments in Latin America are composed of toadies and Bush butt kissers and ardent embracers of transnationals.

Paulie2003 · Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Posts: 541

As I said before...flattery will get you knowhere!

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Al contrario--it seems to get me everywhere....