Job Discussion Forums

[robertokun]

So Brasil wins, hands down, I see . . . with our Spanish-speaking country consolation prize going to Argentina. It would still be interesting to find more of those liberal "pockets" if anyone has stumbled upon them. The comment about Mendoza, Argentina piques my interest a bit.

The comments about Chile have been interesting, as well. I know that a lot of times a certain type of traveler will go to a country and do nothing but complain about the place, and have a bad time because they have a closed mind or uptight attitude about how things should be . . . But, I also find it interesting when you go to a place with a great attitude, expecting the best, and you get burned. It's like, "I want to love you, Santiago, Beijing, Guadalajara, Marseilles, etc," but no matter how hard you try, it's just hard to have a good time in some places, it seems.

Sometimes, you just have to luck out when finding your perfect spot.

[jillford64]

johninmaine,

I think Austin is plenty inland to count.

I am living in Las Vegas, but I am not teaching English here (at least for now).

Jill

[john_n_carolina]

....yes, good point about "larger the city" usually more liberal (i.e Buenos Aires)

also what's interesting is if you take this example to the FarEast and Japan, the rules don't hold. so, it does have something to do with cultural traditions of a society that have not completely evaporated with the invention of media, TV, movies, and the internet.

the real question is, "When did societies and cities become liberal?" 1930's, 1940's, ...1950's?

if anyone gets a chance, pick up the book "Revolution in the head: The Beatles Music and the 60's" by Ian MacDonald.

that book convinced me that "liberalism"/liberal societies emerged just after WWII 1950's with the birth of a trucker out of Tupelo, Mississippi - Elvis Presley...then, the Beatles changed the world forever.

[john_n_carolina]

...this photo June 1957 tells a thousand words...here, John Lennon and his Quarrymen got the nerve to play this wacky-newstyle-punk-washboard-speeded-up Country music at a church event. And, they had to jump off the truck and hide in the church to avoid being beaten badly by the pier punks. The start of liberalism and defiance of authority and old century pre-WWII societal norms. NOW, people were dancing.
http://sp3.fotologs.net/photo/3/22/42/beatles_bio/1172013097_f.jpg

[Tiger Beer]

[Coogar]

I don't think Argentina is particularly liberal. It might be their reputation but it's all superficial. If you stay here for a while, you'd be surprised at how ignorant, racist and traditional the society is.
Also, especially in the interior, there is no real interest in opening up for foreigners or any new ideas.
Here in C�rdoba several foreign businesses had to close down because they just couldn't get their foot in the door, and about every foreigner I know/knew here either left or is thinking about it.
It is not a bad place to stay for a while but definitely not longterm.

[Vanica]

I'm not sure I would vote for Brazil. My ex-mother-in-law would go on endlessly about how it takes three generations to wash the blood of an Indio. I think there is a difference between being a liberal and open to the new and different, and just not caring and saying anything goes. I definitely don't think of Argentina as liberal, but I do think of it as ''white.''

What about indigenously-populated regions? They might cross traditional borders. I once collaborated with a human rights lawyer who said she found the Huarani to be completely non-sexist. Children are emancipated at the age of seven and belong to the group rather than their individual parents, who may not even be known or remembered. There is an hilarious exhibit on them at the American Museum of Natural History, which portrays them as naked and violent (the name is oddly spelled with a W) and Texaco has been trying to extinguish them for over a decade.

[Coogar]

[robertokun]

I understand the "chino" comment completely. Since starting this thread, I have moved to Mexico and have been teaching in an international school. The kids use "chino" when addressing the Korean kids and when I tell them they better stop using that language, they cry that there is nothing wrong with it. I hate ignorance. Even people with curly hair here are called "chino" which is not only ignorant, but makes no sense because (at least as far as I know) Chinese/Asian people very rarely have curly hair.

[guty]

[jillford64]

[robertokun]

I wouldn't be so sure to say that what is culturally acceptable is correct.

However, I get your point.

[jillford64]

[chichifo]

The most progressive city in Latin America is undoutfully Mexico City, and I'm sure it's one of the most progressive ones in the world. The legal framerwork reflects its spirit:
Gay unions have legal recognition.
Abortion is legal.
Gay conjugal visits in prisons are legal.
Eutanasia is legal.
Transgender people can change their gender identiy.
Public nudidy for artistic and polical demonstrations is allowed. Tunick gathered almost 20 thousand people for his work on the zocalo, the main square in Mexico City, in front of the cathedral. The biggest nude picture ever taken http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd1_U1Pmf7Q
Moreover, recently there was this exhibition in the subway portraying "Mexican families", there were actually same-sex families.
http://guanabee.com/2008/06/mexico-city-subway-system-gets.php
Also, Mexico City's department of education published a sex education text book for secondary schools where kids are taught about gay relationships, homosexuality, abortion, contraception, etc.

[Serious_Fun]