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The world is becoming One. But the game is being played according to rules set by the West. Where colonialism ultimately failed at running the world, Hollywood and the stock market are succeeding. In the process, we are seeing material gain and progress for developing nations -- but also substantial loss. And Westerners may lose just as much in this as the rest of the world. The cultural richness and indigenous innovation that is in danger of being wiped out in Africa, Asia and Latin America by globalization could actually make Western societies healthier and happier. Here are 11 lessons the West can learn that would improve Western life and create a better future for all humanity.
www.alternet.org/stories/65847/
www.alternet.org/stories/65847/
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There's alot of backward thinking associated with some "indigenous" cultures, too. You have to be careful glamourizing native cultures unless you really study them. They aren't necessarily better than what we have here in the west. Both can be screwed up. Best to create a completely new paradigm, altogether.
Africa -
You have women cutting off their clitorises with rusty knives in some cultures at risk of horrible infections & death.
It's generally a male dominated society where many men have several wives.
Africa is extremely corrupt & their leaders don't give a damn about people in different tribes from themselves - hence the trans-Atlantic slave trade & genocide happening to this very day.
Blood diamonds...
Poverty.
India -
Some women set themselves on fire after their husband dies.
Native American -
Tribal warfare against each other kept them from uniting to kick out the Europeans.
Many "tribal" cultures have superstitions about things they don't understand which are ignorant (ie: Stevie Wonder's song). If one is "different" & gets kicked out of the tribe or culture (ie: excommunicated), that person could die without the protection of the group in a harsh environment. -
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It is agreed that "there's a lot of backward thinking associated with some 'indigenous' cultures, too" and that this post is primarily focused on "things we can learn" to improve our "society". It appears that we can learn from each other and apply a more "harmonized" approach to how we "run" things. Maybe balance is yet attainable, however being open to change is a major consideration that needs to be addressed.
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