|
|
Pig-headedness and anthropology
Shannon Adams (shannon_adams@byu.edu)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 11:22:31 -0700
Everyone get ready for a flame war.
In my august and infinitely correct opinion ;) pig-headedness and
ethnocentricism have no place on this newsgroup. I was under the impression,
silly me, that anthropology is a field of study that should lead us to
understanding AND tolerance of others' cultures, ideas, etc. But lately most
of what I've heard (now why did I think *heard* instead of *seen*) has been
the exact opposite. Creationists have been proven to be idiots, illiterates
and far worse?! when did this happen? I wasn't notified ;) Native
Americans are whiners/European Americans are whiners. Like, duh! for some
at least ;) but guess what some Native Americans and European Americans are
wonderful, talented, amiable people as well! Post-modernists are part of
vast conspiracy to undermind the scientific community. You mean like how the
scientific community is part of a vast conspiracy to undermind the faith of
religious/traditional peoples ;)?
All joking aside I am SO SICK of hearing everyone ranting and raving about
the fact that other people don't think the way they do! Have any of you
ranters actually taken an Anthro class? If you have you haven't interalized
it! One of the most fundamental aspects of cultural anthropology is that
different peoples have differing idealogies, cosmologies, thought patterns,
associations, languages, should I go on? And while I personally believe that
an individual has the RIGHT to decide what he/she believes to be correct
or the truth among these differences, IMHO an individual (or group, for that
matter) DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO *PROCLAIM* THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS AN IDIOT
SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT PERSON DOES NOT AGREE WITH THEM!!! Sure you might be
able to find fallacies in their beliefs, but guess what there are fallacies
in yours as well! I'm so flustered I can't even remember the anthropologist
now but somebody said that all cultures/ideological systems are internally
logical and I would add that all cultures/ideological systems are externally
illogical. LIVE WITH IT!!
Shannon
|