From: Jef Allbright (jef@jefallbright.net)
Date: Wed Feb 05 2003 - 08:33:22 MST
Max M wrote:
> But generally the difference is that the US' joins a discussion to win
> the argument through the presentation of facts, and the EU's wants to
> gain understanding by seing all sides of the argument.
>
> This makes the EU's seem to be whimpy and end leftist to the US', and
> the US' seem to be dogmatic and ignorant to the EU's.
>
> It comes from the differences in educational culture. And makes
> discussing subjects extremely difficult. Also it makes the differences
> seem larger than they really are.
>
> I really don't know what there is to do about it.
Hear, hear!!!
A very insightful observation and apropos to this point in history when some
of our greatest danger comes from our own reactions to fear.
I think this tendency to compete with "outsiders" is mainly a result of our
evolved nature and applies generally to all of us humans. These differences
between cultures arise from the values we apply to channeling or tempering
this tendency to achieve our goals.
I also realize I don't fully grok the concept. For example, I have been
perplexed for years trying to understand how so many people adopt an
arbitrary choice of sports team and behave as if "their" team winning is
nearly a life and death matter.
- Jef
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