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Schatz - I went through much the same thing in Mexico
I could not warm up to the culture. The last time I was there was in 1989, the country was celebrating the completion of the "Agua Campaign" .....a government initiative to bring clean water to every village in the country. That is only 17 years ago, the country could finally provide clean water to all of its citizens. That is alarming when you think about it. The majority of crime in the country was of a desperate nature. The airport was a treat all its own. Between the constant harassment from hawkers selling everything imaginable and the general attitude of the place, it wasn't for me. Going to an area such as that from my relatively wealthy existence in my own country was not a vacation for me. Being resented by all of the native citizens, being viewed as a target and attempting to enjoy myself when there was so much misery around me is something that I am not capable of. I understand fully what you mean when you say that you would not visit a place such as Jamaica as a tourist again.
posted by
gomedome
on September 23, 2006 at 7:33 PM
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I went to Jamaica in my early twenties and was very shocked to see how they
live there. The cops have machine guns and the place is nothing but scraggly stretches of dirt and shacks, outside of the resorts. They are all stick thin and poor, and don't have a chance for much else. It was very eye-opening for me. I never want to go back as a tourist. I don't know if I want to be a tourist anywhere again.
I didn't adapt well to Southern California. I couldn't understand what motivated people to behave the way that they did, and most were suspicious of me at best. It didn't help that my in-laws were Catholic and we didn't attend any of the churches in the area, no matter how often or in what way they prompted us to. I am most comfortable here. I think I'd like to travel, but not to places geared toward relaxation. I've always wanted to see Egypt, Scotland and Ireland. New Zealand is beautiful, too.
posted by
Schatz
on September 23, 2006 at 3:48 PM
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gome
I think you are correct. It would be a big eye opener for some, to see how others live and believe and to be felt a minority instead of a majority for once.
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on September 23, 2006 at 6:49 AM
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MysticGmekeepr - I wish I had written your comment in my post
It was a nice addition to what I was trying to say.
posted by
gomedome
on September 22, 2006 at 10:08 PM
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gome
excellent points. Our religious beliefs are laregly the result of the accident of our birth and the culture that raised and programed us to believe thus and so....and of course so is the other guy
over there somewhere, acting out his programing and indoctrination, and thinking he is albsolutely RIGHT
posted by
MysticGmekeepr
on September 22, 2006 at 3:40 PM
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This reminds me about culture vs. adopted / imposed cultures. Good points.
(A)
posted by
A-and-B
on September 22, 2006 at 3:33 PM
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It may be wrong but you have to account for attrition
You need to keep bringing new people in to offset the people leaving. Otherwise you lose money, power, and for the common believer, the feeling of being part of a majority.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on September 22, 2006 at 1:17 PM
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gomedome, I wish everyone had the respect for the beliefs
of others, you expressed in this entry. Religious beliefs are personal beliefs and to attempt to impose them on others is not what it is all about. Sharing our belief systems is a way of learning and understanding one aspect of people who differ from each other. Respect for the religious traditions of others while sharing one's own beliefs is good, but trying to impose our beliefs upon others is not a right, it is a wrong! Thanks for sharing and keep writing!
faholo
posted by
faholo
on September 22, 2006 at 12:55 PM
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Gomedome,
Well said and I have to agree. No one, no matter how strongly they feel about their faith, should ever try to force their faith on someone else.
Faith has to come from within.
It is not our place to judge someone else or judge someone else's religion. If we feel someone should be converted, we must pray for him and lead by example and leave the conversion in the hands of God.
posted by
RAME
on September 22, 2006 at 12:45 PM
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