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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 917
Location: Spain
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 Posted: 17-Nov-2003 16:03 Post subject: American vs Spanish society |
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Tired of the lies of the mass manipulation media, I have turned to online newspapers for information. I found a link to several blogs, I've heard of them, but never checked them out.
I found this little gem , Inside Europe: Iberian Notes. For those interested in learning about other cultures, it's an interesting read. I've been devouring this stuff. The author, an American living in Spain, shows a great insight. Even thought the reader is advised to take into account that the author is a republican and of conservative ideology, I find his analysis refreshing and forces me to question my views and reevaluate my thoughts.
I think it's very insightful to understand a very hot topic these days , antiamericanism ("the ugly American") and the reflex antieuropeism ("the eurotrash")
Okay, enough babbling, here's a sample that illustrates the differences between the two societies.
Here's a comment from Francesc-Marc Alvaro in today's newspaper: "We must not forget that if anything remains from the Spanish tradition, it is the tendency toward all forms of the picaresque, whose vigor is based on a fundamental law: if you don't take advantage of your neighbor, you're a fool, because he will certainly do the same to you, and do a much better job of it. The modernization of Spain has placed limits on the picaresque, but has not eliminated it. The disguise of the picaro has changed and his tools have become more sophisticated, but the basic ethic of the general populace is the same as in the Siglo de Oro." As Francis Fukuyama said, there is a fundamental lack of trust in Spanish society, one that does not exist in the States or Britain or Germany. Sure, we Americans try to be careful when we buy things or deal with other people, but we consider ourselves and one another to be basically trustworthy folk (with the conspicuous exceptions of used-car dealers and spammers). Since the Spaniards do not consider anyone outside family and friends as trustworthy, not even their neighbors, they're always ready to believe the worst of everything; this is why they're so prone to believe in conspiracy theories, as they believe that everyone is out to screw everyone else and so even the most transparent-seeming action may hide a sinister ulterior motive. The Spaniards, therefore, generally consider Americans to be innocent, naive, overtrusting, and simplistic; most Americans who have spent time in Spain think of Spaniards as cynical and corrupt. Each group considers the other to be a bunch of hypocrites. Individual Spaniards and Americans often get on very well together; hell, I'm married to one and another is my sometimes collaborator on this blog. As groups, we are not great admirers of one another's societies, though.
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My opinion? I like it. I think it's an accurate description, and I accept the accusation because I know it's true. Ït's a flaw of our national character that should be fixed.
But I too believe that "being a paranoid doesn't mean there aren't people out there to get you"
I think some of the accusations pointed at the US in the above text ring true. The accuracy of them is left for the US reader that is interested in doing an exercise of self analysis and critique
That iis, my apologies for making you think 
_________________
Memento audare semper
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Slythis
Federated Suns
Colonel
Joined: 09-Aug-2002 00:00
Posts: 712
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| Posted: 17-Nov-2003 18:37 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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Proves that my basic ideology is true, every free thinking person can get along with someone of a supposedly opposite culture.
_________________
"It is pleasant, when the winds are high and the seas are rough to watch the stuggles of another from the shore."
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 17-Nov-2003 20:30 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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my basic ideology is that i should have total and complete dictatorship powers over the world and that everyone would worship me as a God.... or was this one of those things I was supposed to think and not type?
Raven, being mischevious!
P.S. ON YOUR KNEES KNAVES!  Just practicing!
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 17-Nov-2003 20:42 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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Vamp, that is always the best, Old Toucerville (always buther his name) is a great example, a person that is from another culture but loves the one he in (french guy in the 1700's writes book, big time philospher type) . They give the best insights.
As for news sources on the US, the following are great and middle of the road, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, and Toronto Star? To many other rags have a serious agenda. Same reason I do not read the New Republic or the Nation, leftist and rightist rags. They preach to a small and excitable bunch and do little to open the eyes of the masses.
AWAD- So as an insult, are Spainards one step removed from tribal Arabs? And Americans one step away from Utopia idoicy?
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Raven!
Clan Snow Raven
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1326
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Nov-2003 00:11 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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Foreign Affairs is REALLY good, but also highly specialized. Only poli sci geeks like me read it I bet
Raven!
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-Nov-2003 12:39 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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Thank you, you just explained why the latin emigrants from Mexico are such Sphincterheads at work!
Ther is a policy about checking bags on the way out the employee door at work. Every single complaint I get about "being mean" seems to come from the latins. I ask the other folks to do the same things in the same tone of voice, yet I am mean or "discriminating"?
I also had a friend on another property railroaded out of his job by about 5 latins carrying on a rumor campaign that finally culminated in an investigation. The investigation found nothing wrong, but my friend was still given his 2 weeks notice. "it is easier to replace one employee than 3" and a latin was hired within a week after he left.
I try not to develop an attitude, but this is getting very old. Heck, some jobs are so occupied by spanish speakers, you have to speak spanish to qualify for the job. I remember when you were required to know at least english to be hired for a job in America. Spanish to be hired for a job in Spain, and Swahili to get a job in Tanzania. What changed?
Sorry, button pushed.
_________________
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and strings also lie under it all.
Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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MEX
Clan Blood Spirit
Star Colonel
Joined: 21-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 440
Location: Austria
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| Posted: 21-Nov-2003 15:48 Post subject: RE: American vs Spanish society |
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Quote:
| On 2003-11-17 20:30, Raven! wrote:
my basic ideology is that i should have total and complete dictatorship powers over the world and that everyone would worship me as a God.... or was this one of those things I was supposed to think and not type?
Raven, being mischievous!
P.S. ON YOUR KNEES KNAVES! Just practicing! |
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In my opinion dictators are good for only one thing:
TARGET PRACTICE ! 
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