This does not surprize me. My coworkers' main things seem to be .. the next episode of American Idol and who will win. (I'm not making this up. I had to listen to it all bloody day. Along with 'I wonder what happened to Mr. 'she bangs she bangs she moves she moves'. Could have swatted someone.
Most people in this country really don't like to have to think. And the ones that do are ridiculed and told that they are being elitist. *sigh* And I'm not one to talk. American History isn't one of my strong points. (British or Egyptian, maybe. ;)
I should have said 'ancient Egyptian'. The reason.. um.. My dad and I used to get up early on Sunday mornings, let my mom sleep in, and watch archeological shows. I ended up with a fascination for Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec cultures.
Modern Egypt can be fascinating, too, but my main interest in modern stuff is in watching world politics unfold.
My dad and I used to get up early on Sunday mornings, let my mom sleep in, and watch archeological shows. I ended up with a fascination for Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec cultures. Very cool. I haven't had extensive exposure to them, but they all sound like really inteesting cultures from what little I have learned about them. But then I tend to be something of a xenophile, especially where organized, ritualistic, structured societies are concerned. Don't know why, just am.
Modern Egypt can be fascinating, too, but my main interest in modern stuff is in watching world politics unfold. (Sigh) Buffalo is, like, a really logn way away, right? I seem to recall that what I drove up to Ft. Niagara last, it took quite a while. Why do you have to be so darn interesting *and* so far away? :-)
Very cool. I haven't had extensive exposure to them, but they all sound like really inteesting cultures from what little I have learned about them. But then I tend to be something of a xenophile, especially where organized, ritualistic, structured societies are concerned. Don't know why, just am.
It's been awhile since I extensively studied them. (I gave up the idea of being an archeologist when I realized it would require long stints in hot areas. I don't deal well with really hot areas. And the South American jungles are.. not going to work. I actually pass out in hot and high humidity. It makes me feel ridiculously southern belle-ish. :P) I loved the way the whole culture revolved around the religions, tho. It wouldn't work the same way with a monotheistic god, tho. You have to have the need for rituals for every aspect of life. The whole 'go to church once a week' or 'stop and pray to *this direction* x times a day' isn't going to have the same interwovenness with the whole of daily life.
I understand about the fascination with very intricate societies. We, as a culture, are fairly haphazardous. If you compared us to something woven, we'd be a big mess; tightly woven in some places, holes in another. The other cultures would be more like very intricate, tightly woven tapestries. Of course.. I wouldn't want to /live/ in these cultures.. everyone /had/ a place, everyone was to be /in/ their place and stay there. Much like medieval Europe. And I just /know/ that my ancestors were peasants. (All I have to do is look at my short, dexterous little fingers. These are not the fingers of the aristocracy. *laugh*)
(Sigh) Buffalo is, like, a really logn way away, right? I seem to recall that what I drove up to Ft. Niagara last, it took quite a while. Why do you have to be so darn interesting *and* so far away? :-)
See, this is what I mean.. you /drove/ to Ft. Niagara. :) To go home, I usually have to take all day via /plane/. *laugh* Even if I could afford a non-stop ticket, it's a five hour flight. And I know many who would argue the idea that I'm interesting. *grin* Of course, the feeling is mutual, but that doesn't change the fact.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-03-10 03:44 pm (UTC)Most people in this country really don't like to have to think. And the ones that do are ridiculed and told that they are being elitist. *sigh* And I'm not one to talk. American History isn't one of my strong points. (British or Egyptian, maybe. ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 04:40 am (UTC)or EgyptianInteresting! How come Egyptian?
History
Date: 2004-03-11 04:53 am (UTC)I should have said 'ancient Egyptian'. The reason.. um.. My dad and I used to get up early on Sunday mornings, let my mom sleep in, and watch archeological shows. I ended up with a fascination for Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec cultures.
Modern Egypt can be fascinating, too, but my main interest in modern stuff is in watching world politics unfold.
Re: History
Date: 2004-03-11 06:41 pm (UTC)Modern Egypt can be fascinating, too, but my main interest in modern stuff is in watching world politics unfold. (Sigh) Buffalo is, like, a really logn way away, right? I seem to recall that what I drove up to Ft. Niagara last, it took quite a while. Why do you have to be so darn interesting *and* so far away? :-)
Re: History
Date: 2004-03-13 07:38 am (UTC)It's been awhile since I extensively studied them. (I gave up the idea of being an archeologist when I realized it would require long stints in hot areas. I don't deal well with really hot areas. And the South American jungles are.. not going to work. I actually pass out in hot and high humidity. It makes me feel ridiculously southern belle-ish. :P) I loved the way the whole culture revolved around the religions, tho. It wouldn't work the same way with a monotheistic god, tho. You have to have the need for rituals for every aspect of life. The whole 'go to church once a week' or 'stop and pray to *this direction* x times a day' isn't going to have the same interwovenness with the whole of daily life.
I understand about the fascination with very intricate societies. We, as a culture, are fairly haphazardous. If you compared us to something woven, we'd be a big mess; tightly woven in some places, holes in another. The other cultures would be more like very intricate, tightly woven tapestries. Of course.. I wouldn't want to /live/ in these cultures.. everyone /had/ a place, everyone was to be /in/ their place and stay there. Much like medieval Europe. And I just /know/ that my ancestors were peasants. (All I have to do is look at my short, dexterous little fingers. These are not the fingers of the aristocracy. *laugh*)
(Sigh) Buffalo is, like, a really logn way away, right? I seem to recall that what I drove up to Ft. Niagara last, it took quite a while. Why do you have to be so darn interesting *and* so far away? :-)
See, this is what I mean.. you /drove/ to Ft. Niagara. :) To go home, I usually have to take all day via /plane/. *laugh* Even if I could afford a non-stop ticket, it's a five hour flight. And I know many who would argue the idea that I'm interesting. *grin* Of course, the feeling is mutual, but that doesn't change the fact.