Happy Friday!!

Okay, it's not technically Friday, but it will be in two-ish hours. :)

Tonight's question is whether its okay to push a community to become more developed even if it means destroying some of their cultural practices. It's an opinion based question. You don't have to agree with me, but I have a very strong view on this.

One of the most prominent characteristics of the human race is the diversity between cultures all around the globe. As western culture makes it's spread across the ocean into hundreds of states (think geographically defined states not Minnesota-like states), it's tending to mute out the voices of the cultures onto which it invades. I think that cultural diversity is important. I believe that if everyone in the world was like a Westerner, the world would be boring, travel would lose its purpose, and we'd be like animals in a herd.

The answer to this question is no, to me. I do not believe it is morally okay to push a community to change if it could destroy their native culture. It's like asking if it's okay to build a dam that would end the existence of a species. You can't just destroy something for the sake of development. Find a new way to make the world a "better" place, because the value of culture and specie diversity is far surpassing an economic gain than could come from destroying them.


About that picture. Torrey Pines is beautiful. If you ever get the chance to get out there, go. I was fortunate enough to hike this mountain-like hill and I will never forget the view. It's just incredible.
If you're wondering why this applies, it's my college lesson for the day...
It's kinda like the rule where you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover.. except, you're not supposed to judge a hill for it's plants. There are pines and there are cactus on this hill, and they all look the same... but just like humans, and just like cultures, they're not all the same.



P.S. Totally met one of the girls from the coffee shop at mass tonight. She was really awesome. Maybe you should be friendly, unless you're studying for a midterm or finals.. then by all means, be a bear. Also, Enjoy this song :) Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Rival.