Writer's Block: Independence Days

[uberreiniger]

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A jaded person might say it reflects America's love of violence, but Hindu mythology is filled with gods and heroes fighting with what resemble modern thermonuclear weapons so I think that argument kind of breaks down. I don't know if it necessarily reflects anything about either culture since most holiday traditions have little to do with what's actually being celebrated. The detonation of a bunch of Chinese recreational explosives has as much to do with renouncing British colonial rule as Nordic tree-lighting rites have to do with the birth of the Hebrew messiah.

Comments

[theroguex.livejournal.com]

Also, check out my response - India's recent history is filled with violence as well.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I wish I hadn't started reading other peoples' responses to this. Yeah, it's a loaded question clearly intended to make America look bad or stupid, but the sheer amount of ignorance coming down the pipe about this just makes me sick. You think America's got an obsession with violence, fine I can respect that. But all this crap about "India is so much more PEACEFUL!" is bullshit. Like you pointed out, they've started and finished as many wars as anyone. Poverty and pollution are massive problems in many regions of the country and the nation is still dominated by a caste system that views some people as intrinsically "less" than others by virtue of birth.

Talk about my country's flaws all you want. I won't deny them if they're legitimate, but don't hold them up in comparison to the supposed virtues of a country you know nothing about.

[nights-fang.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with you. Being Indian truthfully I've never seen kite flying except on Makar Sankranti. And we're really not the most peaceful of people too. Peaceful was Gandhi

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Violence is everywhere. It always will be. I don't mind people speaking of the violence or militarism of my own country, but when they do so with no sense of context, history, or of the greater world at large it disturbs me.

[nights-fang.livejournal.com]

It disturbs me too.

But mostly it scares me when they just ghost over something and draw their own conclusions from it, without actually trying to see what's beneath the surface. Part of me wonders whether the plight of the rural areas in my country, or anywhere in the world, is as bad as it is only because of peoples assumptions.

Compared to simply blowing stuff up, and killing stuff, theres a lot more worse that can be done, like breaking someone's spirit. Some people just don't seem to realise that. When thinking about that I always thought that the US was always much more peaceful if only for that reason.

Kite flying too has it's basis in war tactics as it was used to measure distances. So if people say "that" is peaceful then how would fireworks be harmful?

[fadedsecret.livejournal.com]

Your answer is intelligent. Intelligence is sexy. You sir, are a sexy man.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Woo-hoo!

[shadowfell.livejournal.com]

"Celebrate the independence of your country by blowing up a small piece of it!"

[batchix.livejournal.com]

This is an essay question! Next question will be "what are the fundamental principles in Hamlet? Why is Act two significant? 5pts "

[tanarii.livejournal.com]

India celebrates other festivals with fireworks.

Anyways , yes, silly, loaded question.