Speaking of ethnocentrism.

[jackshoegazer]

I may have mentioned my social anxiety/massive shyness at some point.  Thus, I don't speak often in classes.  However, today in Sociology, I spoke a lot.  A lot.  A LOT.  For me anyway.

The discussion was on ethnocentrism and the thread had started devolving into an argument of capitalism versus Marxism and general socialism, illegal immigration, and economics.  Everyone kept arguing what was right and wrong, completely missing the point that their arguments were the direct expression of ethnocentrism.  I pointed out that if one were to raise their level of awareness to a world-centric perspective, the idea of MY country, MY jobs disappears.

It was good times, though I'm pretty sure I turned bright red while talking several times.

Comments

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm so proud of you! :) Good for you, taking a stand.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Now, of course, I think of more to say, like, why do they think that we, as a nation, 4% of the world population, have the right to live as we do, consuming over 30% of its natural resources? We can only successfully argue that this lifestyle is our right if we maintain this ethnocentric point of view, which explains why our government is getting us into wars. If we are concentrated on our country, our nationalism, our way of life, and remain ignorant of conditions world-wide, then higher perspectives, world-centric points of view, can't be promulgated. NAFTA, for instance, has been a big detriment to the US economy, but has been a boon to the countries where those jobs relocated.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's when you know you're having fun in school - when you keep thinking of things to say afterwards! Write those thoughts down - they may come in handy for a paper or exam response someday. And you have those sexy little Moleskines!

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

White Rights! Powah!

:D


(On a more serious note: well done, both for offering a more global perspective on the discussion and for overcoming your anxiety.)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism. It's still early, so I hope I'll be pleasantly surprised. As it stands, I'm starting to realize how much I already think in sociological terms. :P

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism.

That's unfortunate... one of the reasons I like polyglots (and why I tend to get on better with people from continental Europe better than I do with Britons) is because they're usually less culturocentric, which in turn leaves them open to being less ethnocentric.

In any case, with my background in evolutionary psychology, ethnicity barely comes into it - apart from noting the more interesting sociobiological differences which highlight how things the western world (or, in many cases, the US and its retarded cousin, the UK) sees as "normal" are, in fact, also socially derived.

[jesuslovesbono.livejournal.com]

"I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism."
aw man, i know what you mean. that is why i am very glad that i grew up in a few different countries.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I don't know how it came about since I grew up in isolated, rural, southern Indiana. Perhaps it comes from never feeling at home anywhere and thus I feel at home everywhere? I have a hard time thinking of myself as anything other than a citizen of Earth. Anything more specific than that makes my brain fizzy.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

P.S. I don't know if you say it or care, but in the latest edition of my iconomicon there's an icon that says: DON'T HASSEL THE HOFF. Your icon reminded me :)

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

Neat, though I prefer Hass pictures with him in it. It has more effect on people :D