History, Travel and Culture

[stickyvicky]

America is oversexed and sexually repressed all at the same time. The most confused people in the world, well maybe not the most lol.... But it's up there!

[SamanthaGrace]

So true, sadly. And if it wasn't for "GASP SEX" they wouldn't be here to harass anyone. Unless the 'test tube baby" had a lot of helpers. What is human nature, and natural, and beautiful, they have to defile by being "Holier than thou"...

Doc

The idea of original sin and be fruitful and multiply, cause so many confusion. I think if we focused more on the beautiful parts of living and less on the violent aspects, we could get a lot more accomplished.

[SamanthaGrace]

America is oversexed and sexually repressed all at the same time. The most confused people in the world, well maybe not the most lol.... But it's up there!

It's funny isn't it? I think if most people embraced that life is short and enjoy what you have. They would focus less on judging others and more on improving themselves and their position in life. Aren't Americans among the country with the least passport holders? I think a lot of this confusion comes from the lack of outside experience. It gives you more general life experience and understanding of what really matters.

[WalterB]

America in and of itself really is a "closed" society. So it has no other experience but it's own. In Europe, there are tens of countries (or over 100?) So they have interacted for many, many years - their customs, their likes and dislikes. When I was in Spain, I noticed that all menus were in Spanish, French, German and English. Newspaper kiosks sold multi-language reading material. It's a fact of life in Europe. And they have thousands of years of history, to exchange all those ideas and customs. America barely has 240 with no outside influence, except for a little in recent years.

We've got a long way to go Baby, to learn not only how to interact with others, but how to respect each others beliefs and ideas.

[SamanthaGrace]

America in and of itself really is a "closed" society. So it has no other experience but it's own. In Europe, there are tens of countries (or over 100?) So they have interacted for many, many years - their customs, their likes and dislikes. When I was in Spain, I noticed that all menus were in Spanish, French, German and English. Newspaper kiosks sold multi-language reading material. It's a fact of life in Europe. And they have thousands of years of history, to exchange all those ideas and customs. America barely has 240 with no outside influence, except for a little in recent years.

We've got a long way to go Baby, to learn not only how to interact with others, but how to respect each others beliefs and ideas.

That is so true. I often forget about it. Even if I live in the USA, even my life isn't typical any shape or form. Even when I'm home in LA. I sometimes get a little cultural shock when I travel to other parts of my own country. I'm used to being an outsider in my own country. Especially, growing up and even further being a freak who lives in a freaky beach community in Los Angeles. I live in one of the most bizarre neighborhoods ever. I love it. I'm one of the "normal" people. I grew up in the "weird" family. We ate "weird" foods, we traveled to"weird" places, my parents attended a "weird" university and we did "weird" things. It was just because my family was a little more cultured. I just come from a curious family. I found so many people weren't curious about the world. Like they would say, they liked history. But I would find only American history. Which I find boring. I find the classics more interesting. I mean the Mongolians are really interesting. They seem to defy every rule of history and be the exception for everything.

I agree we have so much to learn as a culture. We are just teenagers yet. Unfortunately, popular entertainment informs everything. It's hard to just get the facts here. But things are changing. I think a lot of the reason things are over/under sexual comes down to us being a very corporate culture. when I travel, I really see that difference. It's probably the most alarming difference. if people traveled more in the usa, I don't think they would tolerate it. It's kind of why I live in my weirdo beach town. but some of it creeps into here too.

[DrDave47]

Amen Sister AMEN

[WalterB]

You're right. Samantha. People could learn so much by just traveling to a different part of the country. I wish I had cared so much for history in school as I do now. I have traveled around a fair amount of Western and Central historic sites, but nothing back east. When I was in Spain, I met some kids in Barcelona who took me to their medical school. It was in an old Monastery. Monster tall, thick doors, lots of rock walls. They took me into their chapel and showed me some pictures. Paint faded and cracked, etc. They told me, "This one was painted by so-and-so in 1532. This one was painted by another so-and-so in 1477." After a bit, I said, "Gee, our whole country is only 200 years old."

Castles, some were in ruin, some were restored into 5-star hotels. I found a very large rock out in a field. It had been hollowed out into two rooms. One room had a fireplace, and there was a hole in the ceiling for smoke to escape. There were niches in the walls that could have been places for candles. The rock was about 12 feet high and maybe 40 feet in diameter outside.

There was another place, the front wall of an old church. Nearby was a large, rocky hill. There were "cupped" areas cut into some of the larger rocks, and there were obvious channels. I was told these were used for sacrifices, and the channels were for the blood to drain off. I didn't ask if animal or human. But I was, obviously hoping animal.

Lol, we're kind of getting off track in some of these posts. Mostly my fault. I talk too much, lol. Maybe we should start another travel and history topic, ya think?

[Andrew35]

travel is the best thing ever to learn about others and other cultures.

[WalterB]

We started getting sidetracked in another topic, so I thought we should start a specific topic for those posts. I moved them here, and would hope others will chime in. Do you/have you traveled? In the U.S.? Overseas? Tell us about it. Did you see any historic sites? Who did you meet? Did you have any interactions with the people of that country/land? Share with us. Lets hear about it.

[Andrew35]

Wrestling wise, I was so busy where I went wasn't much time to check out stuff. I've been to Shiloh, and Parker's Crossroads for Civil War stuff. Surrounded by history here in Memphis. I fell in love with New Orleans when I went down there in 2002, that city is awesome. I do want to travel more and also see my friends as well

[CGYMike]

Connie and I had a very short trip to Seattle last week..last minute travel. But we did manage to squeeze in a baseball game and hang for a few hours down at the pier and at one of the best stops anywhere on the American West Coast..Pike's Market. You name it, they have it. It's great place to people watch as well as find some of the best street food and seafood. It's pretty amazing.

[WalterB]

Looks like a pretty fun area -- a little like the Santa Monica Pier in LA.