Post by: vaskidmark on April 01, 2006, 10:47:26 AM
We went to the Indian Cultural Fair and food fest today. To kick everything off there was a an announcement "that in keeping with our Shik religion Mr. So-and-so will offer a "shabat" [as close phonetically as I can get it] which seemed to be a sort of prayer. While this was being chanted by the leader, a whole bunch of kids sat in a line on either side of him holding white posterboards with symbols of about 15 different religions (christian cross, jewish star, muslim cresent & star, tao gateway, rosacrucian [at a loss how to describe it, but I've seen it before], etc.).
After our meal and deciding that neither of us cared for the decible level or high pitch of the music, we departed. I made a comment about the display of the religious symbols and got a response that bothers me. The SO asked why they had all those "religious signs" there, and I turned the question back at her for a response. (OK, maybe the Socratic method was not a great choice at that moment.) Anyhow, the SO floundered a bit and then came up empty-handed. She asked me to provide wisdom and understanding.
I asked if she knew what the various signs represented, and she said she could recognize 3 - christian cross, jewish star & muslim cresent & star. I encouraged her to consider what the others might be, and was both surprised and taken aback when she said she had no idea, but would guess they were symbols of whatever specific religion the folks hosting the festival were. (OK, awkward construction. Send me to the Grammar Nazis for correction.)
I asked her if she had heard the announcement of the "shabat" and she said yes and figured it was some sort of prayer. I asked her if she knew what religion most of the people there were, and the SO said she guessed they were Hindu, being as this was an Indian Cultural Festival and all. Things started to go south when I asked if she had noticed most of the men wore turbans which also covered their beards, and all the young boys were wearing some sort of cloth over their hair, which was up in a ball on the top of their head, and if that meant anything to her.
OK, the SO has had a bad cold for the last 10 days, and today was the first day up & about for more than an hour at a stretch. But could someone not know the difference between Hindu & Sihk and recognize one from another? I asked the SO [no, not is those exact words] and asked if she knew anything about the current geopolitics of India and the Sihks [yes, in those exact words].
I find out the SO does not know a Sihk from a Souix, and thinks the USA is currently on great terms with both India & Pakistan.
I am floored! I am aghast, befudled and flummoxed.
Is my expectation too high that "everybody over the age of 21, being a college graduate, who at least watches the 6 PM TV News" would know about the Sihk independence movement, the current state of distrust between Pakistan and the USA over Islamo-terrorists, and be able to figure out that a display of multiculturalism <*spit*> and diversity <*spit*> would be a "good thing" in light of the current world situation?
Right now my mental state could be described as exasperated, astonished, and disgusted. I know I probably know more than the SO about a lot of things - I'm 3 years older (her point) & have the advantage of having grown up travelling around the world, as well as just seeing more of both the upper and lower ends of human nature in action. But was I right to "expect" [that got me the "pissant" retort] that the SO should have worked out that a display of multiculturalism <*spit*> and diversity <*spit*> would be a "good thing" in light of the current world situation? I read Bill Bennett's Cultural Intelligence and thought he was missing a few things but agreed that his list was a good minimum beginning point.
Please talk to me. Am I an eruidite pissant, are my expectations way too high, or is there a possible other option?
I know I am in trouble with the SO. Chocolate, back & foot rubs, and a night of chick flicks are not going to cure that situation, so do not go there.
stay safe.
skidmark
Post by: K Frame on April 01, 2006, 10:57:06 AM
Not everyone spends their time, or even wants to spend their time, looking so far outward.
When I was younger I traveled overseas a number of times. I was very interested in other areas of the world, religions, cultures, people.
Now I live in Washington, DC, and I get just enough to make me realize that I want to move back to nicely homogeneous, redneck, central Pennsylvania and worry about my piece of land, the neighbors around it, perhaps the people in whatever church I choose to attend, and my circle of friends.
Everything else?
If there's one thing that the last 20 years of my life have proven to me it's that "cultural understanding and diversity," while nice catch phrases, are largely bullshit.
At this point, I wouldn't really care if the rest of the world got eaten by Langoliers.
Yeah, I'm cynical.
Post by: ...has left the building. on April 01, 2006, 11:25:52 AM
Post by: Ron on April 01, 2006, 11:32:29 AM
Yes, your expectations are too high if you don't want to be disappointed.
Being a part time news junkie informs me but certainly doesn't make me an expert on anything.
I know more about world events than most people I run into on a daily basis, most don't even seem to listen to or watch any news.
Post by: Smith on April 01, 2006, 01:14:57 PM
Post by: Tallpine on April 01, 2006, 02:05:11 PM
Our neighbors have calves on the ground, the grass is greening up, it's supposed to rain again tomorrow, and my 3 yr old gelding is learning to stand quietly while being saddled. What else is there to care about ...?
Post by: jefnvk on April 01, 2006, 02:28:55 PM
Post by: grampster on April 01, 2006, 02:34:13 PM
I mean that with a great deal of respect.Hey, nearly 50% of those who voted in the last election voted for Kerry! A little over 50% voted for Gore the time before. Not that that grants any particular efficacy to the winner, but at least the philosophical vision that seems to be grounded in reality went in the direction of the winner, voter wise the last couple outings.
Look at the rating for shows on the idiot box. I'll bet the ratings for the History Channel et al don't compare to the ones that celebrate the latest reality star's contemplation of his/her belly button while racing around the world to see who gets to eat some slimy concoction.
The best our education system can come up with to rationalize the huge sums of money we grant them is a testing system that is without merit. Never mind the kid can't read or add or actually know who is the President of the United States; can he pass the test is all that matters. Ooh ooh our SAT scores are up! Pffaaghh.
I'll get of my soapbox now.
You can be amazed at SO's lack of geopoliltics, but you would be well advised to keep your amazement to yourself as you tactfully begin to quietly illuminate her in a gentlemanly way whenever opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, you need to tell her you are sorry that you became bellicose with her due to her lack of caring about what goes on in India or Pakistan. It would have been better for you to have said I wonder what all those symbols were, lets go look them up on the internet. A back rub is way more important than knowing a symbol.
Post by: garyk/nm on April 01, 2006, 02:39:56 PM
No, I don't know Sikh from Shinola, either.
Post by: matis on April 01, 2006, 03:14:56 PM
Both!
I can relate to your predicament.
Our way of handling this is a mutual acknowledgement that I am the resident genius around here (yep -- redundant!) and she can't even come close. I mean, it IS important to be truthful, isn't it. One can be tactful in short spurts. But constantly? Sounds like a good set-up for ulcers or a heart-attack!
Now that we have that out of the way -- so what?
She knows that she is "really" smarter and I'm a jerk.
I had to suffer 2 divorces before I finally learned that the wife doesn't have to be in my league for us to have a good relationship. In fact I may have had this all bass ackwards.
What counts is that we are happy together. I have a much better relationship with her than with my previous wives who were chosen, in part, with my old erroneous (for me) criteriun.
We have things worked out. For instance we share food duties 50/50.
She cooks and I eat.
You don't think that I'm a male chauvinist, do you?
Maybe I'm just extra blessed with her?
matis
Post by: The Rabbi on April 01, 2006, 03:21:43 PM
Short of it: Your SO sounds like she's fine. I think you have the problem.
Post by: Moondoggie on April 01, 2006, 04:35:36 PM
You know a lot about something that she (and most of the rest of the world) just don't care about. Why rub her nose in it? This is not the path to a mutually satisfying long-term relationship.
I have a BA, spent 26 yrs in the Marines, am self-employed with my own S-type corp, and have absolutely zero idea of what the difference between a Sunni Muslim and a *expletive deleted*it Muslim is. Don't care, either. I'm just incredulous that in the 21st century folks are willing to commit indescriminate mass murder simply over religious differences. How far we've evolved as a species.....NOT!
How much curry did it take to make that fryed cat edible?
Post by: O.F.Fascist on April 01, 2006, 05:38:11 PM
That being said I dont know the "real" differences between the two, nor will it likely matter to me in my day to day life if I do not.
I do know a bunch of other random facts and things, and I try to stay educated on certain things, however the average American probably does not no as it does not matter to them or affect them one way or the other.
Post by: Antibubba on April 01, 2006, 06:41:08 PM
Apologize, and blame it on the dahl.
Post by: K Frame on April 01, 2006, 08:05:53 PM
If you're only now learning this about your SO, and are so amazed by it, you're not erudite.
You might have had your head up your arse for however long you two have been together, but you're certainly not erudite.
Post by: gunsmith on April 02, 2006, 12:15:51 AM
we had an argument about politics and she said "I know more about politics then you will ever know"
So I asked her to name three of the people vying for the Democrat spot on the ticket...no answer...
I asked her "who is the vice president" ...no answer!
( and no home cooked dinner for three days )
We were looking at a world map together (no countries named) when that Tsunami hit the south pacific and she asked me where Thailand was..I was shocked! she couldn't even find China or India!!!
(that time I played it smart and told her how un important stuff like that is)
I bet you your SO knows things you don't... like who is on the OC, what was snoop doggs latest project is
and what awards broke back mtn won at the oscars...you know ...important stuff .
(no slam meant at the gals here on aps & thr, I mean how many of your gal pals know the difference between class three and semi auto?)
sounds like you have the same problem as me ...but Anne Coulter and Michelle Malkin
never return my phone calls...
Post by: vaskidmark on April 02, 2006, 12:58:52 AM
I will be at the florist & chocolate shops as soon as they open, and will hit the drugstore for massage stuff on the way.
My thanks to all for helping me understand myself a little better, and for being as kind as you all were in explaining it to me. I'll lert you know later (after I have some experience) what it's like to view things from outside my butthole.
stay safe.
skidmark
Post by: bermbuster on April 02, 2006, 03:50:12 AM
Post by: Justin on April 02, 2006, 07:39:07 AM
Quote
At this point, I wouldn't really care if the rest of the world got eaten by Langoliers.
Brilliant!
Post by: Justin on April 02, 2006, 07:40:19 AM
Post by: grampster on April 02, 2006, 08:30:48 AM