--- In [email protected], Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Did anyone else notice the relevance to the current issues of > immigration in the US (and elsewhere)? > > What caste-roles do illegal Mexican immigrants primarily fulfill? > > In a materialistic and hedonistic society do we abandon certain caste- > functions because of attachment to and worship of materialism and > hedonism? Do the wealthiest classes in America constitute a faux- > Brahman caste?
It appears to me that an inherent presmption in a number of posts is that sudras are a low and undesirable class, and to be a Brahman is the best, and the desire and goal of all should be to rise above (to a higher) their current caste. I thnk that is a limited, warped and even upside down view. First, no need to use the social and occupational classes of ancient india. Not much call for charriot spoke makers, or arrow makers in current society. In the modern west we have various clusters of occupations-- and often a social culture that develops around it [some cliche yet indicative examples in brackets]. For example: Blue Collar -- works with hands [country music ethos, pick-up trucks, Nascar, hunting fishing, budweiser, meth] White Collar (particularly business / trade related) -- works with social/people skills,common sense and business skills, [easy listening music, Lexus, golf and tennis, chardonay, single malt scotches] Intellectuals (college professors, journalists, doctors, lawyers, etc) [classical music, hyrid cars/volvo station wagons, hiking, skiing, imported beers, obscure wines, pot] Artists (actors, musicians, writers, artists, etc)[new wave, punk, modern rock, world music, sports cars, modern dance, yoga, running in the wilderness ecstasy, hallucinogens, tequilla] Is one strata superior to the other? Do members in one class seek to be in another? For the most part no. For example, a lot of country music is about blue collar pride and why no person with their feet on the ground would ever want to be a shallow yuppie (aka white collar, or air head -- intellectual). More so, an important transition is underway in which the work of Intellectuals, White-collar and artists can be digitized andand commoditized to a degree in global markets -- driving down wages. And similar processes occur in some but not all blue-collar jobs via transfer of jobs (assembly,etc,) overseas. But some jobs can't be digitized nor transferred overseas: many traditional blue collar "hands on jobs". Cooks, housekeepers, gardeners, masseuses, etc. these jobs might become higher paying and thus prestigious than traditional prestige jobs of Intellectuals, White Collar workers and even some artists. Thus, the jobs that mexican illegals do may become much more sought after and prestigious. Classifying them as "sudra" and lowly jobs is error prone on two fronts: it presumes i) a rank order to "castes" or occupational stratas, and ii) that there is no long-run change to compensation and prestige for different types of jobs as markets continue to globalize. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
