Jody- I would ask that you remember what Maria so wisely wrote:
--- In [email protected], Maria Lopez <flordel...@...> wrote: > Things hardly ever are as they appear to be under the eyes of the > ones who are not from that culture. What my Native American friends objected to was the commercialization and commoditization of what they consider some of their most sacred traditions by greedy, materialistic white people, looking to turn a profit from the greed and spiritual bankruptcy of other white people. I agree with them most whole-heartedly. Not everything should be "for sale" no matter what this capitalist culture says. It is a kind of rape and certainly a theft. It speaks directly of the sense of entitlement many white Americans have that Kristy mentioned. It simply disgusts and sickens me. White people have already stolen their homeland, their language, etc and etc, and decimated their population. It is nothing less than genocide what European whites did to Native Americans. All this was of course approved and ordained by the christian "god" of those European white people, so it was all ok. Apparently still not satisfied, and under the guise of "cultural sharing" and "understanding" some whites see nothing wrong with cashing in on Native American spirituality. My Native American friends simply recognize the reality of this, I think they see the situation plenty clearly. I do think cultural sharing is wonderful - IF THE CULTURE IN QUESTION *WANTS* TO SHARE. Clearly the Native Americans don't want to "share". As these are THEIR traditions, THEY get to choose. Not white people. Sorry but I think your post below romanticizes the issue, is very naive, and completely lacks empathy for Native Americans. Artie --- In [email protected], "Jody W. Ianuzzi" <j...@...> wrote: > > A few days ago someone (I think it was Artie) commented that they > knew three Native American friends who felt that when non-Native > Americans tried to practice NA ways it took away from their culture. > > I have been thinking about this for a few days now and I think your > Native > American friends are not seeing the situation clearly. When > people share > an idea they are not taking away they are expanding. > It is like lighting a > candle from another candle you are not > putting out the light of the first candle you are making it > brighter. > > What if Buddhism had never left India? What if Christianity, > Judaism and Islam had never left the Middle East? As ideas are > shared from one person to another they get stronger not weaker. > You are adding to, not subtracting. > > Just an idea, > > JODY > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> 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/
