Maybe I don’t understand why it is more reasonable to see Arian as a superior race due to my lack of understanding as to how racism is even put into logic.
America is made of the input of so many nationalities. Iran is comparatively homogeneous. I think that in culture, no we cannot compare as groups. The cultures of America and Iran cannot be compared according to their input into today’s inventions because everyday people in both countries are not responsible for such. I respect that Iran has distilled its art forms for thousands of years, and I love them for their purity. I also respect the adaptability of America, the pragmatic response to problems that makes our culture vibrant and alive. I don’t see these as subject to value comparisons–better/worse.
And now to racism. Americans are generally ignorant about the rest of the world. After all, we’ve been insulated by two oceans through no fault of our own (but also not in ‘defense’ of ignorance, but rather explanation). In order to become the world’s economic and military power in such an amazingly short time, we have had to keep our heads down and work. We borrowed our art forms from the cultures of our immigrants and combined them into a fluid society. Unfortunately, our society is stratified, as are all societies, and those who don’t have the means to travel or expose themselves to other cultures turn inward. The take out their frustrations on people who are not like them, and that is often racism. But isn’t that a common phenomenon for all cultures? Often times Americans will avoid what they don’t know. But doesn’t every culture have people who do this?
I think the root of much misunderstanding is that Americans mistake Iran for Iraq, or worse dismiss the entire region like a thorn in the foot. Frankly, they don’t know enough to be racist. In contrast, I suspect Iranians get a lot of exposure to American culture through movies and TV, and this is a distorted view. So we need to clarify terms and concepts to even talk about any of this. Media culture, pop culture, classical culture, ignorance as culture, moral values, societal norms–how can we talk about whether we like an American TV star or an Iranian musician without running chaotically through these very different concepts?
Dance Moms is a television show known for its ignorance, made by crass, profit mongering and plain ‘stupid’ people. This is what sprung the question in the first place. I understand that there are some Americans who like this show as well as Iranians, However, my point is that a common trait of these crass and ignorant stars that we associate with the personality type of these people, is their inwardness that I discussed earlier. The people in this program are likely some of the ‘racists’ that you described earlier…Do you see what it is I am saying? I don’t understand how Iranians can watch something that is born at…The root of this ignorance that I believe both you and I do not like.
I mean this jokingly, laughing at America, but with 5,000 years of culture you are watching what I consider to be one of the worst aspects of America! This is aside from the point of racism and superiority, etc, I just find this amusing.
Maybe the answer to my question is as simple as a lack of supply in Iran for these programs displaying the stupid, dumb type of people that I think both of our countries have, therefore Iranians watch the American productions (which are for some reason comfortable with their shameless lack of awareness).
