Originally posted by Naso:
...equally scaring the way we western countrymen use to judge the others with our parameters, sending a scaring message of supposed superiority and cultural assimilation.
Modern capitalistic assimilation is quite real but it is voluntary. Nobody forces anyone to buy or sell - merchandise, media products, shares of enterprises or land. People vote with their money and they vote for acceptance.
The feeling of superiority is felt by citizens of western counties. Being democracies and free countries, it would be illogical if citizens knew of a better way of life and not implemented it (talking about majority here, of course - there are always some dissatisfied).
You, being Italian, may not appreciate how it could be that majority of a country may know that things are wrong but be quite powerless to change a thing. That was the state of things in Russia before "Perestroyka" was handed down from above.
It actually
seemed less severe then that, meaning that most population might not have expressed dissatisfaction even if you asked them, but you can do wonders with no free press and state-controlled education.
There are huge communities in USA that chose and lead a way of life enormously different from the rest of the population without any impediment - including total rejection of some or all of the: culture, media, technology and market economy. The most prominent are Amish, Hasidic Jews, some chistian denominations, etc.
Anyone here is free to join or emulate them. I doubt that is true in China or some other countries.
miko
