Originally posted by NemeBro
Nazi Germany is I think a case where the negative aspects of the culture are so hugely detrimental to the livelihoods of enough people that they outweigh any of the positive aspects, if any exist (tbh their perspective on race pretty much dominates all casual discussion of them and I haven't research the culture of Germany at the time enough to know if there were any positives).Adam is definitely right in that "cultures" are not monolithic and they can carry both positive and negative aspects. Iran's treatment of homosexuals is deplorable, but their treatment of transgendered people (going off memory I might be mistaken) is actually by comparison much more accepting, for example.
I did a quick 15 minute search for Iran and Transgenderism.
Found this:
Things changed largely due to the efforts of Maryam Khatoon Molkara. Molkara was fired from her job, forcibly injected with male hormones and put in a psychiatric institution during the 1979 revolution. But thanks to her high-level contacts among Iran’s influential clerics, she was able to get released. Afterwards, she worked with several religious leaders to advocate for trans rights and eventually managed to wrangle a meeting with Ayatollah Khomeini, the “supreme leader” of Iran at the time. Molkara and her group were able to eventually convince Khamenei to pass a fatwa in 1986 declaring gender-confirmation surgery and hormone-replacement therapy religiously acceptable medical procedures.
I gather this Maryam Khatoon Molkara wasn't an average person. Not if she had friends among high level clerics.
If Iran is tolerant of trans people, it sadly appears this is lesz due to grassroots activism, and more because someone important enough for their situation to matter, used their connections to enact change for personal reasons.
Yeah, its to the benefit of many other people, so I can't complain about the outcome. I still reflexively hate to see examples of two tiered justice, where only privileged people get to move social norms, instead of the masses who actually make a society...
Originally posted by cdtm
Interesting.Isn't Iran second behind Thailand for transition surgery? Is transgenderism embraced because its seen as a cash cow industry?
It is because the concept of transgender did not exist at the time of the writing of their holy book. So because their holy texts are silent about it, they have no prohibition against it. Another reason why they appear to be more accepting of it, is because forced sexual reassignment is how they "cure" homosexuality in their culture. If you are a man who has sex with men, you must transition to a woman or be executed. It is almost like I said, that cultures are not monolithic, and they can be good in one area and bad in another.
Originally posted by Adam_PoEthis is true as I stated earlier, you can't use a single metric to define a society.
It is because the concept of transgender did not exist at the time of the writing of their holy book. So because their holy texts are silent about it, they have no prohibition against it. Another reason why they appear to be more accepting of it, is because forced sexual reassignment is how they "cure" homosexuality in their culture. If you are a man who has sex with men, you must transition to a woman or be executed. It is almost like I said, that cultures are not monolithic, and they can be good in one area and bad in another.
Originally posted by NemeBro
Do you think that the "western world" being superior to some (or even all) other cultures in the world means that the "western world" then can not be horrible and oppressive?
Originally posted by ares834
Yeah that’s terrible. But what’s your point? No one is saying, at least in this thread, that America is flawless. Just that certain cultures are better or worse than others. Which, I think the vast majority, would agree with after some thought.
Originally posted by Old Man Whirly!
this is true as I stated earlier, you can't use a single metric to define a society.
Doesn't stop people from doing it to salve national pride, though.
I mean, Brits do it all the time, they love talking down to Americans based any number of flaws that prove UK better America.
At least Brits get to have national pride, though. Here in the US, the only one who get to do that are rednecks, white nationalists, and racists. The "good" Democrats are supposed to hate America as much as other countries do.
One of the bad features of Democrats, imo, if you can't be an advocate for your own country, who can?
Originally posted by cdtmWell yes, look at British Covid. It's the best Covid in the world. You show me a better Covid. Developed in the UK. It's a world beater, people said we would struggle to export anything after Brexit, British Covid is our biggest trade deal ever and proves no one does it beater than Britain. Far more virulent than Chinese Covid. Britain has a Covid we can be proud of.
Doesn't stop people from doing it to salve national pride, though.I mean, Brits do it all the time, they love talking down to Americans based any number of flaws that prove UK better America.
At least Brits get to have national pride, though. Here in the US, the only one who get to do that are rednecks, white nationalists, and racists. The "good" Democrats are supposed to hate America as much as other countries do.
One of the bad features of Democrats, imo, if you can't be an advocate for your own country, who can?
Originally posted by Old Man Whirly!
Well yes, look at British Covid. It's the best Covid in the world. You show me a better Covid. Developed in the UK. It's a world beater, people said we would struggle to export anything after Brexit, British Covid is our biggest trade deal ever and proves no one does it beater than Britain. Far more virulent than Chinese Covid. Britain has a Covid we can be proud of.
I think the kids would call my "point" an "epic fail". 😂