“Culture is not truth”...YES! Here in Australia we are about to have our annual culture war: the Australia Day public holiday. It commemorates the date the English stole this land from the locals in 1788 to establish a penal colony. As you can imagine this isn’t a day to be celebrated if (a) you’re indigenous, (b) you’re not English, and/or (c) understand colonial history. Won’t stop the flag-wavers though, so your point quoted above rang true.
From a Gen X latch-key kid - my parents didn’t bother with a baby sitter.
Oof, that sounds like our version of Columbus Day, now unofficially known as Indigenous Peoples' Day, depending on who you talk to. And yes, a contentious topic probably decried by the right.
No babysitter, huh? That sounds kind of fun and dangerous! I hope you grew up in a neighborhood at least!
Loved reading your story and excited to keep reading along. I’m brewing up some similar explorations myself so this is affirming that there are other women and teachers out there feeling like there’s more to this story of life and culture. And thanks for following me too!✨
My sister and I say that we were feral children. Raised in the middle of the city in Seattle, but with one foot on wild land on the Olympic Peninsula, no cross-cultural marriages but a few forays into other cultures and languages, I feel like I've spent 62 years trying to figure out how to live in our culture. Looking back, the feral days of my youth were both traumatic and felt much freer than now.
That sounds fascinating. One foot in the woods/beaches of the peninsula (is that near the Ho? I loved that place!!!) and one in the concrete jungle. Sounds like a book!
A little further East than the Hoh, but the northern part of the peninsula has its own palpable flavor of energy that varies a bit but is recognizable regardless of where you are.
It does sound like a book! One of these days it’ll be clear if it wants to be written. So far, that’s been a no, but I won’t rule it out.
I read something somewhere pointing out that the word "culture" encapsulates "cult", and indeed, I'm of the anecdotal opinion that the only people who can describe a specific culture with even arguable objectivity are the ones who can exist outside of it.
I had a semblance of cultural awakening from reading The Story of B, then I had some real cultural awakening when I traveled outside my own country.
It really was shocking to discover that I conflated cultural normatives with assumed universalities. Really basic stuff like aligning "human decency" with the enactment of "christian values", etc.
I just wanted to say that I appreciate your unique, thorough, and astute study of the phenomenon of culture.
I love your comment. I hadn't thought of the "cult" part of culture, but you're so right. And often with people looking to others for guidance and attaching value to social proof, it ends up with the blind leading the blind. Herd/pack mentality, etc. I really appreciate what you say about "conflating cultural normatives with assumed universalities." Hammer, meet nail!
I really relate. I feel feral here even in the 'burbs of NYC. (I escape to the mountains as much as possible to go howl and pee in my sawdust bucket). Glad I found you!
We are generationally far apart as well as (assuming) politically and socially. I should be triggered by reading this piece. I am not. You are skilled at what you do. A connector.
“Culture is not truth”...YES! Here in Australia we are about to have our annual culture war: the Australia Day public holiday. It commemorates the date the English stole this land from the locals in 1788 to establish a penal colony. As you can imagine this isn’t a day to be celebrated if (a) you’re indigenous, (b) you’re not English, and/or (c) understand colonial history. Won’t stop the flag-wavers though, so your point quoted above rang true.
From a Gen X latch-key kid - my parents didn’t bother with a baby sitter.
Oof, that sounds like our version of Columbus Day, now unofficially known as Indigenous Peoples' Day, depending on who you talk to. And yes, a contentious topic probably decried by the right.
No babysitter, huh? That sounds kind of fun and dangerous! I hope you grew up in a neighborhood at least!
Columbus Day Down Under, so to speak……🤷♂️
« Culture is not truth » - that’s one hell of a line.
Ha! Thanks, Circe :-)
Loved reading your story and excited to keep reading along. I’m brewing up some similar explorations myself so this is affirming that there are other women and teachers out there feeling like there’s more to this story of life and culture. And thanks for following me too!✨
I’m excited to read when you come
Up with!
What not when!
Whenever I’m feeling shitty I read this post.
OMG I LOVE THAT SO MUCH!!!! Thank you!!!!
My sister and I say that we were feral children. Raised in the middle of the city in Seattle, but with one foot on wild land on the Olympic Peninsula, no cross-cultural marriages but a few forays into other cultures and languages, I feel like I've spent 62 years trying to figure out how to live in our culture. Looking back, the feral days of my youth were both traumatic and felt much freer than now.
I'm excited to read your stories.
That sounds fascinating. One foot in the woods/beaches of the peninsula (is that near the Ho? I loved that place!!!) and one in the concrete jungle. Sounds like a book!
A little further East than the Hoh, but the northern part of the peninsula has its own palpable flavor of energy that varies a bit but is recognizable regardless of where you are.
It does sound like a book! One of these days it’ll be clear if it wants to be written. So far, that’s been a no, but I won’t rule it out.
Given all of your experiences, achievements, endeavors, and intentions, I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.
Thank you, James!
“curiosity. As a child, I thought I was an alien sent to Earth to study humans, then later went on to study culture as an undergrad.”
Strangely it was some of my friends who thought I was an alien. Now that I’m older and hopefully wiser, I’m open to the possibility they were right.
Haha! Well come, alien friend!
Great read!! Too much brain fog at the moment to articulate a suitable response, but really enjoyed reading.
Haha! This is the best response! thank you!
Great piece!!! I love the tagline. An ex girlfriend once said “you can be trained, but never tamed.” I have to give her some credit. lol
Well thats Perfect!
love! 🥰🔥🐌🍒💓👸🏻🤩
Thanks so much, Angelica!
I read something somewhere pointing out that the word "culture" encapsulates "cult", and indeed, I'm of the anecdotal opinion that the only people who can describe a specific culture with even arguable objectivity are the ones who can exist outside of it.
I had a semblance of cultural awakening from reading The Story of B, then I had some real cultural awakening when I traveled outside my own country.
It really was shocking to discover that I conflated cultural normatives with assumed universalities. Really basic stuff like aligning "human decency" with the enactment of "christian values", etc.
I just wanted to say that I appreciate your unique, thorough, and astute study of the phenomenon of culture.
I love your comment. I hadn't thought of the "cult" part of culture, but you're so right. And often with people looking to others for guidance and attaching value to social proof, it ends up with the blind leading the blind. Herd/pack mentality, etc. I really appreciate what you say about "conflating cultural normatives with assumed universalities." Hammer, meet nail!
Wow! Thank you.
Thanks, Brien!
You are most welcome
I'm so glad this made it back into my feed! I missed it the first time, but oh how it makes me so happy to have found you!!
I really relate. I feel feral here even in the 'burbs of NYC. (I escape to the mountains as much as possible to go howl and pee in my sawdust bucket). Glad I found you!
Haha! I love it, and the visual, and your name, and this comment. <3 Which burb are you in? I lived in East Flatbush in 1999 :)
awesome, I'm in Sleepy Hollow NY as the name suggests (30 min up the Hudson), but spent many years in Bklyn before this
Thanks for sharing your truth
Thank you, Dusty!
We are generationally far apart as well as (assuming) politically and socially. I should be triggered by reading this piece. I am not. You are skilled at what you do. A connector.
What a compliment! Thank you so much for reading and your kind words, Robert!