Spring Break
U.S. could do well to adopt some Aussie practices
Bryan Murphy
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Commentary
I have often dreamed of a super-nation that would steal the coolest holidays and tastiest delicacies from every other nation, one FrankenNation of unimaginable splendor. Supposedly, in an age of instantaneous information, innovative procedural improvements should be universally transmitted and adopted worldwide within weeks - and perhaps this is true in, say, the bra-hook production industry and among the food canners of the world. (For example, the much-loved welded side-seam is relatively ubiquitous in today's canned culinary produce. Try to find a can with a hand-soldered side seam! I dare you.)
But cultural traditions are notoriously resistant to change, even when obviously outmoded (See: Marriage). So it seems that while the whole world has access to the best in canned corn and tchotchke-production tech., the very best of the world's cultural practices remain sadly rooted in their far-flung homelands.
I suppose America is probably the closest we've got to the ideal Melting Pot, but it has its flaws; I pine for a land when bubble tea, salsa dancing and Tandoori chicken will be as ubiquitous as McDonald's and Tom Hanks are today.
The catalyst for this reverie came from the winter break, which I recently spent in Australia. Or should I say summer break? The seasons are reversed down there; blazing sun until 9 p.m. in January really throws your hibernating circadian rhythm for a loop.
Topless sunbathing is a perfect example of a brilliant tradition that isn't nearly as widespread as it should be. It's something the whole world ought to be able to rally around, and yet the glories - the bronzed, unsheathed female anatomy - are to be found in relatively few locales. This is truly what those of an economical bent might term a "dead-weight loss."
Sadly, it often seems that the world, rather than evolving culturally, seems hell-bent on taking the worst from each nation to assemble a global hegemony of the tasteless and unappealing. While Australian culture has much to offer the rest of the world, its two most ubiquitous exports - crocodile hunters and Ugg boots - would be last on any sensible list of go-to cultural adoptions.
But cultural traditions are notoriously resistant to change, even when obviously outmoded (See: Marriage). So it seems that while the whole world has access to the best in canned corn and tchotchke-production tech., the very best of the world's cultural practices remain sadly rooted in their far-flung homelands.
I suppose America is probably the closest we've got to the ideal Melting Pot, but it has its flaws; I pine for a land when bubble tea, salsa dancing and Tandoori chicken will be as ubiquitous as McDonald's and Tom Hanks are today.
The catalyst for this reverie came from the winter break, which I recently spent in Australia. Or should I say summer break? The seasons are reversed down there; blazing sun until 9 p.m. in January really throws your hibernating circadian rhythm for a loop.
Topless sunbathing is a perfect example of a brilliant tradition that isn't nearly as widespread as it should be. It's something the whole world ought to be able to rally around, and yet the glories - the bronzed, unsheathed female anatomy - are to be found in relatively few locales. This is truly what those of an economical bent might term a "dead-weight loss."
Sadly, it often seems that the world, rather than evolving culturally, seems hell-bent on taking the worst from each nation to assemble a global hegemony of the tasteless and unappealing. While Australian culture has much to offer the rest of the world, its two most ubiquitous exports - crocodile hunters and Ugg boots - would be last on any sensible list of go-to cultural adoptions.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
E
posted 1/29/09 @ 9:59 AM EST
The United States DOES have drive through liquor stores. Clearly, you should just move to Australia for the topless sunbathing, drive in boozing, round-the-clock partying and skin cancer. (Continued…)
Roy
posted 1/29/09 @ 11:26 AM EST
"A Continent with" FEWER "people than Mexico City."
Bren
posted 1/29/09 @ 9:55 PM EST
What did I just waste my time reading? Was this article about anything? It seems the author was more concerned about throwing in a few esoteric vocabulary words than writing well about a mildly interesting subject. (Continued…)
Post a Comment