George Rebane
Last weekend Jo Ann and I attended an international gathering in San Francisco that celebrated the historical role of a culture over the last two centuries. This event is held every five years in a different part of the world, and its nearby venue this year made attendance convenient for us. People from all quarters of the globe gathered at the Grand Hyatt where seminars on the various functions and expressions of the culture were conducted. The event opened at the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts with a gala performance featuring entertainments ranging from poetry to ballet. Other prominent venues during the weekend featured folk dancing, a huge songfest with orchestra and multiple choirs, and individual performers with various ethnic offerings, both traditional and contemporary.
The whole affair was a unifying experience connecting a revered and honored past with the present, and making explicit the ties that bind the older generations to the young. It is these young people who during such occasions see that they are a part of something bigger than themselves, something of worth that has survived centuries of assault through dedication, persistence, and courage of their ancestors.
Last weekend Jo Ann and I attended an international gathering in San Francisco that celebrated the historical role of a culture over the last two centuries. This event is held every five years in a different part of the world, and its nearby venue this year made attendance convenient for us. People from all quarters of the globe gathered at the Grand Hyatt where seminars on the various functions and expressions of the culture were conducted. The event opened at the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts with a gala performance featuring entertainments ranging from poetry to ballet. Other prominent venues during the weekend featured folk dancing, a huge songfest with orchestra and multiple choirs, and individual performers with various ethnic offerings, both traditional and contemporary.
The whole affair was a unifying experience connecting a revered and honored past with the present, and making explicit the ties that bind the older generations to the young. It is these young people who during such occasions see that they are a part of something bigger than themselves, something of worth that has survived centuries of assault through dedication, persistence, and courage of their ancestors.
The exposure to such a perspective for the youth of any culture is important. While not always appreciating the role of culture in their early years, maturing to young adults they invariably sprout the seeds that were planted during such events and observances for all ethnic groups that are fortunate to have and embrace a rich, enduring, and valued culture. For Jo Ann and me, it was heartening to see such continuity at work over the three or four generations in attendance.
And then we had what today may be still considered a counter and somewhat broadening cultural experience. Last Sunday was also the day of San Francisco’s big Gay Pride parade down Market Street. The parade was miles long and hours in duration. The city was packed with people of all stripes and persuasions there to see what was on display in the parade and also what was offered by the admiring throngs in attendance. Walking to the folkdance venue south of Market Street, we were treated to the full spectacle, and we took advantage of the opportunity to tarry a bit and watch a few floats pass.
What we saw corroborated the edited videos of previous editions of this annual event, and then went a bit beyond. The recent SCOTUS rulings may have put the revelers into an especially joyous mood to exhibit some of the more (to us) outlandish displays of the homosexual culture. And we were amazed to see adults with children of all ages walking and watching the parade. For them it was definitely part of their cultural upbringing that presumably is of a piece with what is being taught in public schools. The amazing part for us was that if the unedited video of the parade were shown in theaters, it would definitely have a ‘PG-13’ or even an ‘R’ rating as a preface. Ordinarily, this rating would make a parent think twice before taking their prepubescent offspring to such a showing of ‘gay pride’.
What made the parade even more remarkable was that, of the homosexual couples that we have known for years and entertained in our home, it would be a safe bet that most would pass up a chance to take part in this kind of public spectacle.
So the questions that come to mind after viewing such cultural contrasts – what role are such public behaviors supposed to serve in educating the heterosexual community (especially its children), and what components of these displays are we to incorporate into the new culture that is building on the ashes of the old in America and the developed countries of Europe?
And then we had what today may be still considered a counter and somewhat broadening cultural experience. Last Sunday was also the day of San Francisco’s big Gay Pride parade down Market Street. The parade was miles long and hours in duration. The city was packed with people of all stripes and persuasions there to see what was on display in the parade and also what was offered by the admiring throngs in attendance. Walking to the folkdance venue south of Market Street, we were treated to the full spectacle, and we took advantage of the opportunity to tarry a bit and watch a few floats pass.
What we saw corroborated the edited videos of previous editions of this annual event, and then went a bit beyond. The recent SCOTUS rulings may have put the revelers into an especially joyous mood to exhibit some of the more (to us) outlandish displays of the homosexual culture. And we were amazed to see adults with children of all ages walking and watching the parade. For them it was definitely part of their cultural upbringing that presumably is of a piece with what is being taught in public schools. The amazing part for us was that if the unedited video of the parade were shown in theaters, it would definitely have a ‘PG-13’ or even an ‘R’ rating as a preface. Ordinarily, this rating would make a parent think twice before taking their prepubescent offspring to such a showing of ‘gay pride’.
What made the parade even more remarkable was that, of the homosexual couples that we have known for years and entertained in our home, it would be a safe bet that most would pass up a chance to take part in this kind of public spectacle.
So the questions that come to mind after viewing such cultural contrasts – what role are such public behaviors supposed to serve in educating the heterosexual community (especially its children), and what components of these displays are we to incorporate into the new culture that is building on the ashes of the old in America and the developed countries of Europe?
Also, please check out the 3jul13 update to 'Collecting and Connecting the Dots'.
http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2013/06/collecting-and-connecting-the-dots.html
Posted by: George Rebane | 03 July 2013 at 02:56 PM
George, I have an extra ticket to Burning Man with your name on it. R U ready?
Posted by: Michael Anderson | 04 July 2013 at 12:50 AM
Dude. I just saw your yesterday and you are offering to George? Alright...now I know how you really feel! LOL. Anyway, George would look better in a tiedye and some burks. Happy Fourth you guys!
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 04 July 2013 at 05:36 AM
George: Do you think that a gay pride parade is part of our "culture?" I always viewed the word "culture" as a kind of collective intellectual achievement of man. I do not know how a gay pride parade contributes to that intellectual achievement.
Posted by: Barry Pruett | 04 July 2013 at 05:54 AM
BarryP 554am - Most certainly culture can include an "intellectual achievement", but a culture could also exist without such a component per se (unless you have a very broad definition of intellectual achievement). But customs, traditions, and mores are components of a culture, and over the years the gay pride parade has done a good job of putting those on display for the homosexual collective.
Posted by: George Rebane | 04 July 2013 at 08:59 AM
Mr. Pruett. I think Dr. Rebane is more sophisticated than donning a common run of the mill tie-dye tee shirt. Perhaps something more classy for Dr. Rebane, yet tastefully modest. Perhaps a Dale Evans turquoise one piece bathing suit would look splendid on Dr. Rebane as he strolls about the parade route enjoying our diverse culture. Now, what kind of footwear will he choose? It will undoubtedly be appropriate for the occasion.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 04 July 2013 at 09:25 AM
Honey boo boo child represents a culture, too. Who am I to judge where the kiddie glamor circuit, Burners or Castro Street revelers rank compared to, say, the usual rabble attending Shakespeare festivals or symphony concerts. There's even some overlap between groups.
Posted by: Gregory | 04 July 2013 at 10:16 AM
MichaelA 1250am - again I thank you for your good thoughts and invitation. But unfortunately my performance envelope has limits, and the more so with passing years. Burning Man is definitely outside such limits - were I to attend, it would be me who would crash and burn. Your (and BarryP's?) reports must again serve.
Posted by: George Rebane | 04 July 2013 at 11:00 AM
George, it isn't all hardship since here are enough wealthy burners to support a bustling business of jetprop aircraft charters from various NorCal airports, including Grass Valley. Only $650 apiece round trip if the airplane is filled.
http://www.centurionfs.com/burningman/
Posted by: Gregory | 04 July 2013 at 11:16 AM
Yes, and the theme is Cargo Cult, one of your faves George. You will be right at home. They will be making fun of themselves and the guineas, it will be right up your alley. And Barry too! (Barry, if you really want to go, I can get you a ticket--send me an email off-list;-)
Posted by: Michael Anderson | 07 July 2013 at 11:52 PM
I find the cultures of both Gay Pride and Burning Man to be preferable to Old Europe Slaver Culture, still alive and well, despite protestations here down through the years to the contrary: http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/index.html
Posted by: Douglas Keachie | 12 July 2013 at 03:36 AM
DouglasK 336am - We recall that "slaver cultures" abounded in times past, and continue to this day in parts of Africa and the mid-East. Europe gave up slavery soon after the fall of Rome. But since then many governments have re-instituted it through their penal systems. What generalization about culture in America do you draw from the hateful killing that you cite?
Posted by: George Rebane | 12 July 2013 at 08:36 AM
What generalization do I draw? That should be obvious, but to lay it out clearly, some vestiges of European cultures in some white communities in this country are far more heinous than a bunch of people laughing and parading about, with no intentions of "converting" others to their way of life, let alone assaulting and killing them. Stating that cultures outside of the Euro-backrounded ones do the same things does not change this simple fact, nor excuse the behaviors.
And of course there is George Zimmerman:
Following may not be illegal, but intentionally stalking, making all kinds of false assumptions based on appearance, and confronting with a concealed weapon, forming the judgement, and carrying out the execution within a span of 15 minutes after first contact, certainly is immoral, and is definitely totally nutz. If Z walks away judged a sane and reasonable person, God help us all, as it establishes a blueprint for making murder legal.
Posted by: Douglas Keachie | 12 July 2013 at 11:36 AM
DougK 1136am - It seems that you constrain homosexual culture to "people laughing and parading about", when it seems that there is a much richer repertoire of behaviors and supportive public policies involved there.
Do you see those "vestiges of European cultures in some white communities" as being a pervasive or dominant cultural problem in America, perhaps requiring some added social constraints applied?
And it sure seems like you have the Zimmerman case already figured out as to what actually happened. Was the trial then necessary?
Posted by: George Rebane | 12 July 2013 at 02:12 PM