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This is such ethnocentrism smacking bullshit. It's unfounded stereotyping of a country that's I'm going to guess is more culturally, ethnically, and ideologica

This is such ethnocentrism smacking bullshit. It's unfounded stereotyping of a country that's I'm going to guess is more culturally, ethnically, and ideologically diverse than you are used to. For starters, I didn't notice any citations in your claims of academic relevance. Have you read papers from reputable institutions that support your positions as their central thrust (rather than a side note or speculation)? If so please cite one and let us know how many of your points are part of its central argument. Taking it down a notch from academia, even the Wikipedia article on American stereotypes does agree with your list. Too many biased Americans on WP? Even anecdotally in countries I've lived and stayed in, many people were happy to share their American stereotypes and I enjoyed the discussions, but they never mentioned your list. Some of the things I'm used to hearing: Americans are fat? Not a pleasant thing to hear but objectively true. Americans are gun crazy? Not everyone but still, there is solid foundation here. So this is not a matter of (just) being insulted, I simply call into question your ability to back up your specific claims with sound evidence and data. Finally your claim that self compassion is "fundamentally juxtaposed" to eastern meditative traditions is incorrect (I assume you meant to write opposed). On the contrary, it is vital component of some practices and one of the first things studied (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mettā#Mett.C4.81_meditation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mettā#Mett.C4.81_meditation). With everything happening in the US right now the last thing we need is people making false assumptions that all of us support the same leadership, same homogeneous viewpoints, same personal failings, etc.

contingencies 9y ago
First, ethnocentrism would require an ethnic group as the subject. Second, I prefaced to ensure this was taken as tongue in cheek as intended. Clearly you missed that part. Third, having spent many years researching Buddhism we must agree to disagree regarding your suggestion that self-targeted compassion and Pali metta[0] are similar. Finally, a passing generalization is clearly not the same as viewing everyone as identical. [0] http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#metta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#metta
- WhitneyLand 9y ago
  >ethnocentrism would require an ethnic group as the subject. Incorrect. "ethnocentrism: evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture" >I prefaced to ensure this was taken as tongue in cheek as intended. Clearly you missed that part. I didn't miss it. Writers get to imply as they like. Readers are free to infer as they like. That's how it works. >Having spent many years researching Buddhism we must agree to disagree regarding your suggestion that self-targeted compassion and Pali metta. I'm sorry, this is just completely untrue. 1) From your own sources: "Right at the start loving-kindness should be developed towards oneself." 2) From my source: "[In] practices that focus on compassion...the practitioner is targeting oneself" 3) Choose any master you like who has written on metta/lovingkindnessand and compassion. By long tradition the start of the path is self compassion. >a passing generalization is clearly not the same as viewing everyone as identical. I hope not. The problem with generalizations and false stereotypes is they tend to encourage that sort of thinking.

contingencies 9y ago

First, ethnocentrism would require an ethnic group as the subject. Second, I prefaced to ensure this was taken as tongue in cheek as intended. Clearly you missed that part. Third, having spent many years researching Buddhism we must agree to disagree regarding your suggestion that self-targeted compassion and Pali metta[0] are similar. Finally, a passing generalization is clearly not the same as viewing everyone as identical. [0] http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#metta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#metta

WhitneyLand 9y ago
>ethnocentrism would require an ethnic group as the subject. Incorrect. "ethnocentrism: evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture" >I prefaced to ensure this was taken as tongue in cheek as intended. Clearly you missed that part. I didn't miss it. Writers get to imply as they like. Readers are free to infer as they like. That's how it works. >Having spent many years researching Buddhism we must agree to disagree regarding your suggestion that self-targeted compassion and Pali metta. I'm sorry, this is just completely untrue. 1) From your own sources: "Right at the start loving-kindness should be developed towards oneself." 2) From my source: "[In] practices that focus on compassion...the practitioner is targeting oneself" 3) Choose any master you like who has written on metta/lovingkindnessand and compassion. By long tradition the start of the path is self compassion. >a passing generalization is clearly not the same as viewing everyone as identical. I hope not. The problem with generalizations and false stereotypes is they tend to encourage that sort of thinking.