"US Has Achieved ‘Modicum of Success’ in Afghanistan," Topic

My opinion is based on several years living in Korea and about 6 months in Japan, plus a few more years working with Japanese and Koreans. I think it accords with the view most people with direct experience of these cultures have, including many natives. A lot of people are in awe of Japanese and Korean culture when they first encounter it, but most people acquire a more balanced view after they dig a little deeper. Lots of good things in both cultures, but also lots of quite negative stuff.

If they don't see a different manner of thinking and doing things, they continue in the old patterns. If they see another way, they can make an informed choice. A high proportion of younger Japanese and Koreans who spend time abroad do not want to return home to live. This is especially true of young women.

I agree there is a very disturbing trend to censor academics and free speech on campuses across Europe, North America and Australia [including NZ?]. It must be resisted. But the right wing censorship and political correctness from the right/establishment should not be ignored. It's just that the former is new and stands out. Plus, media outlets get hysterical about it. It is a thing, it's a big deal and it needs to be countered, but it's part of a wider problem.

Not all the counter culture activists of the 1960s sold out. There were a lot who were just following the trend and joined the mainstream as they grew older – but plenty held true to their principles even if they had successful careers.

I'm no fan of globalisation. It's just a way for big companies to get round environmental regulations and labour laws.

I think we are arguing at cross purposes to a very great extent. My main issue is that ethnically homogeneous populations are not the ideal model and more diversity [properly managed] would be good for them.

In the case of Japan, for example, it would be better if Japanese women were allowed to wear comfortable shoes and clothing to work, and not wear make up if they prefer not to, especially if they don't have face-to-face contact with customers. It would also be better if sexual assaults were treated more seriously than minor drug offences.

If Japan saw how much more productive workers could be if they worked standard hours and could leave work on time, rather than stay until their boss leaves even if they have nothing to do, that would be a HUGE step forward.

If Japanese and Korean education could learn from more learner centred approaches and focus less on memorisation and standard tests it would go a long way to creating the work forces they need for the future.

I could go on and on, but you get the drift.

In the meantime, they can retain their art, music, food, etc. Those are positive aspects of culture which should be preserved.

My main issue is that ethnically homogeneous populations are not the ideal model

Despite evidence that the greatest successes in terms of social and living standard development were achieved by either ethnically homogenous countries or by countries with one dominant culture that suppressed all others?

And despite evidence multi culturalism/multi ethnic countries often fail miserably?

If Japan saw how much more productive workers could be if they worked standard hours and could leave work on time, rather than stay until their boss leaves even if they have nothing to do, that would be a HUGE step forward.

You realise even multicultural countries like Australia have problems with people working too long?

link

link

Not to mention the expectation of free overtime whereby workers are required to stay at work without remuneration – Australians are performing $100 USD billion worth of unpaid overtime per annum!.

link

If Japanese and Korean education could learn from more learner centred approaches and focus less on memorisation and standard tests it would go a long way to creating the work forces they need for the future.

Again they still do better than most western states. They have retained industrial production and technology whereas so many western states have regressed to deindustrialised states.

Again using Australia as an example, Australia has lost virtually all diversification in the economy and the only growth sectors don't require university degrees for most part!

link

The Australian economy is now on par with Mali, Senegal and Zimbabwe in terms of complexity/diversity

link

link

Clearly Australia hasn't benefitted much from massive multi-cultural diversity and did better when it was virtually all British people with a few European migrants!

This kind of thing has happened across the western world – Britain, US, Austria, Belgium, France, all of Eastern Europe. The formerly well paid manufacturing jobs get replaced by poorer paid service jobs. Not the migrants fault but they play a role in keeping wages and conditions down by artificially flooding the market with excess workers as well as destroying social cohesion so as to make pushing bad reforms easier (divide and conquer).

Truth is multiculturalism doesn't have much impact. People plug into existing systems of doing things. Their impacts are often minimal and sometimes they're adverse (eg in Australia we now have problems with child brides, polygamy and honour killings.

Basically your proposal is to westernify and obliterate their way of doing things because you don't like it when our way of doing things is increasingly not working either.

You propose to turn their culture into a shallow tourist thing.

OK – made my points. I'm bored with this now. Well off the OPs topic too.

Let's leave it shall we?

So basically arealdeadone is suggesting that, due to the failure of western multiculturalism, we should all become homogeneous societies like China so everyone is on the same page in total agreement with each other working toward the same goal for the greater good.

If we can't beat them, join them yeah?

Ah … I agree with Skarper which is very rare. But none the less welcomed.

If we can't beat them, join them yeah?

Ah … I vote … No …