Is traditionalism bullshit?

[Jenny A]

I feel very conflicted about traditions. Neutral ones are often good just because they are traditions. For example our family, brings out the same decorations eats the same food and does the same things at roughly the same time on Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. The food is very good, but not necessarily the very best I could imagine or even prepare and pay for. When we have dinner, open presents, are formally thankful etc. is arbitrary more or less, but they are what sets the stage and prepares us to make those days special as opposed to just another day off work and school. What we do at Christmas reminds us of our ancestry is a good way and Easter reminds us of our family connections. Thanksgiving is very traditional and has a kind of American aspect about it without patriotism exactly. Anyway those are all good things.

National traditions create some of the same good feelings and reminders.

But some traditions are counterproductive and just plain stupid. Someone above mentioned not using video playback for game calls and that would fit. Some are racist in that they actively exclude some parts of the population. Those all really ought to go.

And then there are the ones I'm conflicted with. These are the social norms like marriage, that have worked reasonably well but far from perfectly for generations. They have a purpose. There is risk associated with tossing them out. My feeling is that we ought to move slowly when changing them.

[genkaus]

Why is there so much flack against traditionalism? Traditionalists, as I see them in Europe are only people who like keeping their culture's traditions alive - I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as the practices are not harmful.

That is precisely why there is so much flack against traditionalism. People aren't railing against preservation of harmless traditions, they are railing against preservation of harmful ones.

[Jenny A]

My ancestors valued their tradition of peace with the Earth. That's worth keeping.

Hey cactus worshiper, what does it mean to have a tradition of peace with the Earth? I'm not trying to be snide just really asking. I know Native Americans and some Europeans to who give thanks to the earth and ask hunted animals to understand the purpose of their deaths, but I don't know of any culture that didn't impact the environment, usually badly.

[Little lunch]

Australian Aboriginals.

[Jenny A]

Australian Aboriginals.

Burning the plains as signal that we are here is good stewardship?

[Little lunch]

Some of our trees love to be burnt. :-)

[vorlon13]

Over the years we have really cut back on gift giving and are emphasizing getting together for a meal. An uncle's estate sale was CROWDED with all kinds of drills, screwdriver sets, tool kits, etc. etc. etc. given to him by his kids, and friends over the years. Every one seeing all of it together at one time really emphasized in a 81 year life, one can accumulate a truly staggering amount of Black and Decker. Anyway, the effect was a family meeting, and we all agreed we are all contributing to a massive buildup of flotsam and jetsam in each others homes.

Result is we are pretty much a card and get together family now. If I need a cordless drill, I'll just go buy one.

[Jenny A]

Some of our trees love to be burnt. :-)

And the aborigines knew that, or just wanted to say we are here?

[Little lunch]

They just wanted to chase some animals out the other side, so you're right. :-)

[Jenny A]

They just wanted to chase some animals out the other side, so you're right. :-)

That's kinda it. Not that my ancestors were any better. We cut too many trees in Scandinavia and didn't replace them. Then we came to the U.S. in the early 1900s and and did what the rest of U.S. citizens did. But we were mostly farmers and we loved the land we were busy over using.