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June 2009 
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLOG: CAN CULTURE CHANGE ANYTHING?
Posted on Jan 4th, 2009
by 
Samme
Samme
This is like a brainstorming blog, thinking outside the blog, if you will. The words "global thinking" came to mind and I googled it and did a research. Then I came upon the word "culture" which I think will play a necessary part for world transformation. I invite you to think outside the blog with me.
The Art of Global Thinking by Donald Cyr
Paulo Coelho, bestselling author of The Alchemist, Veronika Decides to Die (which was turned into a motion picture starring Sarah Michelle Gellar), and other books. He has a Youtube account and upload videos of him talking about his books and also asking viewers questions such as this one, Can culture change anything?
Can culture change anything?
My answer to this is a resounding YES! Culture can change anything but there must be a revival of culture without which change is not going to happen in ways that culture can affect or effect change. Each nation and its citizens must treasure and propagate their own culture and also learn and respect other people's or nation's culture to broaden one's horizons to foster peace and mutual understanding. Each individual must look back first from their history and look within and place themselves in the context of their culture. This must be done first instead of looking outward first to let's say for example, looking towards the Western culture because a lot of people think that western culture is rich, hip and technologically advanced. There must be a marriage of the heart and mind then you will be in touch with your soul or the collective soul of your people and the world. Most of the wars and misunderstandings in the world stem from culture or has its roots in culture. The culture of greed, culture of tyranny and oppression, culture of hatred and intolerance, culture of war and violence can be overturned by culture of peace. All "culture" can pave the way to peace. We must allow ourselves to express our "culture of peace" and allow others to express their own culture. Fear and discrimination will be melted by tolerance, compassion and love towards self, family, neighborhood, community, nation and the world for what we all are is a global citizen.
PAULO COELHO'S BLOG
Wish me luck!!! I will invite Paulo Coelho to join us here at our beloved
Gaia community. BRB
Access: PublicTagged with: culture, global thinking, creativity, cultural creatives, paulo coelho, change, transformation
cool idea. He has many fans here!
Thank you Nicole. I thought it will be great for him to be here. I love it when a writer, in particular, is accessible and is using web 2.0 and social networking as well. I hope he will be here and blogging. I told him that his book The Alchemist is one of the favorites of many Gaia members. So we will see. : )
Samme
I don’t know the person or his books butI say if everyone can get on the page of “acceptance” and not impede on someone elses way of living but understand it then there would be a major change for now the unsaid motto won’t be “My way or the highway” but “I will learn your way to open the mind”. I know this first hand when in the good ol days of high school, I was the only one of my culture there besides the fam.
Fred Small wrote a powerful song based on Rodney King’s words during the riots that followed the acquittal of the 4 policemen who beat him in LA in the early 90s.
You can find the lyrics here - and the song here. Rodney’s poignant plea “People, can’t we all get along …” really captures a lot of my hope. He acknowledges folks’ right to be angry - and then asks people to not hurt each other in their anger any more.
As well as claiming our cultures (with their troublesome sides as well as their benefits) - I think we need come to terms with and stand up against ways those cultures have been exploited.
My own heritage is German and Scots and several generations of Eastern US. Sometimes the troublesome aspects of particularly the German culture are pretty clear - embracing the benefits can be a bit harder.
peace and blessings -
Sylvia
I love the way you are so proactive, Samme!
I just read Coelho’s The Witch of Portobello Place and loved it so much I went right out an got The Alchemist. Good luck Samme!
very best of luck, Samme! I think it’s a great idea.
blessings,
CG