". . . you're temporarily out-of-tune with your 'frozen bubble in time'. . . ."

As to lady penelope and me fitting that characterization, I think it's pretty obvious to all who it really fits.

WAV, I don't know what you mean by eco-travel (yes, I do know what eco-travel is) and fair-trade through whatever means. I have been a supporter of the United Nations from its very inception, and my support is not just lip-service. I've lent my talents and abilities to the United Nations on a number of occasions. But I also see the formation of the European Union as a step forward in attempting to civilize the Planet Earth. I, too, am opposed to the policies of some nations (particularly the United States, but with the support of England and other countries) regarding capitalistic, economic—and military— conquest. But I don't know what you mean when you say this. You certainly don't make yourself clear.

As to the matter of immigration/emigration, it has always occurred, and when people move from place to place, they bring parts of their culture with them. Their motivation for moving is often to seek a better life, but it is quite natural that they would want to bring the good aspects of what they left behind with them. They may become integrated into the culture to which they have moved, but some of the culture they bring with them is integrated along with the people themselves.

And this is a good thing. Otherwise, the host culture becomes static, and static cultures wither and die. Introduction of new elements into a culture, whether from the outside or from within are what keep it alive and growing. Multi-culturalism introduces people to new options. Both realistically and allegorically speaking, it increases the menu choices for everyone.

If you are as schooled in anthropology as you claim to be, you should know this—and accept it as a fact of life on this planet.

There is a line from a German play (often erroneously attributed to Hermann Goering, for some strange reason), regarding the touting of a particular culture. Because the person making the statement is aware of the dangers in culture-worship, he says:

"When I hear the word 'culture,' I reach for my pistol!"

Don Firth