The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #113747   Message #2428722
Posted By: Joseph P
02-Sep-08 - 10:10 AM
Thread Name: '5000 Morris Dancers'
Subject: RE: '5000 Morris Dancers'
WAV also seems to ignore the argument that cultural borders do not exist. In my opinion there is no single national culture.

Culture consists of all the activities that are of significance to us as individuals and as groups such as language, food, art, religion, music and sport.

There are specific aspects of cultures unique to certain geographical areas, and some of these happen to fall in line with national boundaries, but such aspects are only a tiny part of our cultural makeup. None of the above things (language, food etc) can be used to justify linking cultural groups with specific nations. Language is an extremely important factor, yet many nations have more than one official language, with large numbers of people speaking different languages. Much of what makes up our culture has historically spread along routes of trade and migration.

In order to protect England from foreign cultural influence, as well as banning immigration, all foreign films, music, books, websites etc would have to be banned (including the use of Mudcat, bloody Americans and other foreigners putting across their views, we can't have that). The idea of such a cultural purge is absurd.

Now, should we ban immigration to save morris dancing?