[MD] subject/object: pragmatism

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Ron]
I understand what you are saying but for some reason I cringe at the 
thought of MoQ being used as justification for cultural elitism...

[Arlo]
As should we all. I think there are two cautions here (on a general 
level). First is generalizing an aspect of a culture to make a 
blanket statement of total superiority of one culture over another. 
The second is in assuming "betterness" means "without fault of it own".

As you point out, there must always be an inward gaze to balance our 
outward vision. When we look outward and see an injustice, we must be 
honest enough to temper that gaze with a look in the mirror. Be weary 
of those who only see fault in "the other" while stroking their dicks 
about their own perfect superiority. And, what multiculturalism 
really is all about is looking at the diversity of the world's 
responses to life and seeing where others have done things better, 
and where others have done things worse, and where (this is 
important) the difference is truly meaningless. Different does not 
always imply a better/worse dichotomy. Be weary of those who use 
every perceived difference to elevate their own way as superior.