tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post3938511139813833542..comments2024-01-04T04:11:55.717+02:00Comments on Dienekes’ Anthropology Blog: Intermarriage and the risk of divorce in the NetherlandsDienekeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02082684850093948970noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-31901645074498552852009-07-20T00:14:27.464+03:002009-07-20T00:14:27.464+03:00“"Too many can be problematic, lead to discri...“"Too many can be problematic, lead to discrimination, resentment, terrorism -both religious and nationalist-, economic envy, identity politics, civil wars... you name it."<br />That is true, I think few would doubt that, even among those you classify as lefties (not that I were a lefty anyway).”<br /> <br />Gentlemen, though quite a few people may feel this way, it’s still based on the ethnic thing (an issue we don’t solve in this overpopulated world, apparently starved of resources, by moving persons across borders or by other disgusting means of ethnic cleansing of which recent history has shown the effects). Besides, you call half the world ‘terrorist’ and you’ve got a problem on your hand, and no solution in sight... <br />In fact, only a small minority of the immigrants referred to ‘cause problems’, the large majority are exemplary citizens, who wish to contribute to the society they chose, some in second instance, to be part of (not for nothing). <br />And let us be frank, though western societies have, generally speaking (I’ll keep this one vague though the open societies did far better in this than others), brought the world forward a bit, a lot of decadence has set in too. Just switch on the telly and you know what I mean. Quality of life reduced to greed, lust, sex and self satisfaction. <br />If you want to tackle a problem tackle the right one first and clean up your own act. Set the right triggers accordingly. Challenge others to improve on it.<br />By just blaming others on your own apparent (personal) poverty and by sticking labels on them like Turks or Muslims or Ossies or Women or Lefties or … you really won’t get anywhere. You’ll just feed your own apparent fear and possibly people who benefit from that. Extremist groups, criminal organizations, war industry, etc. Not much fun, if you ask me.ioanneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341289132366455045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-54928487983130903592009-07-19T18:36:39.307+03:002009-07-19T18:36:39.307+03:00"Too many can be problematic, lead to discrim..."Too many can be problematic, lead to discrimination, resentment, terrorism -both religious and nationalist-, economic envy, identity politics, civil wars... you name it."<br />That is true, I think few would doubt that, even among those you classify as lefties (not that I were a lefty anyway).<br /><br />"And just one thought: The ethnic dimension of the Chavez revolution cannot have been completely lost on you, can it?"<br /><br />Chavez's so-called revolution is rather cultural and economical tension. I have written about that. He does try to use the ethnic factor, specially among the less educated. In reality the vast majority of the Venezuelan population is mixed - everything- and those who claim to be mostly Indians and "Afro-Americans" defending some "Bolivarian" crap are the descendants of Spanish settlers and conquerors by paternal side, if not in part by maternal one, just like me.<br /><br />Hitler was claiming most of Germany's problems were based on the clash of civilizations and the Jews inside Germany.Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-51319631576298383752009-07-19T17:27:24.274+03:002009-07-19T17:27:24.274+03:00Again, you are confusing "Sein" with &qu...Again, you are confusing "Sein" with "Sollen".<br /><br />That nations cannot last forever (a fact or "Sein" - although you should give china or the Jews a couple of thoughts) does in no way mean that nations have to *actively encourage* their own dissolution (a Sollen or prescriptive judgement). Just as the fact that we all die does not mean we should lead an unhealthy life.<br /><br />Plus: no obsession with purity here, pal. A certain number of foreigners can be a nice thing: from ethnic restaurants and exotic hotties in the clubs to enhanced commercial relationships with the country where the immigrants come from (see Germany - Turkey).<br /><br />But numbers matter. Too many can be problematic, lead to discrimination, resentment, terrorism -both religious and nationalist-, economic envy, identity politics, civil wars... you name it.<br /><br />And just one thought: The ethnic dimension of the Chavez revolution cannot have been completely lost on you, can it?Bartolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03676689680600470669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-10894679034806403002009-07-18T21:47:12.518+03:002009-07-18T21:47:12.518+03:00Sorry, I meant "Ildefonso".
WhateverSorry, I meant "Ildefonso".<br />WhateverKeplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-74722259637965563002009-07-18T21:43:43.215+03:002009-07-18T21:43:43.215+03:00hoho dear Kepler, I never said, or thought you wer...hoho dear Kepler, I never said, or thought you were German... (neither, you will understand, would I care much)ioanneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341289132366455045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-39417504046357577802009-07-18T21:18:44.996+03:002009-07-18T21:18:44.996+03:00Nein, Ioannes, ich bin kein Deutscher...tja, das s...Nein, Ioannes, ich bin kein Deutscher...tja, das sind Vorurteile.<br /><br />I am definitely not the first one here who would be burning books. <br /><br />I just find the article says nothing new, descubrieron la pólvora. I am sure there are lots of wee sociology theses on this subject that are ages old. So?<br /><br /><br />I believe the study's conclusion is right. Now: what is the intention? It goes beyond politics and more into an obsession not simply with ethnicity, but with "purity", as if nations were supposed to last forever.<br />The topic is perfectly relevant, but in 2009 I would expect to hear about it on early morning TV, not on a publication about new scientific findings.<br /><br />We can apply the scientific method eternally on all kinds of discoveries about beach preferences in Mallorca.Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-75117085148592711332009-07-18T18:00:16.732+03:002009-07-18T18:00:16.732+03:00I've read others paper like this made in other...I've read others paper like this made in others countries and all of them had the same outcome.Major Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12593714657846121113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-28660391095631972532009-07-18T17:41:04.815+03:002009-07-18T17:41:04.815+03:00Ach, du bist deutscher, Kepler! Ist ja schön. Irge...Ach, du bist deutscher, Kepler! Ist ja schön. Irgendwie bin ich nicht überrascht. Studierst du am OSI vielleicht? Egal...<br /><br />Yeah, this is not a legitimate subject of study, kepler. In fact, we should suppress this kind of studies. Or any studies that yield results you don´t like. Or burn the books that contain those studies, for that matter (now I am using straw man argument, I admit, but just for the fun of it).<br /><br />I also think this is a stupid study, though. Because it sets to prove something obvious. It´s like saying: Scientists of Jena University PROVE that German tourists enjoy their holidays at Mallorca more it the weather happens to be sunny....<br /><br />But Dienekes brings it up because he likes the scientific method, you know, empirical data and all that Teufelszeug.<br /><br />And you should also understand that this dicussion (likelihood of divorce) is about facts and facts alone. The difference between "Sein" and "Sollen" matters. Dienekes is on the level of "Sein". Statements like this one:<br /><br />I can see it already:<br />"no, son, you need to marry a white US American", "no, daughter, you have to marry a Greeck man"<br /><br />belong to the realm of "Sollen", or morals, if you like. They are legitimate. But you should not conflate both, or else you run the risk of... well, "thinking" (feeling?) like you do.<br /><br />And finally: It is ok that people know that international/ethnic relationships are more fragile. I know that, I have had girlfriends from different countries and so have many of my friends, and, sorry boy, they ARE more fragil, even when no passports are involved.<br /><br />The idea is that if people know the facts, they can take more informed decisions freely - and yes, marry a US American or a Greek if they please (it is about what pleases them, not you, remember?). But apperently, you seem to think that "truth" is very valuable... so valuable that it has to be administered carefully.<br /><br />And now you can continue in your quixotic fight against obvious facts you don´t like. I wish you well. You might even get a "Professur" in some sociology or political science department.Bartolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03676689680600470669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-10832605601184853822009-07-18T16:48:55.281+03:002009-07-18T16:48:55.281+03:00My earlier hypothesis that ethnically homogeneous ...My earlier hypothesis that ethnically homogeneous states are a utopia and in practice a nightmare and the contemplation thereof hence a waste of time was not disproven by the comments on the posting on Constantinus, to the contrary, it appears to me.<br />(of course it is very tempting when “the others” form a group of largely supposed exclusive kinship and go clobbering their neighbors on the head, or threaten to do so, or are perceived to do so, to establish something similar in return, for fear of losing out. I rather prefer, and very much appreciate your approach, Dienekes, to find out what is really at the source of all this, to understand what is going on, to discuss, to avoid basic us/them tribalism from rearing its head)<br /><br />Since certainly origin is therefore in itself no sufficient explanation for the higher divorce rate, it would be interesting to know WHY these marriages failed. Would there for instance be a relation with stronger or less strong expectations on one or either side of them to fail? Or might some not even be ‘real’ marriages in the first place, as Kepler suggests? <br /><br />Of course Constantinus had a point: still, the fact that learning ain’t easy does not stop us from trying to figure things out. Some would even call this highly necessary, to the point of sending their kids to cram schools, some just fun. Not a bore like Constantinus apparently (in this instance).ioanneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341289132366455045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785493.post-51956753419089441252009-07-18T15:55:24.203+03:002009-07-18T15:55:24.203+03:00I am surprised they see this as a topic worth a &q...I am surprised they see this as a topic worth a "scientific study" (and taxes). In Germany they call it Stammtischwissenschaft.<br />http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stammtisch<br /><br />There is nothing revealing on this.<br />The more different the background, the higher the chances of breakup, specially if it has to do with arch-conservative groups or if it has to do with someone marrying someone else because of the passport.<br /><br />There is quite some path to go from these very evident "findings" to that byzantine statement.<br /><br />I can see it already:<br />"no, son, you need to marry a white US American", "no, daughter, you have to marry a Greeck man"Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.com