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I have 2 favorites.

1 can't really be narrowed down to a country but it's the Polynesian culture. I love how a great part of their religion is tied into the ocean and how they honor their ancestors. I can honestly say if I was born from any other culture then my own (more on that in a minute) I would want to be Polynesian.

I was on a rugby team a few years ago and we went to New Zealand to watch the All Blacks play, my best friend was on the team with me is a stereotypical Samoan (built like a brick house) whose family is still very engrained in the culture (he's a first gen American) and I've been to Hawaii a few times and each time I've been introduced to something new about the Polynesian culture.

I've been to a traditional Polynesian wedding funeral and coming of age ceremony. I've Seen a full traditional Haka in person (not the one the all blacks do) and have even found a Hawiian tattoo artist on Hawaii who is going to do my entire right leg in the traditional manner (tapping the patterns into my leg using a needle like comb made from a boars tusk )

The 2nd culture (my own heritage) is Irish. I'm a 2nd generation American on my moms side with most of her family still living in and around Cork. I go to visit my grand parents as often as I can and absolutly love every time I go there. I'm a huge fan of mythology and Irish history is full of it (my grand father always tells me stories of the Children of Lir, Cuchulain and the fairy troops.

When I took my fiance there to meet my family my grandmother said I should hold out for a redheaded, green eyed irish girl like herself. that was untill she found out that courtney is more like her then she thought

The whole culture of Ireland is great, it has such a rich history (which is so much more then just fighting everyone and drinking). I'm actually seeking dual citizenship with Ireland so that I can travel back and forth easier and possibly even live there one day.

Well, I guess there's a few.

I love both Celtic and Baltic pagan mythology. This is probably due to my Irish and Latvian heritage, Irish on my dad's side and Latvian on my mom's. I've actually participated in a Latvian pagan wedding ceremony, and I found it to be much more interesting and a hell of a lot more meaningful than a traditional Christian wedding. Also, Jani (the summer solstice celebration) is a blast! It is just super awesome to wear a huge wreath of oak leaves and jump over fires and party all night! I've been to Latvia several times, and I love it, especially the historic parts of Riga. However, it is WAY too cold up there for my tastes.

Sadly, I have not had the chance to visit Ireland, however I definitely plan to in the near-ish future. I would love to get to see a few rugby matches over there!

Another culture I admire is the Native American culture. If we lived in a society where land was not treated as personal property and nature was respected for its beauty, rather than exploited for profit, the world would be a much happier place. Sadly, that is most likely impossible.

Frazzled wrote:Nice slam of Christians and Christmas there.

Wait, slamming Christmas necessarily involves slamming Christians?

So all those Christians that talk about how the commercialization of the holiday is bad for the underlying Christian message, which is absolutely a claim regarding the dubiousness of the holiday, are slamming themselves?

Dogma, there's a reason I have the guy on ignore.

Indian
Japanese
Persian
European of divers moments and places
and many an other peoples besides.

Best thing ever was the Great Babel Diaspera.
Vive la difference!

mattyrm wrote:Ours.

Ive been all over the world.

None of them spend as much time in the pub as us.

Ours.

You've been to Australia?

The Roman Empire, 10 BC to around 300 AD

Ever since I was a kid I have been Fascinated with the Roman Empire. Not so much the republic or later times but the height. When almost 1/3 of the known world hailed Caesar. I don't think I have the space to list everything so I'll stick to a few highlights.

Professional armies= before the Marian reforms you had to muster soldiers who had to provide their own weapons and armor and get them to follow orders and fight away form their farms and family. The Marian reforms made it so any healthy non land owning roman citizen could join the Legions as a full time soldier and would recive state provided weapons, armor, food, pay, part of the spoils and a retirement package (if you survive of course).

Medical= Their civilian and military medical practices were so advance that they were not surpased in the western world until the late 19th century.

Every day life= Fast food, nascar, shoping malls, peep shows, fight clubs, casinos, Police and SWAT, political staire. The romans had all these ancient equivalents and more that would surprise you.

dogma wrote:
So all those Christians that talk about how the commercialization of the holiday is bad for the underlying Christian message, which is absolutely a claim regarding the dubiousness of the holiday, are slamming themselves?

Catholic guilt, it's harsh man.


..is Dark Eldar a viable chocie for this thread.. ? No... nevermind...

The Roman and British Empires are times I would have liked to spend a few lifetimes roaming around.

Well historically I am torn between. Viking era-Norway. Or North Western America during the Wild West.

Lately it's been India - the desert culture of the North West really fascinates me. It's the desert culture in general, I guess, the harshness of life there produces a very pragmatic view.

Before that Russia, particularly pre-revolution, but the stuff after that was pretty cool as well. The art and nihilistic mindset is fascinating.

Flashman wrote:Their celebration of New Year makes a lot more sense than our infatuation with Christmas (a thoroughly dubious festival mixing paganism with the supposed birthday of a religious figure).

Meh. Justifications for religious ceremonies are neither here nor there. Christmas is awesome.

And they built the only man made structure that can be seen from outer space (although they themselves deny this to be true).

Funnily enough the Chinese made that up in the 60s, as they were embaressed by the achievements of the space programs of the US and USSR, and their own inability to keep up. So they declared the Great Wall was the only object visible from space. Which is a claim that doesn't make a lot of sense, if you think about it - the Great Wall is impressively long but along most of it's length it not more than few metres wide - something impossible to see with the naked eye from space.

I've always been fascinated by Russia, especially its architecture (like the Moscow metro) and the incredible resilience of its people.

The Middle-east has a lot of history behind it, and I'd love to visit Jerusalem someday. I don't have any prejudices towards Muslims and I'd like more first-hand experience; I've only met Muslim immigrants.

A few people have mentioned Russia now, posted this on the DCM board a wee while back now.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

I quite like Russia I would've liked to visit the outlying states before the revolution.

I like Japanese culture as well, many friends have gone over to live and teach and I wish I had gone when I had the chance. I understand its quite an experience.

Aztec.
Closest to a real life Khorne-culture you could find.

India , if only for Buddhism and Ghandi

And Rave culture, acid house and proper techno stuff. decent pills, driving around looking for illegal parties.

reds8n wrote:A few people have mentioned Russia now, posted this on the DCM board a wee while back now.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

So only one person was smiling in Russia in 1910? I can only imagine he was killed and eaten for the offense shortly after his picture was taken.

An oppressive Tzar with a secret police, replaced by an oppressive regime with secret police.

and yet the human spirit burned on throughout.

Add Russia to my list.
Says Chibi with Shostakoich currently on the radio

sebster wrote:

And they built the only man made structure that can be seen from outer space (although they themselves deny this to be true).

Funnily enough the Chinese made that up in the 60s, as they were embaressed by the achievements of the space programs of the US and USSR, and their own inability to keep up. So they declared the Great Wall was the only object visible from space. Which is a claim that doesn't make a lot of sense, if you think about it - the Great Wall is impressively long but along most of it's length it not more than few metres wide - something impossible to see with the naked eye from space.

Actually the wall can be seen from space as photographs taken with standard lenses by astronauts have proven, the myth is that it is the only man made structure that can be.

SilverMK2 wrote:The Roman and British Empires are times I would have liked to spend a few lifetimes roaming around.

But only if you're not one of their slaves right?

Aye WW is correct there mate, i read an article in National Geographic that you can see all sorts of stuff from Space with a half decent camera, i think the myth was that it was the only thing you could see, when in actual fact you can see a whole bunch of stuff.

whatwhat wrote:Actually the wall can be seen from space as photographs taken with standard lenses by astronauts have proven, the myth is that it is the only man amde structure that can be.

I'm pretty sure that is the clearining on either side of the wall that can be seen, not the wall itself.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

whatwhat wrote:But only if you're not one of their slaves right?

Very true indeed. In the same way that I would quite like to see and experience World War 1&2. May change my mind once I got there, but it is something I have always wanted to live through (trying not to sound strange here - I don't glorify violence and I know that war is pretty horrible). I would not mind dying even so long as I knew I would come back or "myself" would continue to experience more.

The arrows point to the visible sections of wall. Your'e looking at something else.

The official line from Nasa I believe is you can see it from what is technically deemed space but only at very precise conditions. The idea that it is impossible is wrong though.

SilverMK2 wrote:

whatwhat wrote:But only if you're not one of their slaves right?

Very true indeed. In the same way that I would quite like to see and experience World War 1&2. May change my mind once I got there, but it is something I have always wanted to live through (trying not to sound strange here - I don't glorify violence and I know that war is pretty horrible). I would not mind dying even so long as I knew I would come back or "myself" would continue to experience more.

What do you expect to see? Or do you just want to have a go and killing Nazis as if it were a video game?

whatwhat wrote:The arrows point to the visible sections of wall. Your'e looking at something else.

I will honestly say I've not read anything one way or the other, so I'm going to refrain from further comment

What do you expect to see? Or do you just want to have a go and killing Nazis as if it were a video game?

Not particularly interested in the killing (I try not to even kill insects if I can avoid it) - just interested in the people fighting, how they coped, how they lived and how they fought etc. It is just such a different way to exist compared to the daily life that I and most others live.

Frazzled wrote:

Flashman wrote:

Frazzled wrote:Nice slam of Christians and Christmas there.

Not a reflection of Christians and their overall value system (which I have no problem with and admire to some extent), but Christmas as a festival is daft IMHO.

Your opinion is wrong.

Like

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On topic,

I really like all of the different Native American cultures. I've read a lot of books on the subject and am always wanting to learn more.

I've always been interested in and had a great love for Hellenic civilization and culture. Their devotion to art, the way they fought wars, and the politics of the time have always fascinated me. Also their development of the concept of citizenship and polis were remarkable for the time.

Shadowbrand wrote:Well historically I am torn between. Viking era-Norway. Or North Western America during the Wild West.

Yea that era in American culture was just awesome. Really from the colonies up to then is just incredibly fascinating. Ive read books on the early settlers and the way they survived and such was just short of amazing.


ALSO

Can we all just agree that Christmas is really just about presents and decorations anymore? And leave out the arguments about religion and stuff? Im pretty sure the real reason wasnt meant to be on a 50 cent postcard with glitter and bows and stuff. Its commercialized now, and has almost no religious value anymore if you ask me.
And yes, I was raised Catholic, but feel more Christian now anyways

KingCracker wrote:And yes, I was raised Catholic, but feel more Christian now anyways

How do you become more christian than a Catholic?

Polonius wrote:

KingCracker wrote:And yes, I was raised Catholic, but feel more Christian now anyways

How do you become more christian than a Catholic?

Being Protestant.

My favourite Big 3 Cultures are Russia, Japan and China.

Russia: Its architecture is incredible and its history is fascinating especially the October Revolution and the terrible events which followed. I also find it incredible how a country which borders on both Europe and Asia keeps aspects of both cultures but remains uniquely different to both.
I was also fascinated by their history in WW2, in school people always went on about the US and we hardly ever heard a word about the Russians involvement until the Cold War, now I dont deny the US had a part to play but Russia was the hero of WW2 crushing Germany by the Nazi's stupidity in attacking their ally.
Oh and their language is awesome to listen to.
Id love to visit Russia sometime but probably not at the current time, mainly because of radical terrorist groups which are a serious threat to some areas.

Japan: I love Japan for its history and culture, its both insanely advanced technologically wise yet intenseley traditional, its Isolationist begginings have also made it one of the most alien cultures on the planet with many aspects not seen anywhere else.
I also love the Japanese self discipline in its people and their societies, its a rare and refreshing thing.
Their history is fascinating and their courtry is beautiful, not to mention their relatively strange but entertaining films.
I also happen to be a fan of Manga and Anime, not fond of Sushi but love alot of their other foods.

I do however find their incistence on Whaling especially in waters outside their own country a tad reggressive, though it must be understood that simply telling people they cant do something they have done for thousands of years might come off as a little naive, even though I strongly disagree with Whaling. Im simply saying its difficult especially for Governments from different cultures to tell the Japanese they cant Whale, it would be like a culture telling another culture how they should do things.

China: I love Chinese culture and its history, I love the traditionalist apsects of its society and the modernization mingled in with it. I also hope to one day see the many sites of China from the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall to the Forbidden City. I love traditional Chinese food and their architecture.

Many of my friends cant undertsand any of these choices and say the United States is the best culture in history, no offence to any americans but I find it hard to respect a culture which has spent hundreds of years bullying other nations to protect their interests under the guise of a greater good while condemning other nations for doing the same thing. I find it sad that Globalization despite its benefits is slowly turning many nations including my own into culture-less little America towns.
I have nothing against the American people personally though many of you seem awfully loud and obnoxious on Gameshows and TV

With all of that said I must say I enjoy many of your fast foods and TV shows, most of my favourite shows are American, thankyou for your film industry, your music industry and your gaming industry. Thankyou for all those great appliances you make.
I find your early history fascinating especially the Civil War and the War of Independance and the 40's to 70's.
Though I disagree with a hell of alot the American military and Government does on the world scale today and in history you are a lovable bunch, hopefully naive yet grimly morbid at the same time.
Thankyou America for all you have given the world, may your World power status go well for you until the next one comes along.