Equality

So, in light of the many recent controversies that have been plaguing my home country, I thought I'd get back at my blog and post some explanations. It's been a while since my last post and for that, I apologize. I started this blog so that people who care about what I'm doing and what I'm up to can stay informed. I think that to many people who have known me since my youth might be surprised with my views on the world and much of those views are explained on this blog. Facebook allows me to support certain views without going into detail; this site allows me to go into more details without invading your virtual bubble on the good ole Facebook. As I see it, I have not change so much as I have grown. I have remained the same Raymond Bentson, farm kid from Washington who's always inquisitive, curious and outgoing. I've grown because I want to understand the world around me, I haven't changed to be controversial or to put others down. If I come across that way from time to time, please know that it's not my intention. I have changed my views because I've investigated with serious scrutiny and non-bias assessment of the facts and sources of my available facts. I've challenged my deepest beliefs so that I can avoid doing myself the injustice of lying to myself due to the influences of my family and community. With that being said, the following is my understanding of equality in terms of the recent Supreme Court hearing on gay marriage.

This issue has been called the biggest step in the fight for civil rights in the US in modern times and for good reason. As I have discussed in my previous blog post entitled "labels", the fact that we label anyone by their sexuality is about as useful as labeling someone by their race. Race and sexuality are both constructs developed by societies and cultures. Sexuality, however, is about as individualized as you can get. Sexual orientation is much more complicated than gay, straight or bi. Each individual person has their own, unique sexual orientation therefore making this labeling factor a false-dichotomy (or trichotomy if you will). I should mention too that race isn't even biological at all, while ethnicity is much more relevant when discussing groups of people. I make this comparison while discussing civil rights in order to give an example: the right for gays and lesbians to get married is simply as legitimate as to allow African Americans the same education opportunities as white Americans. We have all understood for a long time the importance of the latter part of the comparison but now we have to consider that the rights for homosexuals have been infringed upon in a similar way. I'm straight as much as I'm white, which is to say that that's how I am culturally accepted and recognized but it's not as simple as that; but since our modern society only cares about those labels then that's how I'm viewed therefore giving me more rights and freedoms solely because I fit into the right box. My sexual orientation is very specific, just as everyone else. My race shouldn't matter in the slightest but my ethnicity can be taken into account in order to explain my appearance, social behavior, speech and various other considerations.

To discriminate due to these two factors is clearly ludicrous because it is essentially discrimination based on predetermined societal prejudice which has come to be after centuries of an extremely limited understanding of our own existence. Race and sexuality can be explained by modern science which hasn't always been the case. If you want to understand what race or sexuality is then it is best to seriously study it and not form opinions based of hearsay or pondering. Critical analysis of biological and psychological/sociological studies are a good place to start. Forming opinions based on faulty logic is dangerous. For example: to say that the legalization of homosexual marriage will lead to bestiality, pedophilia and polygamy is not rational because bestiality and pedophilia are non-consensual and polygamy is a separate institution that has, for the majority of human history, been considered normal.

Just to summarize my point, I will say that by refusing to acknowledge that people of different races and sexual orientations are equally as unique as you are and therefore deserve the same rights as you enjoy means that you are either ill-educated or uneducated on these topics. It can be studied in the vast field of anthropology which includes biological anthropology, sociology, psychology and human sexuality. I base my knowledge of this topic on my understandings of these fields which I've studied in various colleges. I will be the first to admit when I'm wrong about any of these statements but everything that I have said in this post are pretty basic and it surprises me how many people don't understand these points. What I want, above all, is to live in a world of peace, prosperity, equality and justice; and racial and homosexual discrimination stand in direct opposition to that. So, I hope it is clear that this declaration of victory for civil rights is not just the most recent Facebook fad, it's legitimately a huge step in our society against the societal discrimination of a group of people who are illegitimately categorized in a way that takes rights away from them.   

The Human Experience

Since my very first memory and as far as I can trust my recollection, I have been incredibly fascinated by my own human existence as well as that of others who all share the same thing but with different perspectives. I can't remember my age, but I do remember very clearly when I first noticed the iris of my eye (not my first memory). As I was brushing my teeth I started to study the blue of my eye as it adjusted to changes in light. I took a closer look and started to turn the lights off and on in order to try to understand what I was seeing. At that time I had no concept of optics or how the eye functioned, so I became hypnotized with this curiosity. I spent hours studying my eye in the mirror and wondering why mine were blue and why my friend's eyes were brown. Why did I exist in that time, with my family as they were. I also questioned my existence, or consciousness as would be more accurately described, in that time frame; especially when I just as easily could have experienced consciousness in any of the other time frames and locations that I heard about from the books that my mother read to my siblings and me in my youth. I could have experienced life as an African slave during the slave trade period which haunts the beginning of my country. Or I could have experienced being a peasant in Europe during the Dark Ages. I could have experienced life as a different gender, race, sexuality, economic condition and in any other time period, but I didn't because I was experiencing it then as a young, white, middle-class, farm boy with the world ahead of me. I spent so many sleepless nights pondering that point in my youth; what it meant to experience life through my situation especially when my mother was constantly reading me stories of the hard times and struggles of so many others who came before us. Why was I bestowed with my fortunate position and how should I feel about that?

Now that I am an adult and I have had a few experiences, I guess I most appreciate the fortunate opportunity that I have been given to experience life at all. And as with any great opportunity that we are fortunate enough to have been given, it mustn't be squandered. When experiencing life, should we live by a checklist; get a degree, get married, have children, be successful, have friends, create a legacy? Or should we just live with a simple, underlying attitude of gratefulness to be bestowed with existence in the first place? Gratefulness to me means living and making life better for others while you're living. And I believe that it does not mean worrying about living and letting the inevitable horribleness of life ruin your experience. Life sucks by default, and I've spent too long focusing on how much it sucks for everyone; but this line of thinking doesn't do anyone any good.

Many say that life is wonderful and beautiful and that I am a pessimist for highlighting the bad parts, but I don't think I am a pessimist and I would also venture to guess that those who know me best would agree with me. I might respond by saying that those with such a positive look on life are, by definition, optimists. Whichever perspective one might hold on life, any rational person must concede that the vast majority of the known universe is uninhabitable and that death, pain and suffering are all natural and intrinsic parts of life. So, in light of this, I consider myself pretty lucky to exist at all just by virtue of the statistical probability of my existence is so stacked against me. While, of course noting that if I didn't exist then I certainly wouldn't be aware of my non-existence; so that while I am conscious and aware of this fact of my own existence and how fortunate I should be to have beaten the odds, it would seem that the incidental factors that come along with my statistical triumph should be accepted with grace rather than anger and frustration.  Just as when one enjoys a nice, rich piece of chocolate cake; there are certain incidental factors that make the experience less than perfect (which, of course, being the excess amounts of empty calories).

This is then to say that with the realization of what it means to exist, we are to deal with the good and the bad (which are subjectively categorized) of life as purely incidental factors which come along with such an incredible experience. Advancing knowledge, health, living standards and peaceful relations within our species should seem to be the most fulfilling thing we can accomplish in life because in a universe without an apparent point to its existence, such goals would give us, as individuals, a sense of purpose while also benefiting those in his/her community. But such a need for purpose seems strange to me, yet it is so commonly sought. When faced with this question, I tend to respond with some like, "why ask such a question?" Why do things needs a purpose? In regards to this point, one should not ask why things exist but rather how things work (Lawrence Krauss). Asking why the wind blows doesn't do us nearly as much good as asking how it blows.

In life, I feel fulfilled and happy because I have a loving family and a great, supportive community back home. I have wonderful friends that enjoy my company just as I enjoy theirs and I am content in my work because I am constantly learning and bettering myself and others through it. To me, life is about relationships and loving; not about selfishness, death and destruction (no matter how connected those concepts might be). Mostly I see people living with a similar perspective and that brings me a lot of joy. But the trick is, I guess, to not let that inevitable and intrinsic horribleness that incidentally comes along with living in this universe ruin your ability to enjoy existence. It's like eating the cake and maintaining the understanding that every delicious piece of cake is still basically unhealthy.

The Transition Into Fall

This is my first autumn in Asia and perhaps I'm doing it a bit wrong since I'm not exploring as much as I should. This is my favorite season of the year and I have been fortunate enough to have experienced this inspiring time of the year in multiple locations. The crisp air, the cozy fire and hot drink in hand; every bit of Fall just makes me happy. In Taiwan, the weather has gotten noticeably colder and I'm getting a bit homesick. Halloween is celebrated by the Americans and English here but it seems to be a, "huh, that's interesting" kind of thing to the local people. The most amusing part of Halloween for the Taiwanese seems to be watching the foreigners dress up in costumes.

Western holidays get about as much attention in Taiwan as one might expect, it's more like a fun curiosity. One thing I do really like about the local traditions that enhances this season for me is the BaiBaiTian (prayer day), when businesses burn offerings and incense for prayer. It's a pleasant smell and I think the displays are also quite nice, not to mention the beauty of the temples that are numerous, especially in Tainan.

I would really like to take a week or two and travel to Japan and Korea during this season but unfortunately I just won't have the time. Instead, I'll take some local trips on the new set of wheels. Let's see if I can get some good photos as well and if all goes well I might even be able to learn something. If I can get a good collection of photos, I'll post them on this post.

Is Chivalry Dead?

The death of chivalry was brought up recently in a conversation I was having with a client. It really made me ponder the concept especially after she suggested that it hasn't died, but rather, has updated itself in modern culture. The birth of the concept is from medieval Europe and pertains to the conduct that military horsemen would practice it in training, warfare and public service. Traditionally it has come to refer to a code of honor and nobility in society, while in modern times it seems to have died out (or at least many would claim). I agree with my client though, it has not died.

Basically we have this concept of chivalry to guide our social behavior in western culture whereas Confucianism outlines similar codes of conduct for eastern societies and the influences are easy to notice when you live in both societies. In my view, I can see chivalry in the respect that we pay our neighbors, not necessarily by way of opening a car door for a woman or walking on the street-side of the sidewalk when accompanied by a woman. Though these are nice gestures, I don't believe they embody what it means to be a gentleman. If you fail to open your car door for your girlfriend on every occasion that doesn't automatically mean that chivalry has died because chivalry is a bit deeper than that.

Furthermore, western society has shied away from many condescending courtesies that were a gentleman's responsibility such as paying for each restaurant bill and opting in as the "decision maker" as such aspects of the gentlemanly demeanor are now seen as demeaning. I'm a firm believer in equality while at the same time acknowledging our key differences. It is condescending, however, to have a guy paying for everything which can be easy perceived as though she is a poor, helpless woman who can't do anything without a man. Personally, I have never met such a woman. It might also easily be perceived as personal insecurity, as if the guy must prove how his money will make her want to stay with him. So,I can easily see why some of these acts, that are traditionally associated with chivalry, are dying out.

It is simply that our society is maturing and embracing equality and maintaining respect for each other. This common sense of respect to your fellow human being has always been most apparent to me back home in the North West and also in England. Doors are held open for strangers and reliable directions are given to out-of-towners. In general, men tend to behave better when women are present; less inappropriate language is used and manners are more attended to. I thoroughly enjoy these little things in society that reminds me that we are all in this together. So often I noted common courtesies in London that would bring a smile to my face; like when an elderly woman would step onto the tube carriage then shortly thereafter is offered a seat by a fellow passenger. Or when some lone American guy is sitting at the local pub and a group of locals decides to buy him a round and invite him to play snooker. And of course back home we have our heartwarming RAOK (random acts of kindness). It only makes sense that such a concept would come from the place that is also known for the never ending intersection struggle of "no, you go first", "no, you go first".

I have noticed that this regard for strangers is not as common in the east, at least from what I've experienced. I'm not sure why exactly, especially since many of the places I've visited so far are always so well known for hospitality. I get lots of waves "hello, how are you/" but that is only because I stand out. Drivers are not courteous at all, and when you are courteous to them they don't know how to react. Strangers on the street don't seem to like to be randomly greeted by a complete stranger. Now, I could be completely misunderstanding my observations because they are so skewed due to how much I stand out as a foreigner but nonetheless, I do miss the little pleasantries of everyday life that I experienced in America and Europe. Or maybe I'm just an asshole and I look non-approachable, who knows?

At any rate, I'm excited to compare these aspects of culture with my future destinations. Therefore, this is to be continued...

Living Up to the Stereotype

Personally, I think stereotypes are hilarious whenever I see them lived up to. Stereotypes exist for a reason so it would make sense that we see them in action from time to time. I live up to the American stereotype every once in a while and I'm not ashamed of it. I eat hamburgers, ride big motorcycles and sometimes talk a bit too loudly in public places. I drink starbucks and frequent Costco no matter which country I am (Kirkland signature makes good jeans for cheap haha). All this in no way means that I don't respect the local specialties. I just sometimes fit within a stereotype and that's okay with me as long as I don't let it define me.

Anyway, this is what was on my mind today. Also, what a great day this turned out to be. Hanging out at the beach, enjoying local cuisine and sleeping all afternoon. I need more days like this.

Some Misconceptions About Taiwan

Mostly this will be addressing some common misunderstanding about Taiwan that I've noticed that people have in the US and Europe. Of course, I am no expert on Taiwan but most of the things that I will mention are perhaps a bit shallow. As I learn more, I will add to the list and hopefully I can become an expert one day.

First of all, Taiwan is not Thailand. It really baffles me how many people get the two countries mixed up. The two countries are nothing alike and to me it's almost as ridiculous as mixing up the United States with the United Arab Emirates. The food is different, the language is different, the culture is different; basically everything is different. Yet, for some reason I am constantly hearing, "oh Thailand is so beautiful! How long were you there?" from Americans and Europeans. I usually just respond, "I'm sorry, I've never been to Thailand. I did, however, just mention Taiwan", or something to that effect. Taiwan is a small island located in the Pacific Ocean, South of Japan and East of Hong Kong.

In Taiwan there is a huge variety of languages to choose from. The official language of the island is Mandarin Chinese but Taiwanese is also widely spoken. My knowledge of Taiwanese is minimal but it is a very interesting linguistic rabbit trail to follow. Several different dialects of Taiwanese are spoken throughout the island and they are genetically linked to Mandarin because Taiwanese originates from the mainland. There is actually no native Formosan language, or at least no Proto-Formosan just to be a little more clear. In Tainan, Taiwanese is heavily spoken but usually in combination with Mandarin. When locals encounter a foreigner, Mandarin is used because it is extremely rare for foreigners to come to Taiwan to learn Taiwanese. If a foreigner does know Taiwanese, it is most likely because he/she has been living in Taiwan for an extended period of time and is usually unmarried. That brings up another point, most of the foreigners that I meet here who marry locals don't speak Mandarin or Taiwanese. Their significant other will always translate and quite honestly, English is everywhere. Everything has subtitles in English or an English version. And when I say everything, I don't mean literally everything; mostly things like restaurant menus and legal documents. Nonetheless, as long as you can speak English, life is survivable but still very tricky. It is always far better to speak the local language of any place that you go/live, if not for any other reason but that it is just the polite thing to do.

The food in Taiwan is not so weird and exotic. The food, especially in Tainan, is very delicious and not at all bizarre. I found French food to be more exotic than Taiwanese food, actually. The most common dish in Tainan is beef noodle soup. My favorite is seafood noodles with a side of baozi, which is a steamed or fried bun with either meat or vegetable filling. Probably the strangest food that you can find is called stinky tofu. It's almost like a test of your food tolerance for foreigners to see whether it is tolerable to them or not. But seriously, stinky tofu is no stranger than how we eat cottage cheese in the US. I quite enjoyed stinky tofu when I first tried it but I probably wouldn't seek it out or anything. Of course, in Taipei everything is a lot more international, which means that we can find cuisines from around the world which is unlike Tainan, yet Tainan is more well known for its restaurants.

Taiwan is in a kind of twilight zone of independence. Officially, Taiwan is ROC (Republic of China) but according to international laws regarding Rights of Autonomy, Taiwan certainly qualifies for sovereignty. Language, culture, economy, currency and the political system in Taiwan are all different and from mainland China. In fact, Taiwanese need to apply for a visa to enter China, whereas a Taiwanese passport allows an automatic landing visa in the US. Surely it is clear to see that Taiwan is not China, yet it is. Taiwanese people will acknowledge that their roots are from China for the most part but the vast majority of Taiwanese people will not identify themselves as Chinese.

Taiwan is not a poor, third world country. It's one of the strongest economies in East Asia. Taiwan is highly industrialized and very modern. This modernity is less noticeable in the country-side but can still be readily seen. Average wage is still quite low compared with the US or the UK but that is to be expected. In relation to cost of living, the ratios seem to give the advantage to Taiwanese workers. Average wage is low but cost of living is also low unlike most European countries. Also, opportunity is very high here as long as you are willing to work hard and be competitive, which then can make that wage-cost of living gap so much less of an issue.

These are a few of the biggest question marks that most people have, according to my observations anyway. I might add to this post in the future or make follow-up if needed. Questions are welcomed in either the comments or by personal message.   

Video Blog (However that works haha)

This post is pretty much for the purpose of sharing some videos that I think are interesting. I've never tried posting videos on my blog before, so this is also a bit of an experiment. Hopefully this can be like a video thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTG4dbSR7NI

This video criticizes modern mega-churches for losing focus on what a church has traditionally been. I thought it presented a realistic perspective which I could definitely relate to in my experiences with such churches. 

http://youtu.be/MQox1hQrABQ

Christopher Hitchens squaring up the facts to shed light on the myths.