From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Sat Jun 30 2001 - 20:21:56 MDT
In a message dated 6/30/2001 9:33:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lcorbin@tsoft.com writes:
<< Someone recently pointed out that Europeans would
never rise to the near Nazi-level of anti-smoking
hysteria that characterizes present-day America. >>
Yes but they did rise to the nazi level of being nazis ;-)
In the years prior to the entrance on the US into the European War, the nazis
did institute an intense anti-smoking effort based on medical information
that tobacco use harmed the lungs and circulatory system. Thye wanted fit
warriors for their new Europe.
<<So can anyone explain why is it that Americans (and the
English) get extreme about silly and unimportant things,
while Europeans save their going nuts for profound and
serious matters?
Lee Corbin>>
What are your parameters for silly? Perhaps religiosity, or sexual behavior,
or drugs? We are weird regarding that, in part, because of the Anglo-Saxon
predominant culture emphasized worries about sex and sobriety, and they were
primarily the founders of the nation. Hence you had prohibition and
depression happening within 11 years as a result of the opinions and
attitudes of that majoritarian culture. The economics are more complicated,
but it too, I suspect, is partly culture-based.
Europe is now undergoing a minor backlash against the "serious" problem of
genetically altered grains. There has yet to be displayed a decent scientific
study on whether these crops are detrimental to the animals who consume them,
or not-yet European governments have already passed laws discouraging their
usage.
Silly is frequently in the eye of the beholder.
Mitch
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