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Re: [RC] re: UAE involvement in endurance - heidiI am very ashamed if any endurance rider or U.S. Citizen that may be aware of these atrocities are accepting it as "part of their culture" or think that we cannot help to influence another country. Karen, first of all, please do not make the mistake of assuming that realizing that an atrocity is due to culture is the same thing as accepting it. The two are most certainly not one and the same. Likewise, no one here (least of all me, and I'm the one who urged the notion of understanding that this DOES have to do with culture, and that there are better ways to go about changing other cultures than indignant boycotts) has suggested that we can't influence another country. On the contrary, I think we can influence other countries and other cultures a great deal by our example and our presence--we certainly CANNOT influence a wealthy nation by our absence! We may not be able to "change" their culture, but we can set an example by not participating in any of their events. But Karen, we CAN change cultures--see the above. By picking up our toys and going home, we leave the very victims to their fates. It is only by BEING THERE that we can set an example and make a difference. We as U.S. Citizens can make it clear to the UAE that we do notcondone or accept the abuse of these children, by not participating in any event or venue that citizens of the UAE are holding or sponsoring. We, as individuals, can make that choice. Yes, we can make the choice to simply absent ourselves from the scene. Or we can make the choice to BE THERE and bring our ideas and our culture wtih us. Personally, I think the former is the coward's way out. We can point to our own "virtue" and say "oh, we are wonderful, because we didn't dirty our hands with the problem." Or we can go out and be ambassadors of a better way of life. The latter is very difficult, and means walking a fine line. But you're right--the choice is ours. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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