1. What are Ishmael’s two general rules on how to identify people from our culture? Do you agree with Ishmael when he says that people from all over the world are part of the same culture? Why or why not?
His two general ways of recognition to their culture is first, The food is always under a key and a lock... And second, they perceive themselves to be part of a race that is fundamentally flawed, and that wisdom is a rare commodity, and because they are flawed they are not surprised to be living in a world with poverty and corruption. This culture is only one of many cultures across the world, states Ishmael. I agree with his statement because still today after millions of year you can find tribes in the middle of the forest who treat the earth and their bodies as blessings rather than junk. I felt very strongly about when he says we accept that we are not fundamentally flawed. I felt strongly because my whole life I have been accepting that fact that we were just born wrong, but Ishmael brings it to a whole new perspective when he says that we are not fundamentally flawed, we just point the finger at anything but ourselves and because of this, we cannot save ourselves because we are too lazy.
2. Ishmael disagrees with Mother Culture’s voice that says that humans are inherently flawed. After reading through page 66 of My Ishmael do agree or disagree with him? Why?
I agree that humans are not inherently flawed, but that mother culture is teaching us to accept our mistakes and point the blame towards anything but ourselves. The reason why I agree with Ishmael's reasoning is because I believe that humans are capable beyond much more than we claim. I KNOW for a fact that we could do something to change the world and possibly save it, but it is our culture to be lazy and not do anything about our problems. In fact, we are so lazy that we would rather except our failure than try to fix it while there is still time.
3. Ishmael uses a parable of Tunes and Dancers to explain his idea of Takers and Leavers. Who are these Takers and Leavers and how do they relate to American culture?
Takers and Leavers represent dancers. The Dancers were happy with only a little dance each month and they worked with what they had rather than trying to perfect dance; just like the leavers were happy with what they had, and they left everything to the Gods and Nature to take care of them. On the other hand the more serious dancers wanted to devote all of their time to learning the best dances and doing things humans shouldn't naturally be able to do; just like the Takers wanted to devote their time to growing food. By doing this they took their fate into their own hands, making them takers. When the more serious "Dancers" got with the less serious "Dancers" they used their culture to persuade them to let the more serious dancers show them how its done.
