I'm starting to feel like maybe I'm the crazy one...?!
I was at a party over the weekend (at a Russian restaurant, I'm Russian also, and so were the people there) and I was sitting by a woman I didn't know!. She was talking to the whole table when she mentioned that she loves fur coats and that she hates walking around Boulder, CO with them because she gets rude remarks from "Tree Huggers"!. I couldn't keep my mouth shut about the issue and I finally told her why I (a tree hugger) am against fur coats!. She laughed it off and started a new subject on politics, and how much she didn't want a black president!. I understand that some people will not change, I just feel like I'm not being taken seriously in my culture!. I'm educated and Americanized, and I'm sick of my culture looking at me like I'm some kind of freak!. any advise!? Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Your situation is quite common!. This is a classic culture clash between foreign morals and American morals, or just one of ignorance and education!.
If you cannot escape this social group (ie they are relatives), then gently but firmly remind them of your feelings and why you feel this way!. Of course, some people will never see another view, but at least you will get the satisfaction of having informed them!. Remember though that no one likes a proselytizer of political correctness, so unless it is really unbearable, its wiser to approach this in a low key way to avoid alienating people!. It also gets the message across in a better way!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you cannot escape this social group (ie they are relatives), then gently but firmly remind them of your feelings and why you feel this way!. Of course, some people will never see another view, but at least you will get the satisfaction of having informed them!. Remember though that no one likes a proselytizer of political correctness, so unless it is really unbearable, its wiser to approach this in a low key way to avoid alienating people!. It also gets the message across in a better way!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm sorry, and I mean no offense, but if you're the freak and that woman is the norm, I wouldn't want much to do with my culture!.
You need to weigh the benefits received from associating with such people against the detriments!. As with family gatherings, perhaps the wisest move is to walk away!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You need to weigh the benefits received from associating with such people against the detriments!. As with family gatherings, perhaps the wisest move is to walk away!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Here's the problem:
As "tree huger liberals," we can understand other people's problems (liking soft, fur coats) and offer a solution (faux fur)!. They cannot understand where we are coming from or why we give a damn about the environment and/or innocent animals!.
I am not the type of person to go around preaching to people, but this is something I have noticed and I will stand by!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As "tree huger liberals," we can understand other people's problems (liking soft, fur coats) and offer a solution (faux fur)!. They cannot understand where we are coming from or why we give a damn about the environment and/or innocent animals!.
I am not the type of person to go around preaching to people, but this is something I have noticed and I will stand by!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Ignore what other people say about you and your culture and just be yourself!!! When you stand up for your culture you are standing up for everyone who has the same culture as you so if people have a problem with that they need to get over it!. Don't worry about what others think about your concern for the enviroment because it is important to you and many others!. Good Luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm Russian also, she's not that way because she is Russian, she's that way because she is ignorant!. A lot of the older generation is like that!. There are a lot of people in our generation who Americanized or not are not like that!. I am Americanized but have learned to be proud of my heritage!. Most of the people in Russia are not actually like that either!. Not anymore!.
As for advice, don't feel like you have to explain or prove anything to people like that!. If they talk down to you, talk down to them!. They don't understand the new world order, whether Russian or otherwise and they need to learn!. So if you ever see her again, explain that even in Russia she'd be an idiot, and she needs to learn that mixed company is not the time to be racist, or bigoted, or complain about "tree huggers" because obviously she's not smart enough to know who's company she's keeping!. Explain to her, in the most condescending tone, that there's a time and place for everything!. Then when she reacts tell her how it's not nice to be on the flip side of condescension!. It's the only way "these" (meaning ignorant prattling idiots) people communicate!.
Good luck
Edit: I know how they can be, and I've faced it before also!. They tend to shut up when they realize they can't talk down to you and get away with it!. I know what they claim, and I told them it's fine for them to believe what they want, but not to be rude or to talk about "people like me" in a rude fashion!. I'm entitled to my beliefs and they can choose to stay as warm as they want while keeping their mouth shut!. While I disagree with wearing fur would never attack someone for it, I petition the companies, and speak with people willing to discuss, I do not sit in mixed company and complain about "the ignorant fur wearers" as she did the "tree huggers"!. I make myself more than clear!. As for her status (which I'm betting she made apparent) you can tell her that she can shove it, because honestly, nobody cares anymore!. I know for decades she lived in a country where there was nothing in the stores and no money to buy it with if there was (exaggeration)!. But just because she has the money now (and I'm sure she's not that noble, being an immigrant), doesn't mean she needs to flaunt it!. I would do like my mother and father have done a few times, and point out how tacky trying to flaunt your money really is!. How nobody with any real class would bother doing it!. I repeat again I am from the Ukraine, my father was born in Kiev, and my mother is from Dalni vostok, Russia!. I speak the language, meet the people, and don't take their crap!.
Surprisingly though the new generation in Russia is as "Americanized" as most of our generation in America!. Same cell phones, same civil rights, and same environmental issues!.
Mind you I eat meat, and see that as alright (because it's healthy and almost necessary for a lot of people to stay perfectly healthy)!. But many things are unnecessary, fur being one of them, blatant racism is another!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As for advice, don't feel like you have to explain or prove anything to people like that!. If they talk down to you, talk down to them!. They don't understand the new world order, whether Russian or otherwise and they need to learn!. So if you ever see her again, explain that even in Russia she'd be an idiot, and she needs to learn that mixed company is not the time to be racist, or bigoted, or complain about "tree huggers" because obviously she's not smart enough to know who's company she's keeping!. Explain to her, in the most condescending tone, that there's a time and place for everything!. Then when she reacts tell her how it's not nice to be on the flip side of condescension!. It's the only way "these" (meaning ignorant prattling idiots) people communicate!.
Good luck
Edit: I know how they can be, and I've faced it before also!. They tend to shut up when they realize they can't talk down to you and get away with it!. I know what they claim, and I told them it's fine for them to believe what they want, but not to be rude or to talk about "people like me" in a rude fashion!. I'm entitled to my beliefs and they can choose to stay as warm as they want while keeping their mouth shut!. While I disagree with wearing fur would never attack someone for it, I petition the companies, and speak with people willing to discuss, I do not sit in mixed company and complain about "the ignorant fur wearers" as she did the "tree huggers"!. I make myself more than clear!. As for her status (which I'm betting she made apparent) you can tell her that she can shove it, because honestly, nobody cares anymore!. I know for decades she lived in a country where there was nothing in the stores and no money to buy it with if there was (exaggeration)!. But just because she has the money now (and I'm sure she's not that noble, being an immigrant), doesn't mean she needs to flaunt it!. I would do like my mother and father have done a few times, and point out how tacky trying to flaunt your money really is!. How nobody with any real class would bother doing it!. I repeat again I am from the Ukraine, my father was born in Kiev, and my mother is from Dalni vostok, Russia!. I speak the language, meet the people, and don't take their crap!.
Surprisingly though the new generation in Russia is as "Americanized" as most of our generation in America!. Same cell phones, same civil rights, and same environmental issues!.
Mind you I eat meat, and see that as alright (because it's healthy and almost necessary for a lot of people to stay perfectly healthy)!. But many things are unnecessary, fur being one of them, blatant racism is another!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It's a funny thing!. It's not that I hate tree huggers or anything, but I hate it when Greenpeace folks keep bugging me for my credit card number, or my friend tries to make me feel guilty for eating chicken!. (I was vegetarian for 14 years, vegan for 2, and needed to start eating more protein besides lentils and tofu and whatnot for medical/dietary reasons!.)
That being said, I think killing animals for fur is outright stupid!. Yeah you like fur!. Yeah it feels good to you!. But I mean, it's a dead animal!. That might be hypocritical of me since my dad's car has leather seats and my sneakers are made of leather as well!. I'm working on that!.
I remember I was in Japan once and one of the biggest rages was having these little scarves made of an entire baby fox, head and all!. It would be wrapped so that the fox's head would wrap into a slit that they had cut into its tail!. I was so freaked out to have this little thing staring at me that I couldn't have a conversation with the woman I was introduced to, I was so distracted!. I just thought it was the most unnecessary thing in the world, right up there with the elephant's foot wastebasket!. Oh, that and another Japanese friend's scarf made out of baby bunnies' tails!. Some things make me speechless!.
Much like meat, you can live without fur!. We're not in the Stone Age anymore!. We have clothing to keep us warm!.
Honestly, I don't think you're the crazy one!. You're not a freak, but your reasoning might seem "out of this world" to many!. I say stick to your beliefs, but it may not be worth arguing with those who are steadfast in their ways or refuse to take a second look at their behaviors!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
That being said, I think killing animals for fur is outright stupid!. Yeah you like fur!. Yeah it feels good to you!. But I mean, it's a dead animal!. That might be hypocritical of me since my dad's car has leather seats and my sneakers are made of leather as well!. I'm working on that!.
I remember I was in Japan once and one of the biggest rages was having these little scarves made of an entire baby fox, head and all!. It would be wrapped so that the fox's head would wrap into a slit that they had cut into its tail!. I was so freaked out to have this little thing staring at me that I couldn't have a conversation with the woman I was introduced to, I was so distracted!. I just thought it was the most unnecessary thing in the world, right up there with the elephant's foot wastebasket!. Oh, that and another Japanese friend's scarf made out of baby bunnies' tails!. Some things make me speechless!.
Much like meat, you can live without fur!. We're not in the Stone Age anymore!. We have clothing to keep us warm!.
Honestly, I don't think you're the crazy one!. You're not a freak, but your reasoning might seem "out of this world" to many!. I say stick to your beliefs, but it may not be worth arguing with those who are steadfast in their ways or refuse to take a second look at their behaviors!.Www@FoodAQ@Com