“One could respond to this interpretation by pointing out that cockneys are materially better off now than they were in the past”
The same could be said of many indigenous peoples around the world, yet pointing this out will immediately invite charges of racism/white supremacy/colonisation etc, yet this argument doesn’t seem to apply to cockneys…
I am retired in Oaxaca, Mexico and live with a Oaxacan family, where I observe the advantages of strong family ties not only for the raising of children and the care of elders, but also the absence of loneliness and social alienation. I also observe the burdens imposed by family obligations and the intra-family conflicts. There are trade-offs, to be sure.
A key difference with, say, the US, where was born and lived all my life, is that Mexico is a survivor culture. In the US, survival is more or less assumed (barring unforeseen accidents or illnesses), but in Mexico many people live much closer to the edge. There is much less room for consideration of self-fulfillment or even happiness. But to a great extent, these values can be realized through family, or, in “Los pueblos,” or villages.
My final observation is that it is much easier to lament what one might be giving up, than to appreciate the advantages of family and village life.
The comments on your NYT piece are so frustrating! Did they even read the article? I can't understand the comments acting as if you're just lamenting some idyllic past, when... the whole point... is that we think we want a village, but we only sort of do (or only sometimes). Right?? This must be so annoying as an author!
“One could respond to this interpretation by pointing out that cockneys are materially better off now than they were in the past”
The same could be said of many indigenous peoples around the world, yet pointing this out will immediately invite charges of racism/white supremacy/colonisation etc, yet this argument doesn’t seem to apply to cockneys…
I am retired in Oaxaca, Mexico and live with a Oaxacan family, where I observe the advantages of strong family ties not only for the raising of children and the care of elders, but also the absence of loneliness and social alienation. I also observe the burdens imposed by family obligations and the intra-family conflicts. There are trade-offs, to be sure.
A key difference with, say, the US, where was born and lived all my life, is that Mexico is a survivor culture. In the US, survival is more or less assumed (barring unforeseen accidents or illnesses), but in Mexico many people live much closer to the edge. There is much less room for consideration of self-fulfillment or even happiness. But to a great extent, these values can be realized through family, or, in “Los pueblos,” or villages.
My final observation is that it is much easier to lament what one might be giving up, than to appreciate the advantages of family and village life.
One final observation. What seems to work well for some Mexican families is not to live under one roof, but in close proximity to the extended family.
The comments on your NYT piece are so frustrating! Did they even read the article? I can't understand the comments acting as if you're just lamenting some idyllic past, when... the whole point... is that we think we want a village, but we only sort of do (or only sometimes). Right?? This must be so annoying as an author!
It is…