A Better DR

[Chirimoya]

Not quite a blackout - it's when the electricity voltage goes down so low you can't use some appliances.

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by Tropicdude

Solisdad2000, I can relate to many things you have said, "pride" is lacking in the majority of Dominicans, but not all. I have lived here for over 24 years back and forth between the US. my Wife is Dominican, and even have a grandchild here. and I can say that I have met many responsible Dominicans full of pride. but as you say they are a minority here. and Dominicans in general are accustomed to this and think its "normal".

But this would fall under Education, and when I say education, i'm not talking about just math or history. It will take time to teach responsibility or to have pride in their work. to value and respect others that show these traits.

An example, In Bani, "Los Banilejos" are very proud f how clean their city is, kids born there learn this pride and continue the tradition. if you see trash in the streets it was most likely just tossed their by other non Bani Dominicans passing in cars or buses.

People here should be more impressed by what others have done, and less by what they own. once that happens, no one will give a hoot about "el tigre con el jipeta nueva " it will be more like, "So what? what has he done?" what does he do? Nothing? well he is a nobody.

I know there are many other factors, but mostly it does boil down to education and what values are passed onto children.

Thanks for these observations - I often think that the smaller places away from the Capital and tourist developments hold more of the backbone of the country.

I wanted to bring up a characteristic of the "no eres cupable" - it is not my fault, I did not do it-- which seems to run through this culture (and I am told other LAtin cultures as well).... It is just so different from the "I cut down that cherry tree" or "my word is my bond"-- that many of us were raised with..... and-- well-- HARD to adapt to. What is this from - what is this value? what makes it continue?

[drgringo]

Originally Posted by mountainannie

Thanks for these observations - I often think that the smaller places away from the Capital and tourist developments hold more of the backbone of the country.

I wanted to bring up a characteristic of the "no eres cupable" - it is not my fault, I did not do it-- which seems to run through this culture (and I am told other LAtin cultures as well).... It is just so different from the "I cut down that cherry tree" or "my word is my bond"-- that many of us were raised with..... and-- well-- HARD to adapt to. What is this from - what is this value? what makes it continue?

I dont know how many generations this has been passed on as acceptable, but lies and theft are not thought of as bad things here, rather almost a accomplishments. Stealing is not thought of as the wrong, its the person who was stolen from who is at fualt, as he did not see it coming.Its so sad to see such a lack of integrity.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Not quite a blackout - it's when the electricity voltage goes down so low you can't use some appliances.

Word.

We have spells where the UPS's are going off, but the inverter hasn't kicked on.

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by drgringo

I dont know how many generations this has been passed on as acceptable, but lies and theft are not thought of as bad things here, rather almost a accomplishments. Stealing is not thought of as the wrong, its the person who was stolen from who is at fualt, as he did not see it coming.Its so sad to see such a lack of integrity.

what an amazing observation!! It is the person who is stolen from who is at fault?

is this really in the Dominican culture?

where is it from?

[Fernandez]

Perhaps all is equal when considering the depth and destruction we are experienceing today in the USA.
Is this really our American culture? Read it and weep.

The Silver Bear Cafe

[Tropicdude]

Originally Posted by mountainannie

what an amazing observation!! It is the person who is stolen from who is at fault?

is this really in the Dominican culture?

where is it from?

I think you can tell a lot about a culture by how they drive,

In the US, we have a system where you are responsable for your actions, and you drive in a non offensive manner, in other words, you yield when changing lanes, you do not stop for no apparent reason in the center lane, nor do you make a U turn from the furthest lane, etc etc. If you do those things in the US, you will get promptly rammed , because in the US, people are not very good defensive drivers, they are so accustomed to everyone doing things right, that when someone does make a mistake, its usually a 5 car pile up.

now to contrast this with how they drive here, in the DR, people generally drive very defensively, they have to, because hardly no one obeys any traffic laws, they drive between lanes, drive the wrong way, stop in the middle of the road at any given time etc. here its "Drive offensively, and defensively " example, if your in the left lane, and someone is beside you in the right lane, and your both cruising down the road, suddenly there is an obstacle ( car parked, pile of dirt, dead horse, whatever ) in his lane, you better move out of his way, because he will start changing lanes whether your in that spot or not, and if he hits you, it will be YOUR fault, because most Dominican drivers do not know what it is to Yield, or give the "right of way"

Do not get me wrong, I know some excellent Dominican drivers, and know plenty of bad American ones, but as a general rule the way people drive on the roads in their country is a reflection of their culture. BTW, Dominicans that migrate to the US, learn fast to drive "non offensively" which just proves that if the traffic cops here actually did their job and enforced traffic laws, driving here would be a lot easier. I have had to adjust my driving to a "Defensive" mode while driving here.