Mike of Modernity (or Post?)

The chaotic, disturbing, contradictory and sometimes frustrating "reality" that is uncovered in post-modern theoretical studies reaches a fever pitch with the writings of Bell Hooks. Brutal and direct she tears apart the commodification of what the white power structure calls "exotic" or "primitive" cultures: the Other. Hooks views this mass marketing of the other as simply another form of racism perpetrated by white America. The difference, she states, is that instead of enslaving by force, the white American marketing machine instead swallows these cultures creations, and themselves, whole. Her fascinating story of the young men speaking about their desire for sexual conquest of as many ethnic women as possible raised hairs on the back of my neck. But then I took pause and realized that at least they weren't talking about beting up as many ethnic groups as they could. Can one rationalize one being better than the other? That is certainly hard, as the desire to screw somebody doenst necessarily mean you respect or understand them,; least of all their culture. So where does the cycle stop? For Hooks it is when all people recognize and understand that their is racism, even unconscious racism happening all around us, and the only way to eradicate it is to acknowledge it. To me, this seems to be a throwaway answer. Where does the blame for one's ancestors past transgressions stop? How could I possibly understand how another culture can live unless I am a part of it? Not living in it - born into it. You can't. To truly understand is impossible. But what is so hard about letting others be. Maybe even learn to live in concert and enjoy the fruits of their history to help enrich our own future. Are we so scared of the "Other" that we must destroy all those we view as owning that moniker? Soon the only other left, will be us.