Re: CHAT: Which world? Which culture?

Iain E. Davis wrote at 2003-07-12 09:30:59 (-0500)
 > > From: Thomas R. Wier
 > > The idea that America is one giant homogeneous mass is, and has
 > > always been, the false impression of outsiders, but it is widely
 > > held outside the US for political convenience.  (You made no such
 > > allegation, but I think it necessary to point it out.)
 >
 > I suspect that holds true for many places/cultures.  It is easier
 > for outsiders to view a given region or country or state as being a
 > homogenous culture, but reality tends to be far more complex than
 > we represent it being. Any group of significant number (and I
 > suspect this number is fairly small) can have a distinct culture.
 >
 > Hmm. An alien race would probably regard "All Terrans" as having a
 > single culture. Odd thought, that.
 >

This puts me in mind of something I once read.  In some museum of the
distant future there is a display case labelled "Earth: Christian
Era".  It contains a Roman centurion's helmet and an empty Coke can.

(This image is all that has remained with me of its source, and the
details may be slightly off.)