STYLE VERSUS SUBSTANCE

There are a numbe rof controversies raging everywhere over certainnotions that particular peoples hold and which have strong emotional reactions which often border on the irrational when aroused. That is, some people are willing to either kill for or over or to die for and over. We usually think of political and economic reasons but there are cultural/ethnic ones which many moderns and contemproary peoples ignore or tend to dismiss.... Three such areas recently brought to my attention are: CUISINE,BELLY DANCING(& dancing in general), & MARTIAL ARTS(especially pentjak-silat-kuntao, among others). The latter controversy comes from considering SILAT as ISLAMIC in origins and,therefore,not allowed to be taught or learned by those who are not ISLAMIC,despite the fact such has been, still is, and will be taught to 'outsiders' 'non-Islamic' peoples, and foreigners.... Many of the various tribes in some of the Islamic areas, such as, Indonesia, are not Islamic,of course. The same controversy for CUISINE comes from considering foods under specific ethnic/national identities, such as, for example, running "Italian" restaurants or manufacturing spaghetti and similar things by non-Italian companies or by companies not in Italy...The same can be said for CHINESE CUISINE or Chinese food,especially commercial convenience frozen foods...WHAT IS AUTHENTIC ABOUT IT? Hungry people who eat any of it don't really care...... NOW, comes BELLY DANCING which many consider 'ISLAMIC' despite the fact its possible origins are non-Islamic-that is, from Ancient Egypt,Mesopotamia, Crete,Greece and elswhere. Also the other misconception people have about is that the NEAR EAST is all Islamic or Arabic, except for Israel. Concerns over teh minutiae of Belly Dancing arts will not enhance its status among those dancers or people looking for 'some good exercise', 'social entertainment' or 'sensual-erotic arousal' per se as those seeking such already have closed minds. To open the doors of deeper perception, a higher emphasis is perhaps needed and higher aimsconsidered but such is not likely to happen it would seem. In Belly Dancing, style tends to surpass substance, despite 'good' intentions. The crowds and the mobs will storm, rage, yell & shout, as usual for the 'crucifixion'....so be it...