The Democracy of Sati is a young island nation in the Caribbean. The small yet diverse population consists of descendants of immigrants from North and South America, as well as parts of Africa and around the world. People were first drawn to this previously uninhabited island by the booming Mahogany industry... but like many small exotic places once the resources could no longer be stripped for profit, many stayed for the amazing views and tropical climate. The terrain is mostly flat which makes navigating the island simple. With moderate temperatures and little seasonal variation one can see why many were inclined to stay after the timber industry was shut down do to laws inhibiting the import of mahogany due to concerns over deforestation.
Economic System Generations have now passed and most islanders now make their living through the tourism industry which does quite well. In addition to the tourism industry, or perhaps in tandem with it, horticulture brings the island a significant portion of the wealth. Interestingly, however, that wealth is not derived from sale of plants and herbs as a food source. Scientist and alternative medicine supporters alike agree that this island hosts a vast many plants and herbs with great healing properties that have not yet been fully scientifically explained. This brings an appealing sense of mystery and excitement which further draws tourism from those curious and seeking healing combined. Many of the popular tourist spots are “healing spas” and bring in wealthy clients from around the world seeking to benefit from the proven results of the plant life found in Sati.
Myths The same air of the unknown that draws in tourists also permeates almost every aspect of the culture. The myths handed down from father to son, from mother to daughter all take the great stories and legends regarding healing from the various countries from which the original inhabitants migrated. Some of the stories have remained in their original state, and some have been weaved together seamlessly into a colorful tapestry. Stories of medicine healers from native American cultures flow into stories of shaman healing the battle wounds of young warriors.. The culture draws from countless myths as they relate to healing and medicine to try to explain this virtual paradise of healing.
Religion There are many religions practiced on this small island, the most predominate one being Buddhism. This may be surprising given the geographical location of the country, however since Buddhism has principles of many religions within it, it seems fitting. Buddhism was introduced here in the 1960's and quickly spread. Having a dominating religion has helped unify the many cultures originally found on the island . Being predominately Buddhist also makes it an appealing vacation destination for Buddhist from southeast Asia, bolstering the economic impact of the tourism industry.
Marriage The mean age of marriage on the island is 27. The teen pregnancy rate is very low. Premarital sex is not taboo and sex education is strongly emphasized.. Cohabiting non married couples are also considered acceptable and may contribute to the average age of marriage. The divorce rate is low. Same sex marriage is legal and the island hosts many destination weddings for tourist whom come from countries in which it is not legal.
Family and kinship Families live in single family dwellings. There is general equality between men and women. In the typical family both men and women tend their personal family gardens (many on this island are vegetarians and eat the foods grown directly in their own gardens) in addition to employment in the tourism industry or jobs related to horticulture for healing. Children are expected to help with the family gardens.
In contrast to many small counties, wealth is evenly distributed. The people live a relatively simple laid back lifestyle. The government has tight regulations to prevent further exploitation of the land therefore horticulture and environmental matters are strictly regulated
1) The Island of Sati brought many people to the island because of its booming mahogany industry but now attracts tourists with native healing plants and herbs. These healing alternatives to common medicine now provide the island revenue with their “healing spas”; therefore, how does the symbol of the mahogany tree reflect not only the island’s past but its continuity into the future of the culture?
ReplyDelete2) Since Buddhism is the primary religion to the people of Sati, what approaches were used to make premarital sex acceptable in the society? Were these approaches introduced in the 1960s when Buddhism also rose to the forefront?
3) In the Island of Sati, what are the customs and rituals that make family/kinship and marriage interconnected? Is marriage completely independent from family and kinship or does it go hand-in-hand? Both symbols of family and marriage contain leaf imagery, how does this connect the two institutions?
Although there is an outline for marriage in the Sati culture, there is no specific insight into the life of a married couple on the Island of Sati. The caption for the symbol of marriage does state that the basis must be strong in order for the marriage to work but the narrative does not say what aspects are involved in the actual marriage. Since the people of Sati get married at an older age is there more wisdom that goes into the marriage and family life? If so, does this wisdom get incorporated because of the religion of Buddhism? What would be interesting to know about Sati marriage are the taboos, or what does not happened in marriage. There was not enough detail put into what marriage entails for the people of Sati. All that was said was the different types of relationships couples have in Sati. Is love a major aspect of marriage or is it just to form alliances, or both? As far as Buddhism goes, is marriage a spiritual endeavor and does a Buddhist monk marry couples? The rituals and customs related to marriage are not stated and could have made the people of Sati even more relatable than they already are.
One positive aspect of this culture was that the blog was very organized and structured. It was easy to follow and read. Another positive aspect was that the people of Sati seemed like a realistic culture and I could imagine living in this environment and atmosphere. It was easy for me to envision this place and culture. Some specific details and a background showing the environment were missing but the overall idea of the people of Sati was good.