In America, what does the term "cultural elitist" mean?

[inf1nity]

I was reading an article about an Indian politician written by an American politician. I came across a sentence that i didn't understand. Can somebody explain?

Like the U.S., India has cultural elitists who seem to desperately crave the approval of their former colonial masters in Europe. The Indian cultural elite despises Modi every bit as much as the American cultural elite despised Reagan.

http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/14/is-india-about-to-elect-its-reagan/

 

[mmntech]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_word

 

[SlitheryDee]

It could mean anything. I think that's intentional. What it really means is "I don't like these people".

 

[inf1nity]

My actual question is not really what the term itself means. As far as i understand, it means someone who sees themselves as an intellectual and more sophisticated than the general population. However what i don't understand is why US would have people that see the British as superior. I can understand Indians having inferiority complexes compared to British, since India is not as good a country as England, but why would an American "desperately crave the approval of their former colonial masters in Europe."? AFAIK US is a much better country than England. Also both the British and the Americans are white, so there is no question of racial superiority as well.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The article is not saying the American cultural elites want to be British. It says they want to be European, which is a code word for socialism, unfriendly business environments and powerful central states for some people.

 

[inf1nity]

Ah, OK. I read the term "colonial masters" and assumed that it meant British, since it was the British who colonised both the countries.

So, i guess there are people in the US who reject the American ideas of freedom, capitalism and lean towards left side of the political spectrum? Is that what the article is talking about?

 

[SlitheryDee]

My actual question is not really what the term itself means. As far as i understand, it means someone who sees themselves as an intellectual and more sophisticated than the general population. However what i don't understand is why US would have people that see the British as superior. I can understand Indians having inferiority complexes compared to British, since India is not as good a country as England, but why would an American "desperately crave the approval of their former colonial masters in Europe."? AFAIK US is a much better country than England. Also both the British and the Americans are white, so there is no question of racial superiority as well.

There's probably a lot of subtext that needs to be understood in that article for everything to make sense. My first assumption (having not read the article) is that he's a conservative journalist and is using the term to identify those parts of the population who really do see the British, and perhaps Europeans in general, to be more "evolved" in their approaches to social and economic issues. This is a common dividing line between liberal and conservative rhetoric. Those people do exist, and would likely contest your assertion that the US is a "better" country, citing things like health care, corporate regulations, etc. as proof.

 

[IronWing]

Cultural elitist => listens to music that doesn't reference hoes, Jesus, or beer.

 

[Newell Steamer]

It's a buzz word, used by scared angry white people.

Anyone that does not listen to, or care for, old world thinking is a bigot / reverse racist. Or, they labeled as elitists, for not accepting the idea of forcing raped women to keep their rapist's baby.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Ah, OK. I read the term "colonial masters" and assumed that it meant British, since it was the British who colonised both the countries.

So, i guess there are people in the US who reject the American ideas of freedom, capitalism and lean towards left side of the political spectrum? Is that what the article is talking about?

Thank you for making me wake up to the fact that I hate freedom.

 

[amdhunter]

I read the title as clitoral eatist.
Disappointed.

 

[natto fire]

"Posts to ATOT"