Critical Regionalism, fight against the loss of culture just to gain modernity

Since the very first time I was introduced to this ideal it has been something that I think of constantly. It  is a very prevalent undertone looking back at my time at Clemson it is interwoven into many of the classes and lectures that we attend without touching on the subject directly. As I am still learning about this I am not an expert but through reading i have started to pull a few strands that have really stuck with me throughout my time in grad school. The first is an excerpt from Paul Ricoeur in History and truth. 

"It seems as if mankind, by approaching en masse a basic consumer culture, were also stopped en masse as a subcultural level. Thus we come to the crucial problem confronting nations just rising from underdevelopment. In order to get on the road toward modernization, is it necessary to jettison the old cultural past which has been the raison d'etre of a nation? Whence the paradox: on the one hand, it has to root itself in the soil of its past, forge a national spirit, and unfurl this spiritual and cultural revindication before the colonists personality. But in order to take part in modern civilization, it is necessary at the same time to take part in scientific, technical, and political rationality, something which very often requires the purge and simple abandon of the whole cultural past. It is a fact: every culture cannot sustain and absorb the shock of modern civilization. There is the paradox: how to become modern and return to sources; how to revive an old, dormant civilization and take part in universal civilization?"

Paul Ricoeur in History and truth.

This quote come to mind often as we spoke about new modern movements and seeing new and flashy designs that are completely abandoning any and all cultural influence that surrounds these pieces of architecture that appear to be designed in a bubble. I understand that everyone may not share my interest, however, on can not deny that a part of the success of the these older forms were products of their surrounds and culture of the time. This blog isn't to supply any answers, but a way for me to ask a questions. Why is critical regionalism not where every architect starts? Whether the project is a new build or historical renovation, is there not opportunity to learn from the past forms and innovate to still be culturally relevant but also technologically modern? My hopes would be to say yes, absolutely! We should be learning from history and creating forms that reflect our region and embrace the good design and innovate on areas that need it.