- Relating to the comment about 'herdsmen work ethic" from the last class, there is also the cutural aspect of whether or not someone belongs to a future/present/past oriented society. We are very future oriented andnever live in the present, much of Africa is present oriented not feverishly persuing change like we do because this is how things are supposed to be/have always been, Eastern cultures are often past centered focusing on ancestors or past lives. This is a huge over-simplification, but this aspect of culture certainly impacts how well different cultures can worktogether on projects.
- NPR "All things considered" 2/3/07 talked about new legislation in Afghanistan to forgive those involved in violence in the past including the muhajedin and taliban http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7149284
- I belong to a internet group of professional interculturalists that often discuss issues such as differences between arab culture and musilm culture. Recent discussions have been about Iran and differences among cultures in asking for or giving help. Do people in one culture expect others to notice their need and offer help, therefore they do not solicitit, or is it your own responsibilty to ask for help if you need it? This relates to stronger nations, entities, companies, etc. stepping in in the middle east. The members write in from all over the world, so it is a great place to ask questions or just search archives of discussions. http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/interculturalinsights/
Good suggestions, Gwyneth. I've applied to join the group she mentions, we'll see what it's like. Thanks again, Gwyneth.
1 comment:
Regarding the first comment, I agree with you in noticing the different goals and resulting cultures of different regions. I also believe that there is an inherent ethnocentrism amongst those three types of cultures. Many of them see flaws and (on a religious level) evils in other cultures. When one culture tries to insert what it believes is right into another, disaster can ensue (as we’ve seen several times). Some things that we see as new and progressive, many of the Muslim faith in the Middle East see as undermining their inner Jihad. Would we want people coming in and deciding that their way is right? What results is an attempt at working together becoming an attempt to overpower one another.
Regarding the second comment about amnesty, I can understand why there is such an outrage amongst the victims. It looks like more trouble looms ahead.
Christopher Paicely
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