Recently, I have been faced with different dilemmas in communicate with people whom I have never met abroad. I try to refrain from discussing politics and my political opinions, because I don't know the reactions that people from different cultures and sets of beliefs will react to my ideas. Often as is custom in America, in the world at large really, is to ostracize people who think differently. Though I certainly wouldn't accuse anyone I have met of being intolerant I still want to refrain from I myself become intolerant of other beliefs.
This problem came to light yesterday while conversing with a man in China about the Olympic torch. He mistakenly thought that people on the "right" were against the race and were trying to harm the torch bearer. I said simply that some of the demonstrations were in fact distasteful, and not carried out in a respectful nor appropriate manner. I was careful to point out that many of these protests were done in a respectful way.
Still, the problem was not solved for me. If I believe Tibet should be free and he does not, then is it appropriate to say that I think that he is wrong and I am right, and well he's just brainwashed and obviously wrong. Of course, that would be silly and wrong. Instead, I think the better method is this... I saw last week the Dalai Lama talking about the struggle of Tibet and the Tibetan people. He said simply he does not seek independence for Tibet, but instead the middle ground, not independence for Tibet, but rather a measure of autonomy from China.
The matter is not about who is wrong or right, but rather an effective compromise to the beliefs of the two peoples. I think that the same principle applies when speaking with someone of a different culture. You must find the middle ground between your beliefs and that of the person you are speaking with. It is a harmonious, but still tenuous balance between one side and the other side.
Although this is a good and effective mantra it is still flawed. For instance, where does one fall in the rights of different races and of women? Should a middle ground be placed on beliefs as to the equality of women and the worth of all races as human beings? I think that this is a topic that cannot be fully understood easily between cultures. Why is a woman worth less in one society and equally as much in another? I think perhaps there are some issues that you cannot compromise fully on, but must be respectfully disagreed upon. How can we sacrifice the value of a person for the sake of peaceful discussion between two people from different cultures. Respect.
This problem came to light yesterday while conversing with a man in China about the Olympic torch. He mistakenly thought that people on the "right" were against the race and were trying to harm the torch bearer. I said simply that some of the demonstrations were in fact distasteful, and not carried out in a respectful nor appropriate manner. I was careful to point out that many of these protests were done in a respectful way.
Still, the problem was not solved for me. If I believe Tibet should be free and he does not, then is it appropriate to say that I think that he is wrong and I am right, and well he's just brainwashed and obviously wrong. Of course, that would be silly and wrong. Instead, I think the better method is this... I saw last week the Dalai Lama talking about the struggle of Tibet and the Tibetan people. He said simply he does not seek independence for Tibet, but instead the middle ground, not independence for Tibet, but rather a measure of autonomy from China.
The matter is not about who is wrong or right, but rather an effective compromise to the beliefs of the two peoples. I think that the same principle applies when speaking with someone of a different culture. You must find the middle ground between your beliefs and that of the person you are speaking with. It is a harmonious, but still tenuous balance between one side and the other side.
Although this is a good and effective mantra it is still flawed. For instance, where does one fall in the rights of different races and of women? Should a middle ground be placed on beliefs as to the equality of women and the worth of all races as human beings? I think that this is a topic that cannot be fully understood easily between cultures. Why is a woman worth less in one society and equally as much in another? I think perhaps there are some issues that you cannot compromise fully on, but must be respectfully disagreed upon. How can we sacrifice the value of a person for the sake of peaceful discussion between two people from different cultures. Respect.
