In our discussions of culture, we are encouraged to practice cultural relativism. However, is there ever a time to judge other cultures or expect them to conform to our practices? Who gets to decide?
In my opinion there is never a good time to judge anyone for anything, but as humans we tend to do just that. I think everyone should have one experience in visiting another country. Often times Americans tend to judge others based off what we have learned and we never really get to experience how others live.
If I may be a little transparent, I went to London, England a few years back. My first day there I offend one of the people. We were out shopping and I said I was hungry, they asked me if I wanted to go to McDonald's. I said (not thinking) I didn't come all the way over here to go to McDonald's I want to go somewhere that is not in the US. Later, it was explained to me that Americans think to go out first, and to cook at home second, But in other countries like the UK they think to cook home first and eat out later. So for them, offering me McDonald's was an honor, but to me it was just another fast food joint.
That experience amoung others during my stay taught me a valuable lesson, ALWAYS think twice and speak once because once it is out there...it is out there!
I personally believe that we as humans are close-minded to different cultures due to the fact that we are so accustomed to only our own. However, that may be the biggest mistake that we as a people can make simply because we miss out on alot considering that we can learn from others and they can learn from us as well. I(myself) have had to admit in the past to being ignorant due to my lack of knowledge about other cultures which caused me to think in a negative perspective. But once explained by an individual of a different culture about how their culture lived their lives. I totally changed my way of thinking. FYI: I am not really a sociable person(for personal reasons), but I would love to interact with other people outside of my own culture, however, that can be a difficult task if the wrong thing comes out my mouth because true in deed everyone's approach is different and someimes can be preceived the wrong way.
I believe that we should not judge cultures. I agree with Shana and A. Sunshine. We should think before we speak especially around people we are not used to. In addition, our responses and approaches most of the time does come out different than people expect and they may take it the wrong way. In 2005, my mom decided to get a foreign exchange student. She was from Germany. In her country, they were allowed to drink at the age of 16. Here in America you are not allowed to drink until 21. While she was here, she had to conform to our practices.
i dont think that anyone person gets to decide when it is ok to judge other cultures i think that we should treat each other equal. and even though most of the time it is not the case like in that video with the two guys how people would call them gay. peopl;e have thereown practices and beliefs becasue that is hpw they grew up and were raised and we shouldnt jugdge them on that because we wouldnt want anyone to judge us as Americans( is this preciouscali i still cant figure out how to use the comment as box)
I personally think that as Americans we are more juding of other cultures than anyone else. I'm sure there are times when other people may judge another culre but I don't think that they do it half as much as we do. We believe that everyone should conform to what we believe. For instance I know a lot of people who believe that if you come to America form a different country then you need to learn how to speak english. I have to admit that I too have made this comment. However, when we go to another country we don't try to go out of our way to learn thier language. So it is really unfair of us to ask or rather tell others to do something that we are not willing to do. I think as Americans we have a superiority mentality and we believe that the world revolves around us. Everything is what WE feel and what WE think and screw everybody else. But if we truly want to make this world a better place then we need to become more accepting and more understanding of others.
I feel as Americans we tend to downgrade other cultures to make it seem as if we have all the right answers. If everyone can treat one another as equals whether or not there religious, culture is similar, then mentality, we won't be divided at a country. Americans are fair of the unknown because it not the norm from what we hear or see, so we tend to disagree. In January 2006, I had the opportunity to visit Brazil. And the first thing I seen riding to my hotel was the amount of poverty surround the Rio del Janeiro area, also there was a lot of great artifact(Christ status, Sugar loaf). We think in the US, that poverty where we stay is out of control. But my experience their let me see that we know little about what really goes on in other country and why they stay true to there culture. It's survival. . . So, we need to be more aware of other culture outside our own. It will give you a better understanding before we as American pass judgment on another culture. . .
I think as an American our culture or beliefs are very bias compared to some other countries. The reason I say this are for very simple reasons. Other poor countries in this world considers Americans as being self centered. Their beliefs are based on the facts how our swaggers are presented, the way different races are prejudice towards each other, the way we spend on food, and the price we pay to live a certain way. So when we visit other countries and experience outside cultures that are different from the American culture we assumed that they are either poor or unhappy. Many different cultures lies within the American way but we don't take time to observe their ways and means on a daily bases.
In my personal opinion no one has a right to judge, but being judgmental is a part of human nature. We all seem to judge especially when we see someone who looks or dresses out of the “norm”. As Americans we tend to judge persons of other cultures, and though we may not mean to and we know it’s not right, it seems to happen often. For example, after 911 people from the Middle East were discriminated against and racial profiling became very prevalent. I’m not proud to say it but I became a statistic and played my far share of judging after 911. American’s look down on other cultures because we look at a lot of their traditions or ways of life as a taboo, but could we be the culture who’s consider out of the “norm” or taboo? Our country thinks we are right about everything, politics, religion, even financial means so we seem to try and make other cultures feel inferior. When the fact of the matter is a persons culture doesn’t have anything to do with a person intellect. So no I don’t think judging is right and once again in my opinion no one has the right to judge anyone under any circumstances.
I BELEIVE THERE IS NEVER A TIME TO JUDGE OTHER CULTURES. REASON BEING WE MIGHT SEE WHAT THEY DO AS WEIRD AND DIFFERENT OR EVEN OUT OF CHARACTER. WE JUDGE THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY DO SACRAFIES,THEY MAY BELEIVE IN ABSTANCE UNTIL MARRAGE WHERE THERE PRIVATES FOR FEMALES ARE SEW UP,OR WHERE THEY BREED THERE KIDS TO DO SERTAIN JOBS. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS OTHER COUNTRIES THINK OF AS THE NORMAL WAY OF LIFE. THEY MAY LOOK AT US AND THINK WE ARE WIERD BECAUSE WE TAKE SO MUCHVALUES INTO MATERIAL THINGS LIKE CLOTHES AND HOW THEY HAVE TO BE NAME BRAND RATHER THAN GLORIFING OUR FREE EDUCATION AND OUR RIGHTS TO BE FREE.SO IN ALL I THINKPEOPLE EXPECAILLY AMERICANS SHOULD NEVER JUDGE ANOTHER OR OTHER CULTURES BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY CAN LEARN AND/OR TAKE FROM OTHER CULTURES TO MAKE THERES BETTER.
It is never a good time to judge someone based on his or her culture. Conformity to me is submission to a "superior" group. I would never want to make a person feel like they are inferior to me because we all breathe the same air. The only person who can make the decision to comform is the person who is being asked. I have been judged by young woman in my own culture because of the way I wear my hair. I have heard them tell me I will never get a job and I look uneducated. i just laugh because when I ask them what research was their statements made they always say "Well, where I'm from..." I simply reply that that is not what I asked of them so therefore there opinions have no affect on me. ---Kim---
I don't think that its is a good idea to judge other cultures because we are all human beings.Everybody make mistakes in life,one example is when i was station in the Army in Korea.I was down town in a bar drinking and a Korean woman hit me in my face. That woman at the time happen to be my girl friend.I was very up set about the situation.
I don,t think that it is a good idea to judge other cultures because we are all human beings.Everybody make mistakes in life,one example was when i was station in the Army in Korea.I was down town in a bar drinking and a Korean woman hit me on face.I was very upset about the situation, but i didn,t judge her. I was more disappointed than any thing.
i believe that there is never a good time to judge anyone's cultture, because what think is wrong may be right in someone's else culture. Growing up in another african-american religious household, I've became one minded to alot of things that goes on in our everyday community. From a child i have also been taught that the teaching of my parents and grandparents is the right way of life, the right way to live. Last year I'd interened at a doctor's office and most of the doctors and employees was Indian, while working with them I'd came to open and realize how some common situations are handled very differently depending on the culture. For the most part, no one gets to decide or judge anyone's culture. Culture is what defines us awhole, most of our morals and values came from culture.
No I don't believe we should ever judge another culture. A major part of what makes us who we are is because of our culture. Even though blacks in America came from Africa involuntarily, and through the slave nightmare, and the slave holders trying to suppress the African culture and experience, African Americans have manage to have a culture. I think ones culture is a powerful thing.
I agree with you Kim. I think it's sad, when we as African Americans, who chooses to embarrass our African culture are looked down upon and or rejected by society. Everyone's culture is beautiful in its on way. Who is to determine the yardstick for what culture is acceptable or not.
I also would have to agree with Shana Jay because what we feel it right may not be right an another. While are judging and critizing one another for our differences that could be a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another.
In my opinion there is never a good time to judge anyone for anything, but as humans we tend to do just that. I think everyone should have one experience in visiting another country. Often times Americans tend to judge others based off what we have learned and we never really get to experience how others live.
ReplyDeleteIf I may be a little transparent, I went to London, England a few years back. My first day there I offend one of the people. We were out shopping and I said I was hungry, they asked me if I wanted to go to McDonald's. I said (not thinking) I didn't come all the way over here to go to McDonald's I want to go somewhere that is not in the US. Later, it was explained to me that Americans think to go out first, and to cook at home second, But in other countries like the UK they think to cook home first and eat out later. So for them, offering me McDonald's was an honor, but to me it was just another fast food joint.
That experience amoung others during my stay taught me a valuable lesson, ALWAYS think twice and speak once because once it is out there...it is out there!
Shana J Clemons
I personally believe that we as humans are close-minded to different cultures due to the fact that we are so accustomed to only our own. However, that may be the biggest mistake that we as a people can make simply because we miss out on alot considering that we can learn from others and they can learn from us as well. I(myself) have had to admit in the past to being ignorant due to my lack of knowledge about other cultures which caused me to think in a negative perspective. But once explained by an individual of a different culture about how their culture lived their lives. I totally changed my way of thinking. FYI: I am not really a sociable person(for personal reasons), but I would love to interact with other people outside of my own culture, however, that can be a difficult task if the wrong thing comes out my mouth because true in deed everyone's approach is different and someimes can be preceived the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we should not judge cultures. I agree with Shana and A. Sunshine. We should think before we speak especially around people we are not used to. In addition, our responses and approaches most of the time does come out different than people expect and they may take it the wrong way. In 2005, my mom decided to get a foreign exchange student. She was from Germany. In her country, they were allowed to drink at the age of 16. Here in America you are not allowed to drink until 21. While she was here, she had to conform to our practices.
ReplyDeletei dont think that anyone person gets to decide when it is ok to judge other cultures i think that we should treat each other equal. and even though most of the time it is not the case like in that video with the two guys how people would call them gay. peopl;e have thereown practices and beliefs becasue that is hpw they grew up and were raised and we shouldnt jugdge them on that because we wouldnt want anyone to judge us as Americans( is this preciouscali i still cant figure out how to use the comment as box)
ReplyDeleteI personally think that as Americans we are more juding of other cultures than anyone else. I'm sure there are times when other people may judge another culre but I don't think that they do it half as much as we do. We believe that everyone should conform to what we believe. For instance I know a lot of people who believe that if you come to America form a different country then you need to learn how to speak english. I have to admit that I too have made this comment. However, when we go to another country we don't try to go out of our way to learn thier language. So it is really unfair of us to ask or rather tell others to do something that we are not willing to do. I think as Americans we have a superiority mentality and we believe that the world revolves around us. Everything is what WE feel and what WE think and screw everybody else. But if we truly want to make this world a better place then we need to become more accepting and more understanding of others.
ReplyDeleteI feel as Americans we tend to downgrade other cultures to make it seem as if we have all the right answers. If everyone can treat one another as equals whether or not there religious, culture is similar, then mentality, we won't be divided at a country. Americans are fair of the unknown because it not the norm from what we hear or see, so we tend to disagree. In January 2006, I had the opportunity to visit Brazil. And the first thing I seen riding to my hotel was the amount of poverty surround the Rio del Janeiro area, also there was a lot of great artifact(Christ status, Sugar loaf). We think in the US, that poverty where we stay is out of control. But my experience their let me see that we know little about what really goes on in other country and why they stay true to there culture. It's survival. . . So, we need to be more aware of other culture outside our own. It will give you a better understanding before we as American pass judgment on another culture. . .
ReplyDeleteI think as an American our culture or beliefs are very bias compared to some other countries. The reason I say this are for very simple reasons. Other poor countries in this world considers Americans as being self centered. Their beliefs are based on the facts how our swaggers are presented, the way different races are prejudice towards each other, the way we spend on food, and the price we pay to live a certain way.
ReplyDeleteSo when we visit other countries and experience outside cultures that are different from the American culture we assumed that they are either poor or unhappy. Many different cultures lies within the American way but we don't take time to observe their ways and means on a daily bases.
In my personal opinion no one has a right to judge, but being judgmental is a part of human nature. We all seem to judge especially when we see someone who looks or dresses out of the “norm”. As Americans we tend to judge persons of other cultures, and though we may not mean to and we know it’s not right, it seems to happen often. For example, after 911 people from the Middle East were discriminated against and racial profiling became very prevalent. I’m not proud to say it but I became a statistic and played my far share of judging after 911. American’s look down on other cultures because we look at a lot of their traditions or ways of life as a taboo, but could we be the culture who’s consider out of the “norm” or taboo? Our country thinks we are right about everything, politics, religion, even financial means so we seem to try and make other cultures feel inferior. When the fact of the matter is a persons culture doesn’t have anything to do with a person intellect. So no I don’t think judging is right and once again in my opinion no one has the right to judge anyone under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI BELEIVE THERE IS NEVER A TIME TO JUDGE OTHER CULTURES. REASON BEING WE MIGHT SEE WHAT THEY DO AS WEIRD AND DIFFERENT OR EVEN OUT OF CHARACTER. WE JUDGE THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY DO SACRAFIES,THEY MAY BELEIVE IN ABSTANCE UNTIL MARRAGE WHERE THERE PRIVATES FOR FEMALES ARE SEW UP,OR WHERE THEY BREED THERE KIDS TO DO SERTAIN JOBS. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS OTHER COUNTRIES THINK OF AS THE NORMAL WAY OF LIFE. THEY MAY LOOK AT US AND THINK WE ARE WIERD BECAUSE WE TAKE SO MUCHVALUES INTO MATERIAL THINGS LIKE CLOTHES AND HOW THEY HAVE TO BE NAME BRAND RATHER THAN GLORIFING OUR FREE EDUCATION AND OUR RIGHTS TO BE FREE.SO IN ALL I THINKPEOPLE EXPECAILLY AMERICANS SHOULD NEVER JUDGE ANOTHER OR OTHER CULTURES BUT LOOK AT WHAT THEY CAN LEARN AND/OR TAKE FROM OTHER CULTURES TO MAKE THERES BETTER.
ReplyDeleteIt is never a good time to judge someone based on his or her culture. Conformity to me is submission to a "superior" group. I would never want to make a person feel like they are inferior to me because we all breathe the same air. The only person who can make the decision to comform is the person who is being asked. I have been judged by young woman in my own culture because of the way I wear my hair. I have heard them tell me I will never get a job and I look uneducated. i just laugh because when I ask them what research was their statements made they always say "Well, where I'm from..." I simply reply that that is not what I asked of them so therefore there opinions have no affect on me.
ReplyDelete---Kim---
I don't think that its is a good idea to judge other cultures because we are all human beings.Everybody make mistakes in life,one example is when i was station in the Army in Korea.I was down town in a bar drinking and a Korean woman hit me in my face. That woman at the time happen to be my girl friend.I was very up set about the situation.
ReplyDeleteI don,t think that it is a good idea to judge other cultures because we are all human beings.Everybody make mistakes in life,one example was when i was station in the Army in Korea.I was down town in a bar drinking and a Korean woman hit me on face.I was very upset about the situation, but i didn,t judge her. I was more disappointed than any thing.
ReplyDeletei believe that there is never a good time to judge anyone's cultture, because what think is wrong may be right in someone's else culture.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in another african-american religious household, I've became one minded to alot of things that goes on in our everyday community. From a child i have also been taught that the teaching of my parents and grandparents is the right way of life, the right way to live.
Last year I'd interened at a doctor's office and most of the doctors and employees was Indian, while working with them I'd came to open and realize how some common situations are handled very differently depending on the culture.
For the most part, no one gets to decide or judge anyone's culture. Culture is what defines us awhole, most of our morals and values came from culture.
No I don't believe we should ever judge another culture. A major part of what makes us who we are is because of our culture. Even though blacks in America came from Africa involuntarily, and through the slave nightmare, and the slave holders trying to suppress the African culture and experience, African Americans have manage to have a culture. I think ones culture is a powerful thing.
ReplyDeleteComment on Kim's Blog:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kim. I think it's sad, when we as African Americans, who chooses to embarrass our African culture are looked down upon and or
rejected by society. Everyone's culture is beautiful in its on way. Who is to determine the yardstick for what culture is acceptable or not.
I also would have to agree with Shana Jay because what we feel it right may not be right an another. While are judging and critizing one another for our differences that could be a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another.
ReplyDelete