Happy Christmahanukwanzika to everyone!!
I am on sabbatical this week, and I'll write more - something thought-provoking, I hope - later.
love,
~liz
Here's a thought on culture.
I chose Anthropology as a field of study because I was a) interested in history and b) interested in the world outside of "western culture." I hesitate to say "outside of the U.S." because even in the U.S. we've got cool cultures. I was really just sick and tired of hearing about the Greeks and the Founding Fathers. I mean - 12 years of that... (that's an entry for another time - or, if you're interested in chewing the fat about education, check out Husayn's blog).
So here I am, an anthropologie (it's the German spelling) student at the University of Illinois U-C and I've noticed a few things as I watch the culture of our department and other anthropologists:
1. There are a heck of a lot of white women studying anthropology.
2. There is a general sentiment that anything indigenous is best.
3. There is also a general (and corresponding) sentiment that "white" is wrong.
So I have a few thoughts about that. First of all, I can say that I am proud to be one of those white women - the fact that women are picking up on the desparate lack of world education in our public school system is indicative of their desire for education (a good desire, if you are the first educator of children).
Secondly, and more substantially, I am struggling presently with the latter two sentiments. At the root, I think that this dislike for "white" (by which I mean the historic colonization of the non-western world by the western one and the subsequent pillage & rape that accompanied it) comes from a sense of injustice. I can name countless instances where the western world (meaning white men in power) has profited greatly from the subjugation of others (and I will list them here):
1. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
2. The Slavery System in the United States and the subsequent disenfranchisement of a large percentage of the population, even AFTER the Emanipation Proclamation
3. The ruin of the Inca Empire in Peru in 1532, which involved a lack of courtesy, among other things
4. The deposition of the indigenous governments of various islands and nations in the Pacific by European "missionaries"
5. The displacement of Native American peoples and sucessive disregard for signed treaties (by the U.S. government, no less).
etc.
This sort of stuff makes me very very angry and grumpy. So I am glad that I am learning about the greatness of OTHER cultures.
However, and herein lies the dilemma, just because a culture is "indigenous" (or "authentic" or "in its natural state") doesn't mean that it is right. I know right is a relative term to many, but here I use it to mean anything that promotes the beterment of humanity.
And all of those terms, especially the "authentic" bit, is equally ludacris because everything is always changing, including culture, and there is no such thing as an "authentic" culture! More times than not, "authenticity" is defined by an outside source (usually a western one) in such a way that it profits not the peole themselves but some other body. For example and to clarify - the use of the Maasai in Kenya as "real, untainted Africans" for the benefit of tourist attractions. This may create jobs among Kenyans, but the rate of tourism depends on the "authenticity" of the Maasai - no one will pay to see a Maasai man in a suit and tie. The Maasai then are relgated to play a certain role, whether they really like to or not.
Yeah - and then of course there are other issues. Just because something is indigenous doesn't necessarily make it the best thing for the people. Female circumcision is a perfect example. Even though many of the women who have undergone it defend it staunchly, I think that it is a violation of human rights.
So in the search for an ever-advancing civilization, I think that there are a few things that are going to have to go. I can't tell you what they are because I don't know enough to make those sorts of judgement calls. However, I DO know that in the course of that advancement, certain cultures even are going to slowly change and grow - what is "indigenous" now may not be the same thing as what is considered "indigenous" fifty years from now. It is okay to let go some of those aspects of culture that inhibit the spiritual progress of its people. However, it is NOT okay to impose a certain set of beliefs on a culture via force and coercion. Let me be clear here.
Whew - more later. My fingers hurt.
love,
~liz
So let's just pretend, for one moment, that courtesy is the prince of virtues. Why is it, then, that no one (myself included) recalls this?
I have found within the past weeks that people being rude is by biggest test - I am put off by the slightest transgression of what I consider to be polite behaviour. I could understand if I were doing field work in a different country - standards and norms are different the world over - but these things have happened right here! They include:
- INTERRUPTING others during a consultative session
- deliberately coughing in a sick person's face
- answering a cell phone and TALKING ON IT in the middle of a discussion session
- talking and WHISTLING in the middle of a class lecture!
There are more, but I won't bore you. What is going on? Have people become so self-centered that they can't empathise with others? Or do they not even care?
I don't see anything wrong with being assertive, but this sort of behavior is over the line.
What do you think?
love,
~liz
P.S. Stay tuned for tomorrow - I have a really interesting thought on culture and anthropologie but I want to space these buggers out!
Hi everyone-
If you've checked within the past few days, you may have noticed that you are not able to post comments.
FEAR NOT!!
This has now been fixed - it was implemented because of spam protection. In order to post now, you need the password. It's a secret so email me to get it: lizzyq19@yahoo.com.
Love,
~liz