Replying to LO24021 --
Hi At,
I only read briefly of what you wrote and I would like to offer my own
viewpoint to the chorus of voices that make up diversity.
First of all, I also have a strong tendency to see things in dualistic
opposition, in order to understand and make things better. But being in an
Environmental Studies program, I also need to keep reminding myself of
biodiversity--and the fact of many truths. Still, I confess that I
basically think there are three key patterns for interpreting things
simply:
- unity / oneness O
- dualism / contrast / opposition + | - (yin/yang)
- diversity / multiplicity / uniqueness oO@o-0-oQO*0
(Please bear in mind these are just rough descriptions.)
I often focus on the dualism aspect, myself, as I believe it is the crux
of tension that could lead us to better harmony and 'oneness' or perhaps
increase our awareness of the oneness of life. In this way I believe we
can start healing ourselves and hence live in better relation with each
other and the entire planet.
I completely agree self respect (and self love) is very much the key
thing. However, I think what you are addressing about African and
European people is something I tend to see in dualistic patterns, such as
a west/east, individualism/communalism dichotomy. Although I am not
African and I should not really speak about anybody's truth but my own, I
would say that my observation is that Africans don't "not respect"
Europeans...If anything, people from countries of the east and south OVER
RESPECT Europeans and give away their self-respect and personal power.
They may then perhaps resent it and react in other ways, or more often,
take it out on their fellow people. Remember, "divide and conquer?" This
dynamic is a self-fulfilling prophecy in hierarchies of power--UNLESS
there is a great deal of integrity and a democratic consensus on the
hierarchy.
However, it is definitely worth noting that people often are like sheep
and have a "herd mentality". They don't want to stand out and they like
decisive leadership. So in the above, I am not trying to hold imperialism
or colonialism responsible for everything--I believe that it is a two-way
relationship. Like men and women. Yet both need to shift in their concept
and use of power--personal and otherwise. This all adds up to issues of
self-respect, but as you so aptly described in your talk with your friend
"Captain", true self-respect makes the boundaries invisible. You see
yourself reflected in the other. Hence, trust and the sharing of power.
However, the truth is that in most of the world, power is not shared
equally. For example, generally men hold more social power than women. So
even if power and relationships between men and women require effort from
both sides to improve things, men or those who hold more power have
greater choice in facilitating change. Likewise, the president or CEO of a
company has more choice than the office clerk, in how an organization may
develop.
Anyway, I digress. My point is that largely populated, community-oriented
cultures often do not have a strong sense of individuality. It is often
frowned upon and discouraged within the culture. The
western/northern/European cultures tend to be highly individualistic and
strongly encourage self-reliance and individual success. The extreme can
sometimes lead to much of the conquest-oriented nature, but also the
isolation and social alienation, that characterizes North America.
I quote here Anita Roddick of the Body Shoppe: "Most important, try to
find profitable work that has a genuine social purpose -- work that
addresses some great need in society. One of the biggest social disasters
of modern society is loneliness." I believe by "modern society", she
refers to industrialized nations or cities, where individualism is given
high importance.
In short, I always see it as "both sides" needing to learn from each other
in order to find wholeness and balance. We need to find ways to come back
to the middle and find common ground, and to bring our unique strengths to
the table. Europeans and Africans each have many strengths to offer. And
of course, "A system's greatest strenght is also its greatest weakness." I
try to use this lens to understand all the conflict and misunderstanding
and incongruency between people, genders, groups, cultures, nations, etc.
I'm sorry this isn't as clear as I'd like it to be. But hopefully, I am
able to respond to some of the points you made and that it is
understandable.
Sincerest regards Lana Choi
What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of
what we are doing to ourselves and to one another. -Mohandas K. Gandhi
--Alternative Energy <ecospirit@mail.com>
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