I agree that we need to be sensitive to the cultural and spiritual
foundations of the practices we borrow (and often bastardize). But does
this mean that we can't use a helpful practice outside its original
context? This question is at the root of much conflict we see in the area
of workplace diversity. I believe a learning organization will try to
find ways to honor the many cultures within it, while drawing from sources
that help it continue to learn.
People who grow up in a particular culture are often offended when someone
else partakes of their practices, whether it's because the foreigner lacks
social standing, doesn't know the full scope of the cultural context, or
doesn't care about the sensibilities of the natives. Some Jews are
horrified at Gentiles doing the Passover Seder. Some Native Americans may
be offended at children doing "Indian" dances in school (Bill's example),
etc. The fact is that when cultures collide, they borrow from each other,
and it's been going on for tens of millenia. It seems to me the answer is
simple, and has two parts:
1. Those who borrow cultural practices should respect the culture from
which they're drawing, provided that they're even aware of it.
2. Those whose cultures are the source of borrowed practices should
recognize that what they've developed may be useful outside its original
context, and that the borrowers may not be aware of the broader
background.
These are simple, but not easy to do, because they involve taking others
seriously but not taking oneself *too* seriously. It's just one form of
the balancing act that is so difficult to do when faced with dualism.
Dave
-- David E. Birren Organizational Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ph: 608-267-2442, Fax: 608-267-3579 <birred@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us>"Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know' and thou shalt progress." - Maimonides
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>