The book explains assumption of similarity as, "a refusal to see true differences where they exist." (page 357) I have met a wide range of people that think that everyone is the same, or that everyone should act like they do. They have no understanding that people from different cultures are raised differently, and have different outlooks on family, friends, relationships, and how the world operates. I think that assuming that everyone is similar to ones self is very ignorant. I try not to pretend that I know what someone from a different culture is trying to express. I also try to ask questions when I am around someone whose cultures I am not familiar with. I think that it is important to get to know about different cultures for what they are, and not make assumption about how we think they are or how they are similar. If everyone could make an effort to try and change this assumption, I believe we would be enriched.
I like how you analyzed this blog. I too, try to ask questions about someones background and culture and see where they are coming from in order to understand. We are all very different and I agree with you that it is very ignorant of people to base everything on their own life and opinion. There are many cultures and culture rules that people live by and I think that no person can judge another person. We may have debates but is there a really right or wrong between two completely different cultures?! I think, not. I never try to judge people in a bad way, although I do tell my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that there are a lot of close-minded and ignorant people out there when it comes to cultural differences, or any kind of difference for that matter. The ones that tend to be the most unaccepting of others are the one’s that isolate themselves from people that have different cultural values and beliefs from theirs. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a multi-cultural home; both of my parents grew up in other countries. My mom was raised in Asia, and my dad in Canada. My dad was in the United States Air Force, so we lived in and visited many countries. I have learned by exposure to many diverse societies and experiences in them, to not judge or make assumptions about any them. If everyone in the world accepted and embraced everyone else’s unique way of celebrating their traditions and beliefs, there would most likely be world peace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have presented in your post here. I too have met people who think that everyone should act the way they act and they should see things the way they do. I definitely agree that asking questions to get to know someone that comes from a different culture is important. We can't just assume we know and understand someone else's culture until we have asked questions and learned enough about it. I think that by learning other cultures we can learn to accept more people and prevent culture differences and problems.
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