Cross Cultural Studies
The value of making cross-cultural
comparisons.
Cultural anthropology encompasses
all aspects of human beliefs, behaviors and
ideas. What would the world be
like without any knowledge of other cultures?
Anthropologists study
different cultures to be more understanding and accepting,
more appreciative
and to enrich our own culture. What is the "real"
problem with the Ku Klux
Klan? Perhaps, if they took the time to understand the
African-American
and Jewish cultures, for example, they would be more accepting
of the
diversity. Hundreds of years of cultural imperialism has evolved into
a
legion of hate. Emic studies put the researcher in the middle of the
culture,
free to interact and discover a new life style. After a few months
or even a
year in a "different" culture, one has a better understanding of
the
lifestyle, and understanding leads to acceptance. Once people,
especially
powerful political leaders, learn cultural relativism war will be
a practice of
the past and only discussed in history classes. Another reason
for
cross-cultural comparison is to make us more appreciative of our own
culture and
environment. For example, members of the Peace Corp volunteer
months to years of
their lives to live and help in third world countries.
They may not be there
with the purpose of studying culture, however, living
among the people and
having to adapt to their way of life gives them a
first-hand experience of a
third world life. Seeing the way life is without
any luxuries make us realize
how convenient our lives are. Plentiful amounts
of food, clean water, stable
shelter and adequate clothing are just a few of
the many luxuries that our
culture sees as essentials. Many volunteers return
from the Peace Corp and adopt
a new way of life; much less "extravagant" than
the one they led
before. Finally, we study other cultures to enrich our own.
Where would
"Canadian culture" be without the influence of the French,
Italian,
Chinese, and all the other cultures that form the cultural
mosaic that defines
Canada? Without the mixture of cultures in our
country, we would still be eating
meat and potatoes for every meal. The
cultural blend that has come together to
make up "Canada," but yet retain
their own individualities, work
together to make a hybrid culture created
from the best of all that are
combined. In conclusion, we see that without
cross-cultural comparisons life
would be boring and monotonous. Learning
about other cultures makes us more
understanding, accepting, and appreciative
of the diversity. No more war, no
more racism and no more ethnic cleansing
once ethnocentrism and cultural
imperialism are abolished. Cultural diversity
is the "spice" of life.