As a typical white American in a rural place of living, it's sometimes hard to relate to people of such diverse cultures and background stories. People are harshly discriminated against all over the world, and even here in America every single day. I definitely know that I do not have it as hard as most people. However, as a female christian, I do face some stereotypes and generic beliefs as to who I should be and how I should act. No one wants to be labeled or judged for being who they are or for just being different. Taking time to reflect on the things that make us different in our cultures and as individuals will help me to better understand and relate to the characters in the novels we will be reading.
I believe that as a nation full of differences we need to recognize them, but not always put someone in a certain category or stereotype them because of these differences. We need to be more accepting to other cultures and people, recognizing that our culture is not superior to others. I think if we learned to understand other cultures and how people think in those cultures, many (but of course not all) of the problems would be fixed. I think that is especially true for mission work. As future called workers we will need to be very conscience of the differences even in our own country. This will give us more opportunities to spread the good news to all nations.
With the discussion on stereotypes and our own diversity and culture, it was interesting to see how truly similar we all are. Not only do most of us come from European background, but this also can make our views on others the same too. A lot of us had the same stereotypes when we filled out that sheet in class. Because we have grown up in similar cultures, we will have similar views on others unless we have had some interaction that would influence us otherwise.
We grow up in a world where stereotyping others is the norm. It's hard sometimes with what's going on in the world not to look at others and judge them based off of their color, what they believe, and how they dress. But in the end we have to remember that God created everyone from Adam and Eve. Like Phil said it is fine to recognize the differences in cultures but it is not okay to judge. I think that if we look more to ourselves and worry less about others it would be a lot easier for people to become friends and open up to each other. There wouldn't be so much tension between people.
I'm sure many of you are familiar with the term "WELS bubble." After attending Luther Prep and now MLC, I can understand what this term means and see it's truth. After talking as a class, we saw that many of us (not all of course) come from very similar white, midwestern backgrounds. Many of us have attended WELS Lutheran schools throughout our whole lives. Our background effects how we perceive other people, other cultures and other ideas. Because many of us have not been able to experience a lot of culture, we are less likely to be open-minded to new ideas, new cultures and new people. Speaking with a non-WELS person from another culture about God is obviously less comfortable than speaking to a WELS member from the same background as us. I think in order to become the best called workers we can be, we need to look beyond the social and cultural differences and focus on our main goal: to share the gospel. I think it's a great idea for called workers to become familiar with other cultures, experience new places and ideas and meet new people. I'm from Texas and I attended public school until I went to Luther Prep. It is crazy how different the culture is outside of the midwest and outside the "WELS bubble." In order to reach out to more people, we need to be culturally-aware and open-minded to the ideas and backgrounds of all people.
We learned in class our own cultural backgrounds here at MLC are almost the same, but after college as we spread throughout the world we will be surrounded by people of many cultures whose appearance, views, and ideas will be different then our own. We can apply what we learn in this class about issues of culture to our future profession as well. Since many of us will be teachers, it is important to realize that our students from minority backgrounds will be living in two different worlds. The students’ backgrounds, needs, and perspectives on education will be different. So it is important that the students feel as though the learning environment is welcoming and tolerant of their ideas.
In these days, we need to be especially aware of culture and its effects on our society today. Society in general seems to find more reasons to divide based on differences than to celebrate with them. It's important that we understand a wide range of cultures so that we can all develop a mutual respect for each other and better our own society in general. We can apply what we learn from this class in our future ministry. We can use this knowledge to promote a unity that embraces cultural differences from all walks of life.
It was interesting to me to see how similar most of us are in our backgrounds and interests. This may make it difficult for us to connect to those around us if our ministry leads us to places where our similarities are not the norm. It was good to take a look at stereotypes, because they are so common in our society today. When we look at various cultures, we need to take these stereotypes into account. We need to consider how stereotypes impact those we are working with, and how they influence how others view us.
I think what is most interesting about studying other cultures is that at our core, we are more alike than different. Every person on this earth has people that they love and care for. Every person has dreams about what they want to be when they grow up or what kind of future they want for their children. We may go about caring for people or achieving our dreams in different ways, but our motives are the same. I think it is important to remember that we view the world with ourselves at the center, but every other person views the world with themselves at the center. We have to make an effort to view the world from that place before we can start to make judgments about the way people live.
Too often in today's society we stereotype other cultures, but don't really recognize or explore our own culture. Doing this throughout class has been interesting. Not only am I able to think about my own culture, I am able to see that even though many of us are similar because of the "WELS Bubble," we are all still unique and have differing perspectives. I think that it is important to attempt to see from others' perspectives. That is one of my main goals for this course. By exploring our culture we can gain better insight and clarification for what our personal perspective is. By exploring other cultures we can grow in our understanding of another society.
Learning about cultures requires a lifelong passion for learning. It requires you to leave your stereotypes at the door and open our minds to understanding who people are and why they live the way they do. However, before you can embark on that endeavor, you must understand your own culture and your own identity. There is virtue in being proud of your culture, and because you have that sentiment toward your own culture, you will better understand why others are so proud of their culture. As we study to be teachers, pastors, and staff ministers, how can we not be excited for spreading the good news of Jesus to people of all different backgrounds and walks of life. Each person we run into has their own way of life and through genuine respect, we can seek understanding and continue our lifelong cultural learning.
Although I often joke about it, I think it is good to be aware of the "WELS bubble" and make a conscious effort to go out of our comfort zones and reach out to people of different cultures. Although we do share a common faith and many of us are accustomed to the Midwestern culture, we are all unique individuals, created by God to be one-of-a-kind and to serve him with our special set of gifts and talents. Before we stereotype and judge anyone based on their culture, it is good to remember that they, too, are individuals deserving of our respect.
Despite the critical role it plays in almost everything we do, culture is not something that we think about very often. When it does cross our minds, we have a tendency to think of ourselves as "normal" and people from other cultures as "different" or even "wrong." But the truth is that we are equally different from each other. For every oddity we see in another person's culture they see in ours the converse. Keeping the Great Commission in mind, we as Christians need to find ways of overstepping these obstacles and reaching the lost where and how they are. This means we will have to accept being uncomfortable at times, traveling farther than we had planned, getting to know people whom we never would have otherwise, and listening to and understanding stories, emotions, and values that never would have occurred to us on their own. This act of praise is one of the best ways we have to thank our loving God who came to seek and save the lost.
Culture is something that is so engrained in our own lives that it can often be challenging to define our own culture. The best way to understand our own culture is to be exposed to other people's thoughts, traditions, and culture through various experiences. In doing so, we don't only learn our own culture, but more about the rest of the world.
However I think that one of the greatest facets of wisdom that can be gleaned from studying other cultures is not our differences, rather the overarching similarities that unite us. No matter what culture a person comes from, we are all products of the fallen human nature. As Maya Angelou said, "We are more alike my friends, then we are unalike.".
Culture is something that is so engrained in our own lives that it can often be challenging to define our own culture. The best way to understand our own culture is to be exposed to other people's thoughts, traditions, and culture through various experiences. In doing so, we don't only learn our own culture, but more about the rest of the world.
However I think that one of the greatest facets of wisdom that can be gleaned from studying other cultures is not our differences, rather the overarching similarities that unite us. No matter what culture a person comes from, we are all products of the fallen human nature. As Maya Angelou said, "We are more alike my friends, then we are unalike.".
Cultural differences are everywhere around us today. We often stereotype those that are different from us. We do not usually take the time to get to know them or discover what they do and why they do it. Taking time to get to know a person and their culture can really make a difference. You would be surprised at how similar we are to them.
I think that the activities we did on stereotypes really make you think about how we pigeon-hole certain groups, especially in media. Even though we are aware of these stereotypes and can attempt to combat them, they are still sitting there in the back of our minds. We might accept people outside of these stereotypes, but when someone fits them it is easy for it to come creeping back in. The US might be a melting pot but some of the differences that we have between the different cultures is very striking. It is very difficult for me to understand the Chinese way of thinking and acting because my thought process is so different from theirs. That goes for most cultures though. It is easy for us in the WELS who are mostly from a German Lutheran background and live in the Midwest. We lose sight of the different cultures from around the world and even around the US. I also agreed strongly that we cannot force our culture on people as a part of our mission efforts. Paul said that we must become all things to all people and trying to assimilate them is not necessarily a good evangalizing technique. I do believe that the WELS is constantly improving in this area, trying to give the message of the Gospel in a culturally accurate context without compromising our beliefs.
Go and make disciples of All Nations… this is what we have been told in the Great Commission, from God in Matthew 28. He didn’t tell his people to go and only preach to Jewish people in Jerusalem or just the Gentiles, but Jesus told us to go to all nations. I will be first to say that I do not have many friends of other races. I go to a bigger church full of white european members, and a city with an almost 95% caucasian. So I had a very white, German, middle class, and midwestern upbringing like most people at MLC. This is where this class will at least hopefully give me a glimpse to other cultures in America. We too often stereotype people by what they do, where they live, and even how they look. I believe their is always a connection we can make to probably any person we meet. That is what I have enjoyed so far about this class and talking about different cultures in America.
Culture is word that contains a myriad of facets. They range from ethnicity, religion, country, home life, personal life, and the list could continue. However, there is one thing that unites all cultures despite the vast differences...the people themselves. Each of us is a human being with a soul, and each of us is a sinful human being needing a Savior. The things that make us different are the things God intended for the uniqueness of his creation and us. So it is important to have cultural openness, respect, and sensitivity wherever you go or to whom ever you spark a conversation with; for what makes you different, makes you a one of a kind masterpiece of God. And what makes you a one of a kind masterpiece, leads to two or more people talking about what their unique background is, and finally uniting, experiencing, and educating each other the different cultures all people possess.
Ok. Every one of these blog entries is exactly the same.
There's nothing wrong with that, but I wonder what that says about our culture of meta-analysis. We're so rich and blessed that we can sit in a classroom on a perfectly nice day and discuss the many "differences" between people. Point is, the study of culture is all well and good, but I think it almost belittling to reduce someone's way of life to a few quick sentences and head nods of approval. If a student really wants to learn about culture -- and really the point is to learn about people -- I say it is far better to actually go out into the world and experience it for themselves. Travel. Experience life through another's eyes. A few hours in a foreign land would teach you far more about people then years in a classroom.
What difference is there between a hurtful stereotype and a harmless tease? When talking to one of a distinct race, what can be asked without offense? Is there a way to prevent discrimination? Is our American point of view hyper-sensitive and eternally unsatisfied with today's social norms?
These questions can't be answered with a few books, a few primary sources, or even an entire historical account of every nation that ever existed. This is because no matter where or from whom we hear about it, the attitude of a race or culture will always be subjective.
7 billion people live on this planet, and more come and go. Each human has a different mind and a different soul and different beliefs, even humans who are of the same race, gender, or faith. Therefore one cannot ultimately decide how to treat someone kindly without listening to them first.
Mistakes can and will be made in our questions and conversations to a race that we may not know much about, but from each conversation we learn something new. The more we get to know someone, the more we know how to treat him or her. And eventually, race or culture merely becomes a characteristic of that person - not an identity.
Culture is a wonderful thing to study - it shapes many lives into something similar and close. Yet if we are to be truly kind, we cannot see a human soul as a race, but as an individual.
After our class session on Wednesday, I found myself wondering whether any of us truly understand what we mean we say, "culture." It is easy to talk about the differences between the characters in the Joy Luck Club and ourselves, but how understanding would our class be if we were to discuss the differences in culture between ourselves and a group of black americans protesting the police force, for example? I guess what I'm trying to say is that every person on this campus would agree that "we should accept all cultures," but as soon as you start specifying which ones, (LGBTQ culture? BLM culture? Democrats? Undocumented immigrants? People on welfare?) things get a little dicey. Culture, in my mind, is not just something that came over on a boat two generations ago. As I find myself in the midst of all sorts of North Americans who are constantly bickering and arguing over their differences, I wonder if this class will be able to give me any guidance.
Our class on Wednesday sparked an interesting though in my mind. Why we do we find stereotypes so fascinating? I guess it is the fact that they must come from somewhere. We don't just make up stereotypes out of thin air, so to at least myself I find that very interesting.
Now I did find it insane that in class quite a few of our thoughts on stereotypes were similar, which with most of use coming from similar backgrounds that I guess makes sense. So do our perceptions of people change based on our upbringing? I would think so, but the sample size here on campus doesn't exactly help, but one could assume that our experiences with people dictates what we think of those who are similar, not to be rude but look at our thoughts on male hairdressers as an example.
I find it very interesting the stereotypes that just our class thought of. That is a room of maybe 20-30 people who had similar thoughts. I felt it was very sad. That is just a few people in the world all judging (which is what stereotyping really is). It is hard for me to understand how our minds can be so shallow in the sense that we put people in these categories without finding out THEIR story first. It was especially sad when everyone said "Lazy" for people on welfare. Sometimes single mothers HAVE to be on it to stay a float and keep their children fed. Some mothers value being at their children's events so they cannot work 12 hours a day to NOT be on welfare.
I also found it so interesting how we all are WELS Lutherans but we also are SO different culturally. Reading the book also leaves me thinking about how truly different all the cultures of the world are and how ignorant I am to them. Traveling to different countries/states is so beneficial to help understand culture!
The world contains a wide variety of cultures, ones that we may encounter personally and ones that we may only read about or view on the news. However, while these cultures remain very influential in a person's life, a culture does not describe an individual. It is important to remember that while traditions and cultural background help shape who someone is, it does not mean that everyone with those traditions and culture will be the same. You cannot box people into a stereotype of what you believe their culture makes them. With that understanding, it is a great blessing and adventure to explore different cultures and meet the different individuals that make up those cultures to understand what makes them who they are, how they differ from our own lives, and how they are similar.
Its crazy to think how much culture differs from country to country and even from the different states in the US. Culture is what makes people unique and one of a kind just how God made us. The world would be a pretty lame place if everyone had the exact same culture and background, but instead God created us all unique with different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. Now at the same time he created us all equal in his eyes but we all still find ways to disregard that. That is why I feel like it is important for us to go out and learn about other cultures and understand them more because we are all created equal
I know that I myself am guilty of putting people in a box and stereotyping cultures and ethnicity. Stereotypes are evil little parasites that crawl inside your mind and feed and grow. A lot of people have grown up with particular stereotypes, and it is hard to suddenly change the way you think. My rational human mind knows that, despite our differences, at the core we are the same, but sometimes I still catch myself burdening another human being with a stereotype that I should learn to forget.
I know that I myself am guilty of putting people in a box and stereotyping cultures and ethnicity. Stereotypes are evil little parasites that crawl inside your mind and feed and grow. A lot of people have grown up with particular stereotypes, and it is hard to suddenly change the way you think. My rational human mind knows that, despite our differences, at the core we are the same, but sometimes I still catch myself burdening another human being with a stereotype that I should learn to forget.
Stereotyping is a rather interesting phenomenon. In almost every other instance of human experience, when humans are presented with a certain set of data associated with a certain idea or image repeatedly, they tend to respond in predictable ways and associate said data with said ideas or images. In some respects this is a large part of education as a whole. However, when the same principles are applied to people, suddenly everyone gets uncomfortable; stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. That being said, it is a very fine line (especially for us here in this class) between stereotyping cultures based on previous knowledge and actual knowledge of said culture. Too often people confuse "stereotypes" with actual aspects of certain cultures. Knowing the difference and being able to use it effectively in my future relationships and ministry is one of my primary goals for this class.
As a typical white American in a rural place of living, it's sometimes hard to relate to people of such diverse cultures and background stories. People are harshly discriminated against all over the world, and even here in America every single day. I definitely know that I do not have it as hard as most people. However, as a female christian, I do face some stereotypes and generic beliefs as to who I should be and how I should act. No one wants to be labeled or judged for being who they are or for just being different. Taking time to reflect on the things that make us different in our cultures and as individuals will help me to better understand and relate to the characters in the novels we will be reading.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as a nation full of differences we need to recognize them, but not always put someone in a certain category or stereotype them because of these differences. We need to be more accepting to other cultures and people, recognizing that our culture is not superior to others. I think if we learned to understand other cultures and how people think in those cultures, many (but of course not all) of the problems would be fixed. I think that is especially true for mission work. As future called workers we will need to be very conscience of the differences even in our own country. This will give us more opportunities to spread the good news to all nations.
ReplyDeleteWith the discussion on stereotypes and our own diversity and culture, it was interesting to see how truly similar we all are. Not only do most of us come from European background, but this also can make our views on others the same too. A lot of us had the same stereotypes when we filled out that sheet in class. Because we have grown up in similar cultures, we will have similar views on others unless we have had some interaction that would influence us otherwise.
ReplyDeleteWe grow up in a world where stereotyping others is the norm. It's hard sometimes with what's going on in the world not to look at others and judge them based off of their color, what they believe, and how they dress. But in the end we have to remember that God created everyone from Adam and Eve. Like Phil said it is fine to recognize the differences in cultures but it is not okay to judge. I think that if we look more to ourselves and worry less about others it would be a lot easier for people to become friends and open up to each other. There wouldn't be so much tension between people.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure many of you are familiar with the term "WELS bubble." After attending Luther Prep and now MLC, I can understand what this term means and see it's truth. After talking as a class, we saw that many of us (not all of course) come from very similar white, midwestern backgrounds. Many of us have attended WELS Lutheran schools throughout our whole lives. Our background effects how we perceive other people, other cultures and other ideas. Because many of us have not been able to experience a lot of culture, we are less likely to be open-minded to new ideas, new cultures and new people. Speaking with a non-WELS person from another culture about God is obviously less comfortable than speaking to a WELS member from the same background as us. I think in order to become the best called workers we can be, we need to look beyond the social and cultural differences and focus on our main goal: to share the gospel. I think it's a great idea for called workers to become familiar with other cultures, experience new places and ideas and meet new people. I'm from Texas and I attended public school until I went to Luther Prep. It is crazy how different the culture is outside of the midwest and outside the "WELS bubble." In order to reach out to more people, we need to be culturally-aware and open-minded to the ideas and backgrounds of all people.
ReplyDeleteWe learned in class our own cultural backgrounds here at MLC are almost the same, but after college as we spread throughout the world we will be surrounded by people of many cultures whose appearance, views, and ideas will be different then our own. We can apply what we learn in this class about issues of culture to our future profession as well. Since many of us will be teachers, it is important to realize that our students from minority backgrounds will be living in two different worlds. The students’ backgrounds, needs, and perspectives on education will be different. So it is important that the students feel as though the learning environment is welcoming and tolerant of their ideas.
ReplyDeleteIn these days, we need to be especially aware of culture and its effects on our society today. Society in general seems to find more reasons to divide based on differences than to celebrate with them. It's important that we understand a wide range of cultures so that we can all develop a mutual respect for each other and better our own society in general. We can apply what we learn from this class in our future ministry. We can use this knowledge to promote a unity that embraces cultural differences from all walks of life.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to me to see how similar most of us are in our backgrounds and interests. This may make it difficult for us to connect to those around us if our ministry leads us to places where our similarities are not the norm. It was good to take a look at stereotypes, because they are so common in our society today. When we look at various cultures, we need to take these stereotypes into account. We need to consider how stereotypes impact those we are working with, and how they influence how others view us.
ReplyDeleteI think what is most interesting about studying other cultures is that at our core, we are more alike than different. Every person on this earth has people that they love and care for. Every person has dreams about what they want to be when they grow up or what kind of future they want for their children. We may go about caring for people or achieving our dreams in different ways, but our motives are the same. I think it is important to remember that we view the world with ourselves at the center, but every other person views the world with themselves at the center. We have to make an effort to view the world from that place before we can start to make judgments about the way people live.
ReplyDeleteToo often in today's society we stereotype other cultures, but don't really recognize or explore our own culture. Doing this throughout class has been interesting. Not only am I able to think about my own culture, I am able to see that even though many of us are similar because of the "WELS Bubble," we are all still unique and have differing perspectives. I think that it is important to attempt to see from others' perspectives. That is one of my main goals for this course. By exploring our culture we can gain better insight and clarification for what our personal perspective is. By exploring other cultures we can grow in our understanding of another society.
ReplyDeleteLearning about cultures requires a lifelong passion for learning. It requires you to leave your stereotypes at the door and open our minds to understanding who people are and why they live the way they do. However, before you can embark on that endeavor, you must understand your own culture and your own identity. There is virtue in being proud of your culture, and because you have that sentiment toward your own culture, you will better understand why others are so proud of their culture. As we study to be teachers, pastors, and staff ministers, how can we not be excited for spreading the good news of Jesus to people of all different backgrounds and walks of life. Each person we run into has their own way of life and through genuine respect, we can seek understanding and continue our lifelong cultural learning.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I often joke about it, I think it is good to be aware of the "WELS bubble" and make a conscious effort to go out of our comfort zones and reach out to people of different cultures. Although we do share a common faith and many of us are accustomed to the Midwestern culture, we are all unique individuals, created by God to be one-of-a-kind and to serve him with our special set of gifts and talents. Before we stereotype and judge anyone based on their culture, it is good to remember that they, too, are individuals deserving of our respect.
ReplyDeleteDespite the critical role it plays in almost everything we do, culture is not something that we think about very often. When it does cross our minds, we have a tendency to think of ourselves as "normal" and people from other cultures as "different" or even "wrong." But the truth is that we are equally different from each other. For every oddity we see in another person's culture they see in ours the converse. Keeping the Great Commission in mind, we as Christians need to find ways of overstepping these obstacles and reaching the lost where and how they are. This means we will have to accept being uncomfortable at times, traveling farther than we had planned, getting to know people whom we never would have otherwise, and listening to and understanding stories, emotions, and values that never would have occurred to us on their own. This act of praise is one of the best ways we have to thank our loving God who came to seek and save the lost.
ReplyDeleteCulture is something that is so engrained in our own lives that it can often be challenging to define our own culture. The best way to understand our own culture is to be exposed to other people's thoughts, traditions, and culture through various experiences. In doing so, we don't only learn our own culture, but more about the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteHowever I think that one of the greatest facets of wisdom that can be gleaned from studying other cultures is not our differences, rather the overarching similarities that unite us. No matter what culture a person comes from, we are all products of the fallen human nature. As Maya Angelou said, "We are more alike my friends, then we are unalike.".
Culture is something that is so engrained in our own lives that it can often be challenging to define our own culture. The best way to understand our own culture is to be exposed to other people's thoughts, traditions, and culture through various experiences. In doing so, we don't only learn our own culture, but more about the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteHowever I think that one of the greatest facets of wisdom that can be gleaned from studying other cultures is not our differences, rather the overarching similarities that unite us. No matter what culture a person comes from, we are all products of the fallen human nature. As Maya Angelou said, "We are more alike my friends, then we are unalike.".
Cultural differences are everywhere around us today. We often stereotype those that are different from us. We do not usually take the time to get to know them or discover what they do and why they do it. Taking time to get to know a person and their culture can really make a difference. You would be surprised at how similar we are to them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the activities we did on stereotypes really make you think about how we pigeon-hole certain groups, especially in media. Even though we are aware of these stereotypes and can attempt to combat them, they are still sitting there in the back of our minds. We might accept people outside of these stereotypes, but when someone fits them it is easy for it to come creeping back in.
ReplyDeleteThe US might be a melting pot but some of the differences that we have between the different cultures is very striking. It is very difficult for me to understand the Chinese way of thinking and acting because my thought process is so different from theirs. That goes for most cultures though. It is easy for us in the WELS who are mostly from a German Lutheran background and live in the Midwest. We lose sight of the different cultures from around the world and even around the US. I also agreed strongly that we cannot force our culture on people as a part of our mission efforts. Paul said that we must become all things to all people and trying to assimilate them is not necessarily a good evangalizing technique. I do believe that the WELS is constantly improving in this area, trying to give the message of the Gospel in a culturally accurate context without compromising our beliefs.
Go and make disciples of All Nations… this is what we have been told in the Great Commission, from God in Matthew 28. He didn’t tell his people to go and only preach to Jewish people in Jerusalem or just the Gentiles, but Jesus told us to go to all nations. I will be first to say that I do not have many friends of other races. I go to a bigger church full of white european members, and a city with an almost 95% caucasian. So I had a very white, German, middle class, and midwestern upbringing like most people at MLC. This is where this class will at least hopefully give me a glimpse to other cultures in America. We too often stereotype people by what they do, where they live, and even how they look. I believe their is always a connection we can make to probably any person we meet. That is what I have enjoyed so far about this class and talking about different cultures in America.
ReplyDeleteCulture is word that contains a myriad of facets. They range from ethnicity, religion, country, home life, personal life, and the list could continue. However, there is one thing that unites all cultures despite the vast differences...the people themselves. Each of us is a human being with a soul, and each of us is a sinful human being needing a Savior. The things that make us different are the things God intended for the uniqueness of his creation and us. So it is important to have cultural openness, respect, and sensitivity wherever you go or to whom ever you spark a conversation with; for what makes you different, makes you a one of a kind masterpiece of God. And what makes you a one of a kind masterpiece, leads to two or more people talking about what their unique background is, and finally uniting, experiencing, and educating each other the different cultures all people possess.
ReplyDeleteWells bubble...white culture.......cultural openness...yadayadayadaa.
ReplyDeleteOk. Every one of these blog entries is exactly the same.
There's nothing wrong with that, but I wonder what that says about our culture of meta-analysis. We're so rich and blessed that we can sit in a classroom on a perfectly nice day and discuss the many "differences" between people.
Point is, the study of culture is all well and good, but I think it almost belittling to reduce someone's way of life to a few quick sentences and head nods of approval.
If a student really wants to learn about culture -- and really the point is to learn about people -- I say it is far better to actually go out into the world and experience it for themselves.
Travel. Experience life through another's eyes. A few hours in a foreign land would teach you far more about people then years in a classroom.
What difference is there between a hurtful stereotype and a harmless tease? When talking to one of a distinct race, what can be asked without offense? Is there a way to prevent discrimination? Is our American point of view hyper-sensitive and eternally unsatisfied with today's social norms?
ReplyDeleteThese questions can't be answered with a few books, a few primary sources, or even an entire historical account of every nation that ever existed. This is because no matter where or from whom we hear about it, the attitude of a race or culture will always be subjective.
7 billion people live on this planet, and more come and go. Each human has a different mind and a different soul and different beliefs, even humans who are of the same race, gender, or faith. Therefore one cannot ultimately decide how to treat someone kindly without listening to them first.
Mistakes can and will be made in our questions and conversations to a race that we may not know much about, but from each conversation we learn something new. The more we get to know someone, the more we know how to treat him or her. And eventually, race or culture merely becomes a characteristic of that person - not an identity.
Culture is a wonderful thing to study - it shapes many lives into something similar and close. Yet if we are to be truly kind, we cannot see a human soul as a race, but as an individual.
After our class session on Wednesday, I found myself wondering whether any of us truly understand what we mean we say, "culture." It is easy to talk about the differences between the characters in the Joy Luck Club and ourselves, but how understanding would our class be if we were to discuss the differences in culture between ourselves and a group of black americans protesting the police force, for example? I guess what I'm trying to say is that every person on this campus would agree that "we should accept all cultures," but as soon as you start specifying which ones, (LGBTQ culture? BLM culture? Democrats? Undocumented immigrants? People on welfare?) things get a little dicey. Culture, in my mind, is not just something that came over on a boat two generations ago. As I find myself in the midst of all sorts of North Americans who are constantly bickering and arguing over their differences, I wonder if this class will be able to give me any guidance.
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ReplyDeleteOur class on Wednesday sparked an interesting though in my mind. Why we do we find stereotypes so fascinating? I guess it is the fact that they must come from somewhere. We don't just make up stereotypes out of thin air, so to at least myself I find that very interesting.
ReplyDeleteNow I did find it insane that in class quite a few of our thoughts on stereotypes were similar, which with most of use coming from similar backgrounds that I guess makes sense. So do our perceptions of people change based on our upbringing? I would think so, but the sample size here on campus doesn't exactly help, but one could assume that our experiences with people dictates what we think of those who are similar, not to be rude but look at our thoughts on male hairdressers as an example.
I find it very interesting the stereotypes that just our class thought of. That is a room of maybe 20-30 people who had similar thoughts. I felt it was very sad. That is just a few people in the world all judging (which is what stereotyping really is). It is hard for me to understand how our minds can be so shallow in the sense that we put people in these categories without finding out THEIR story first. It was especially sad when everyone said "Lazy" for people on welfare. Sometimes single mothers HAVE to be on it to stay a float and keep their children fed. Some mothers value being at their children's events so they cannot work 12 hours a day to NOT be on welfare.
ReplyDeleteI also found it so interesting how we all are WELS Lutherans but we also are SO different culturally. Reading the book also leaves me thinking about how truly different all the cultures of the world are and how ignorant I am to them. Traveling to different countries/states is so beneficial to help understand culture!
The world contains a wide variety of cultures, ones that we may encounter personally and ones that we may only read about or view on the news. However, while these cultures remain very influential in a person's life, a culture does not describe an individual. It is important to remember that while traditions and cultural background help shape who someone is, it does not mean that everyone with those traditions and culture will be the same. You cannot box people into a stereotype of what you believe their culture makes them. With that understanding, it is a great blessing and adventure to explore different cultures and meet the different individuals that make up those cultures to understand what makes them who they are, how they differ from our own lives, and how they are similar.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy to think how much culture differs from country to country and even from the different states in the US. Culture is what makes people unique and one of a kind just how God made us. The world would be a pretty lame place if everyone had the exact same culture and background, but instead God created us all unique with different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. Now at the same time he created us all equal in his eyes but we all still find ways to disregard that. That is why I feel like it is important for us to go out and learn about other cultures and understand them more because we are all created equal
ReplyDeleteI know that I myself am guilty of putting people in a box and stereotyping cultures and ethnicity. Stereotypes are evil little parasites that crawl inside your mind and feed and grow. A lot of people have grown up with particular stereotypes, and it is hard to suddenly change the way you think. My rational human mind knows that, despite our differences, at the core we are the same, but sometimes I still catch myself burdening another human being with a stereotype that I should learn to forget.
ReplyDeleteI know that I myself am guilty of putting people in a box and stereotyping cultures and ethnicity. Stereotypes are evil little parasites that crawl inside your mind and feed and grow. A lot of people have grown up with particular stereotypes, and it is hard to suddenly change the way you think. My rational human mind knows that, despite our differences, at the core we are the same, but sometimes I still catch myself burdening another human being with a stereotype that I should learn to forget.
ReplyDeleteStereotyping is a rather interesting phenomenon. In almost every other instance of human experience, when humans are presented with a certain set of data associated with a certain idea or image repeatedly, they tend to respond in predictable ways and associate said data with said ideas or images. In some respects this is a large part of education as a whole. However, when the same principles are applied to people, suddenly everyone gets uncomfortable; stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. That being said, it is a very fine line (especially for us here in this class) between stereotyping cultures based on previous knowledge and actual knowledge of said culture. Too often people confuse "stereotypes" with actual aspects of certain cultures. Knowing the difference and being able to use it effectively in my future relationships and ministry is one of my primary goals for this class.
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