1. Cultural Sensitivity
April 4th,2016
In anotherarticle onthiswebsite,youcanreadaboutthe DAE culture model whichhelpspeople
observe andanalyze theirsurroundingsbefore judgingthose aroundthem.Sometimes,we forget
that otherpeople’s experiencesare differentfromourownandwe thinkthat people shouldall
live accordingtoour cultural beliefsandpractices.
Thistrain of thought,however,cancause issuesamongstrangersandevenfriendsif we don’t
considera widerworldviewthanourown.One topicthat comesto mindthat people have strong
opinionsaboutandneedtobe remindedof others’experiencesisinternationalconflict.
A commoninternational conflictthatiswidelydiscussed,especiallyinChina,isthe disputeover
territoryinTaiwan.China,tothisday, considersTaiwanpartof its territory,thoughthe central
Chinese governmentdoesnotrule overTaiwanandthe Taiwanese people electtheirownofficials.
Chinese people largelyconsiderTaiwan’sattemptatindependence ridiculousbecause theirland
mass issmall andChinais powerful.
Also,manyChinese peopledonotconsiderTaiwana strongeconomicpresence andcertainlyone
that doesnotthreatenChina’ssuccess.Inthe late 70’s, the UnitedStatessignedanagreement
statingthat itwouldnevertryto label Taiwanasan independentnationtokeepthe interestsof its
strategictradingpartner,China.However,withasimple Googlesearch(acompanyfoundedin
America),Taiwan’slabelingasa nationimmediatelycomesup.
In America,people value independencegreatly.Culturally,Americanshave noproblemviewing
Taiwanas an independentnationbecause itisobviousthat,historically,the Taiwanese have
wantedindependence frommainlandChina.The Chinese,however,have noissue boldlystating
theirdisapproval of Taiwan’sdesire forsecessionfrommainlandChina,evenwithaTaiwanese
personpresentinthe room.Thisiswhere cultural sensitivitycomesintoplay.Imagineagroupof
three people inaroom – one Chinese, one Taiwanese,andone American
. If the AmericanlegitimizesTaiwanasa nation,or the Taiwanese personasaTaiwanese national,
the Chinese personwill be upsetbecauseof his/herculturally-deeplyheldviewsthatTaiwanisnot
a country.If the Americansupportsthe Chinese person’sview of Taiwannotbeingconsidereda
nation,the Taiwanese personwill notfeel validatedinhis/herownnational identity,which
comprisesahuge part of whowe are as people.
Culturally,the Americanwouldlikelyleanmore towardscallingTaiwanacountrydue to American
cultural normsof valuingindependence andrespectingpeople’snationalidentities.Butwhat
wouldbe the bestactionfor the Americantotake inthat situation?That’saquestionworth
considering.
Chinaand Taiwanare notthe onlygroupsof people inconflictoverland.If apersonfromCrimea
tellsyouthathe/she isUkrainian,doyourespectthat title andcall him/herUkrainian?If aRussian
personhearda personfromCrimeasay he/she isUkrainian,how wouldthatpersonfeel?Another
example takesintoconsiderationthe Palestinian/Israeli conflictinthe Middle East.
2. America,byand large,historicallysupportsIsraelinitslegitimacyasa nationandis one of the
nation’slargestcontributorseconomically,financially,andmilitarily.AnArablivinginexactlythe
same region,however,wouldnotconsiderhim/herselfIsraeli,butratherPalestinian.Inthe Middle
East, accordingto many countries,Israel isnotevenacountryand theydonot legitimize itby
puttingiton a map. Inthe UnitedStates,onthe otherhand,a personcan quicklyidentifyIsrael by
itswrittenname onany globe made inAmerica.But,if a Palestinianintroduceshim/herself toan
American,shouldthe Americandisregardthat person’snational identity?
These questionsare crucial toconsiderwheninteractingwithpeople fromwartornnations.Their
experiencesvaryfromourownand theirperspectivesmustbe takenintoaccount.If youholda
strongbelief aboutsomethingconcerninganothercountry,considerthe opposingviewpointforits
validarguments.Rememberthatrigidcultural viewscanbe harmful ininternationalsettingsand
relationshipsandmayhinderyourabilitytoenjoywhatothercultureshave tooffer.
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