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How Can People From Different Cultures Get Along?

As humans it is very easy for us to get lost in our own culture, and we tend to forget that there are other cultures other than ours. Many people have bias opinions about other cultures, leading them to have little thought or no care at all for a specific culture. But it is very possible for people that differ from other cultures to get along. Yes, culture is very important in life, but we are humans first. Human interaction is normal, and it is perfectly normal for humans to get along. It’s easy to misjudge someone based off of their culture; but having an open mind and getting to know someone as a human being, adds to getting along with each other. Finding things you have in common with someone from another culture is another step forward to getting along. Open communication, explaining your culture and listening to someone else explain their culture is another stepping stone toward getting along. There are many things people from other cultures can do to simply live and get along with each other in peace. For example, in the Intercultural Communications it states, “A group of Palestinian and Israeli soldiers who previously “saw each other only through gun sights” but came to believe that conflict can not be solved by military means. Following principles of nonviolence, they now organize activities, tours, lectures, and events for both Israeli and Palestinian audiences, with goals of better understanding of the group through active dialogue and ultimately reducing violence and conflict” (Martin, Judith. “Chapter 12: Striving For Engaged And Effective Intercultural Communication” Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 7th ed., p. 478-512)

People from different cultures are able to get along simply by having the same passion in something. For example, in the program “Brasslands” bands from all around the world come together for the Guca Trumpet Festival. People from many different cultures come to listen, compete, and dance, just because they enjoy it. “But this year there’s gonna be a competition of foreign bands” “and each foreign band, and I have no idea who’s coming, or where from, is going to play one Serbian tune, and one from their own country,” said an American brass player. Just by being able to play other cultures music, is a way of getting along. Many people come to this festival to get to witness the different types of cultures, and have an open mind about each one.

“Brasslands” https://www-newday-com.camdencc.idm.oclc.org/streaming/index.php?film=BRA-01&license=8BJX-4EUS-335E

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Why do people from different cultures misunderstand each other? 

          As I’ve mentioned before, stereotyping is one of the main reasons why people from other cultures misunderstand each other. We are all human beings and judging is a part of human nature. It’s almost impossible to meet someone and not automatically have an assumption about them. Whether it’s a positive assumption or a negative assumption, it’s still an idea about someone. Each culture has it’s own way of communicating with each other, greeting each other, treating each other, and etc. It’s hard being and outsider looking into a culture that you are not accustomed to, or know little about. Most misunderstandings come with conflict and conflicts cause misunderstandings. For instance, in the story, “Jogging Alone” an American goes to The Dominican Republic for a volunteering Peace Corps. The American soon discovers a conflict that is viewed as normal in America. Back in America, the American had a daily morning routine of jogging alone. No distractions, just them and the peaceful sight of the sun rising. They soon realized that jogging alone in The Dominican Republic was viewed as quite strange and unusual. The Dominicans would offer their hospitality to the jogger as they ran by themselves, and soon began to send their children to keep the jogger company. The American simply could not grasp on to the Dominicans culture of friendliness and hospitality, because they were not use to that interaction in America. It was relevant that the American did not know much about the Dominican culture, hence why there were misunderstandings.   “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman.  

          Cultural misunderstandings also come from conflicts from the past. Such as in the NPR news report, “Ghosts Of The Past Still Echo In Beirut’s Fragmented Neighborhoods.” Beirut is one of the largest cities in the county Lebanon. The city of Beirut is divided into mostly Muslims to the West and Christians predominantly to the East. since there was a civil war in this city in 1975, the city grew to be more heterogeneous. The memories of the war made it hard for the Christian Lebanese and the Palestinians to interact with each other, let alone live close by. This misunderstanding comes from both parties and their stubborn ways of not getting to know the other side, simply because of past interactions. But the question that we must ask is; Is open conflict good or bad? In Beirut's case, open conflict is needed. When having an open conflict it allows each party to put their input in on the situation. It’s clear that an open conflict is needed for the tension to simmer between the East and the West. The “Intercultural Communications” book states, “Conflict is often exacerbated because of the unwillingness of partners to recognize  management style differences” (Martin 464.)

Martin, Judith. “Chapter 11: Culture, Communication, and Conflict.” Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 7th ed., p. 440-474

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Why do people from different cultures misunderstand each other? When it comes to cultures interacting with each other there can be confusion, but why? The “Intercultural Communications” book states, “Humans, regardless of cultural backgrounds, engage in many of the same daily activities and have many of the same wants and desires. We all eat, sleep, love, pursue friendships and romantic relationships and want to be respected and loved by those who are important to us.” We are all human beings, we just come from different backgrounds, religions, and countries, but we are all the same people. We just have different pigments, distinct languages, and diverse ways of living. Cultural misunderstandings may come from Family oriented backgrounds. Some families do not take the time to learn about other cultures, and some cultures like to stick to themselves. They are ignorant to not learning about other cultures, and with traditions being passed down from grandparents to parents to their children, it can be hard. If a child is not taught cultural differences from their family, it will we hard for them to be receptive to other cultures they are not familiar with.

Our media and what it portrays today, is another reason why we have misunderstandings within our cultures. It becomes difficult to decipher what is real news and what is fake news. It’s easy for the media to illustrate what their view on a culture or country is, and it is easy for people to take their word on it. Meanwhile, the media’s viewpoint could be totally off, and without really understanding a culture or country, a person has already formed an assumption. For instance, “A World Without Strangers” is a documentary examining the misinterpretations between young people in the Middle East and the United States. The producers interviewed five women from the United States and five women from the Middle East. Each girl talked about her daily life and portrayed pictures of her loved ones, and what they liked to do. When they were asked about their stereotypes on each other, the American women explained that there is always violence and the women are always covered up. While the Middle Eastern women defined America as violent and rich. When they looked over each others entries about their lives, they realized that they weren’t much different, in fact they were alike in many ways.

There will always be a misunderstanding between cultures, but how will we be able to reduce it? We can start by having an open mind when meeting someone that is different from us, try to learn their culture and their viewpoints on life. Don’t look at the media for your source of information on another culture, pick up a book instead of scrolling. Try to find similarities you have with a different culture, and you’ll soon find out you aren’t much different. Be open to the possibility of learning other traditions...you never know what you might find out.

Martin, Judith. “Chapter 3: Culture Communication, Context, and Power.” Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 7th ed., p. 82-117.

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How does identity play a role in how people behave, are treated, organize (around a cause) or are discriminated against?

The video above features Emma Watson and her take on gender equality. She talks about the harsh gender norm stereotypes that live within our society. We are in the year of 2019 and Women’s Rights are still failing to meet the standards they deserve. Yes Women’s Rights have grown over the years, but it still feels as if they are miles away from Men’s Rights. In today’s society we claim to be all about equality, but where does equality play a factor in the women’s work field, and health. For instance, the state of Alabama has passed a law banning abortion. What makes it even more sickening is that even if the woman was raped, she is not to have an abortion. Who are we to tell a woman what to do or what not to do with her body, or any gender in that matter. Not only are Women’s Rights a crisis in the health field, it’s also a problem in the work field. Such as, coaches compensation in sports. Individuals highlight on the fact that the wages for women have gone up drastically since the past, but they still lack in fairness with men. How is it that in 2010, the pay for coaches of a men’s basketball team was $329,300, meanwhile the pay for coaches of a women’s basketball team was only $171,600. That right there should show you how women are viewed in the sport industry.

nytimes.com/2012/04/03/sports/ncaabasketball/pay-for-womens-basketball-coaches-lags-far-behind-mens-coaches.html?_r=0

Martin, Judith. “Chapter 5: Identity and Intercultural Communication.” Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 7th ed., p. 170-178

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Self Love

Self love was not on my mind map, but I realized it was needed. Self love is important to me, because at a point in my life; self love did not exist. It’s important to love yourself before you are ready to love another individual. It’s important to embrace how you were made and love the person you have become.

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Ohana~ “Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” I picked family because they are a big part of my life. Even though we might have our ups and downs, I know they will be by my side through everything. It’s unconditional love.

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Gymnastics

I picked Gymnastics because it was my first sport, and my first love. I have been doing it since I was 2 years old and it is all I really know. Yes I have done other sports before such as Soccer, Ballet, and Track but Gymnastics always came first.