December Blog Post

King Darius of ancient Persia, may have been centuries ahead of his time in his observation of the treatment of the dead in different countries. The idea of learning to learn about and tolerate other cultures in the world is a concept that many races have discovered only quite recently. While reading the article I was surprised at how one person had collected my thoughts exactly and constructed them into an essay. Some may call my views liberal, I call them tolerant and accepting. It is exactly what the article describes, cultural relativism, while easier to read than to say aloud, is simply the observation of practices of different countries. There is a difference between acceptance and tolerance, and being aware of that difference is what the rules of cultural relativism spell out. The article also argues the nature of morality. Its concept dates back to biblical times but to be completely serious about cultural relativism, one must remain completely neutral. One must accept the fact that every custom of every country is on equal standing and importance to our own. It is something I have thought of in the past, to look on both sides of the situation before making a decision, and knowing me, I could find an excuse for the people who drove a plane into the twin towers, or bombed Pearl Harbor. I suppose that is the true nature of Cultural Relativism, to look beyond our original, predetermined observation and find a reason for everyone everywhere. The fact that the Eskimos kill their young at times because they can not care for them, is similar to the reason that we have two less skyscrapers in New York. So its their culture, we have to accept it? I think that statement is a bit extreme but that would be a strict interpretation of cultural relativism in a way. I believe its concept is one to live by; wars would be avoided, as well as crime and poverty. The belief that all the people in the world have something in common, something to be respected, is one that should be truly thought about. We are all human. We need water, food, warmth and love, one would think that that is enough to bind us as one. In times of crisis though, it is found that we unite. I think that the key ideas behind cultural relativism(I still have to look back at the paper every time I spell that) are ones found in every religion, in all of there "bibles." We as "sophisticated Americans" should keep an open mind in dealing with a world that runs on the dollar, and although cultural relativism should be more loosely interpreted, it should be considered, as it is taught in churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples around the world in its own form.