@johcaschro wrote:
Well, we now know some things about some cultures which we find challenging to say the least and abhorrent to say the most.
Should we just be accepting of the "challenge" we might encounter and strive to deny or even to make apology for any "abhorrence" which we might feel?
Not all cultures are equal or deserving of considerations of equality.
Cultural relativism. . . If we accept that all cultures are equal (even relatively so) then that leads us down some rather darkened pathways, does it not?
Maybe there's a deep rooted fundamental reason behind why some particular culture's ideas don't attract more popular support where others' do ?
You want a safe school?
teach the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic and teach the lessons about the equality of all peoples no matter what their sex, their age or their religion.
Teach people to think for themselves. Step back with all your money and with all your religion, hoping to produce easily led little pawns in your cynical game.
When I was a kid a safe school to me meant one where the older children didn't harrass and bully the younger ones nor trip them up when they walked to their lessons.
A safety bonus would have been if my teacher didn't lean heavily on my shoulder digging his fingers in while asking me some obscure question which I couldn't answer because i was distracted by the pain.
A safe school is one where children can attend in safety, and will be taught the bascis of that which is required to survive and even to prosper in our modern day civilisation.
Multiculturalism.
but what if some cultural ideas require that women are not to be considered as the equals to men? Is that acceptable?
What sort of cultural identity do we ultimately aspire to?
Debra; Yes as far as I know it's not compulsory for schools to take part... yet...
Johncaschro; Thanks for your thoughts on this (and some other related) topic/s.
Cultural relativism. . . If we accept that all cultures are equal (even relatively so) then that leads us down some rather darkened pathways, does it not?
Such a relevent question. Rhetorical yet easy to answer in the literal sense. The answer has to be yes.
And I agree with the remainder of your post, but I would argue that multiculturalism is just an ideal at this point. Like any political ideology it can seem rightous and fair in theory ie; Marxist socialism but in reality, all it really does is divide the people.
And as Australians we are encouraged to be accepting and tolerant of other cultures, and at the same time have no pride in our own (western) culture only guilt and shame. I've argued with peeps on here about Australian culture or lack thereof. So if we cant say Australian culture then it has to be western culture that we should be embracing and encouraging every single person that moves here to do the same.
