Thank you for the thoughtful discussion about the Thai smile last week. It seems that it has many functions, which explains why one sees it so often in this culture. It helps us to understand a little bit more about why we are.This next unit is aimed to consider cultural difference and tolerance. This is the central issue of cross cultural communication. One person talking is not communication. In order for communication, another must be listening and participating. Therefore, one must extend a level of tolerance and open-mindedness to another, to give the Other the time and respect to express themselves and their world views. If communication is effective, then a new possibility for living together will emerge.
However, communication must start with myself: I am a man. I am healthy and able. I am not poor. I am white. I am heterosexual. I am educated.
I am lucky. I don't know why, but my culture has decided that all of my identities are either good, right, or powerful. I did not choose these identities. I was born into a good family and into a strong culture that has given me the gifts that I have in my life. These gifts are not my rights. They are the privileges that culture gives to me, and does not give to others.
Culture can be unfair and intolerant. Cultures often do not listen to the Other and continue to teach people what it believes to be good, right, or powerful, and the resulting arguments are usually over race, gender, politics, and religion.
Thai protesters wear red and yellow shirts and shout at each other, but no one listens. Unidentified men bomb hotel rooms in Mumbai, and no one talks. There are conflicts, big and small, happening everywhere and everyday, simply because of intolerance and miscommunication.
If we take off our red and yellow shirts, there will be no differences to argue about.
There is no specific question this week. I appreciate your thoughts and reflections. Happy Father's Day. Aj. M
"Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences, our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them." Judith Henderson
Hello Aj. Matthew and everyone,
ReplyDeleteEvery single person is different. We are always not the same. Each person has his own needs, desires, believes, etc.
We mostly agree with people that have the same point of view we have, and we always against other thoughts we don't have.
Some people want just to be accepted by a little group of people, but some want power to overwhelm others.
When people have different view, there always is conflict.
I think maybe there's no way to stop or prevent the conflict between people, because as we know we all are different and we can't control other's thoughts. What we can do is to hope that they'll not happen, but we already know the answer.
It is hard to tell other people to accept what we believe or to tell other people to think or do as the way we do, even impossible.
But in some way of people's thought, I think. There are some people who want good things in their country or themselves, so they try to group for against what they think it's not good for them or other people. They may fight for something they think it's good that they're waiting for or to create the new hope for them. Sometimes people fight for their own good and for the sake of their country... maybe...
"If you want peace, prepare for war" the Latin adage with the unknown source
Hello Ajarn M.
ReplyDeleteI think communication is very important. Yellow shirt or Red shirt are the same culture but different thought. Absolutely we are also have own thought and ideal. It's impossible that we can change the world for one but if there is the way to understand others, we should talk.
ps. I'm happy that today everyone can use the Suvarnbhumi Airport.
hopefully there is no bad event going to happen agine.
or-ae
Did you say love to your father yet?
Hi everyone
ReplyDeleteThere is someone said
"This world is not beautiful.
Therefore, it is"
just like human, no one is perfect, so that's why human be human.
Sometimes, I think the conflict can lead human to improve theirselves. At present, it may be seem hardly to be like that.
Also, I think I'm quite afraid of human's belief because human can do anything to remain their beleif.
Communication has an important role at this point.
Is there possible that people can communicate to others without any bias?
Just think for killing time...
Ps. may the hapiness with father
Hello, Aj'M
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that if Thai protesters don't wear red and yellow shirts, there will be not difference. Actually, they can talk at each other for solving Thai problems, then Thai will be peaceful
Why does Thailand always have the conflict? - -!
Conflict is good. Violence is not. I believe that conflict challenges us to better understand ourselves. But when conflict and intolerance go together, then serious problems arise.
ReplyDeleteMy own opinion is that the protests in Thailand are not exactly bad. People should protest if they believe in their reason. This is the right of a democracy. I don't agree with closing the airports and stopping the economy, but I do believe that opinions need to be made explicitly clear. However, after all of this I wonder: Is there a listener?
Hi Aj.Matthew
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the communication is really important to solve every problem. When we have conflict with other, we should talk together. The communication can help us to know and inderstand other' thought. I disagree with protesters (red and yellow shirts). I think, if they try to listen to each other, maybe the problem can be solved.
Take care
^_____^
changing yourself,
ReplyDeletechanging the world
Hi, Aj. Matt
ReplyDeleteI have to say "sorry" for long time comments aha, anyways i will show my opinion for today red adn yellow shirts
you know three kinds of people that i ever seen for
first, this is the most dangerous kinds of people one had an own need that why they always had a conflict because each one thought they are right and other one too. so if the thought is not the same, it means the agrue will be started.
Second, this is not quite good people, "unidentified people" aha... these group is the one who do know neither right nor wrong there just follow what other people done. this kinds is not the main factor to create the war but it's the main supporter for the conflict. they don't have an own thought maybe they lacked of some kinds of knowledge. Some is buyed for doing the Mob. that almost occured with the rural area or poor people including uneducated people.
last group, "Envied people" this quite danger also cause they do not want other one to be better than them. So if they sew whoever got higher, they might obstruct or pull them down as they were. this kins of people make the nation are not civilisation.
ahaha
This is only my thought in our people that i face to. i think communication might not have an effect enough to them who always do the conflict. Some times i agree with the police in what they done. also never poor to who make this thing like a mob to destroy our nation.
sorry that make this so serious
see ya in exhibition
good night
Milk tea... you said three very interesting things about different kinds of people:
ReplyDelete1) Everybody thinks their right.
2) People don't know because of low education.
3) People are envious of others, and greedy for more.
I believe that these are three barriers to good cross cultural education, and we will start to look at these in the second half of the semester. #1 above sounds like ethnocentrism. #2... low education keeps culture unfair for many people... and #3 is what makes different cultures take advantage of others, which has been a point of violence and oppression between cultures.
You have found the real point in this discussion. Excellent.