"CULTURE SKIP"

A PAPER PRESENTED AT
THE A.A.A.L./A.T.E.S.L.
CONFERENCE "COJ't1/'rl0N
CONCERNS"
group versus group, individual versus group and

versus individual relationships.

I would also liKe to recommend a booKlet to anyone who

may be interested in following up on this topic. It has to do

with the concept of "bonding" and its application to human

relationships, with particular reference and application to

may have used them betimes.

PaKY, White, UKe, D.P.

epithet does to the heart of the hearer, the

little thinKing what it does to the "hurler".

I would liKe to leave this for a moment and consider

some other things which relate directly to the above before

1. "Official", in that the governing bodies and or
individuals from within the two (or more)
interacting cultures are involved. (The same
mechanism also acts, to a greater or lesser degree
between groups that are not necessarily cultural.)

2. Intercu Itural interact ion of tent imes occurs between

non-typical members of each interacting culture,
rather than "cu Itural -ma instl""eam" members of these
cultures.
1. Want nothing to do with that group by reason of
their frustrations in trying to understand that
people's culture, in social isolation from that
people's cultural milieu, thereby missing the
people themselves, because they continue to deal
with a culture that is foriegn and not the people
of that culture individually. He or she then tends
to see all members of that cultural group in the
same unfavorable light, especially in comparison to
his or her own culture. The result is two pronged;
it idealizes members of, as well as his or her own
culture, and tends to denigrate, in whatever
degree, the members of, as well as the culture of,
those with which he or she has become so
frustrated.
an~thing outside of that culture is considered to
be inferior and or suspect. His or her view of the
people, because of their unrealistic view, causes
them to idealize, and hence engage in the same
process of "dehumanizing-objectification", as
happens in the aformentioned instance. It too is
two pronged in that it idealizes the individuals of
the culture adopted, as well as the said culture,
while at the same time denigrates, in whatever
degree, his or her own culture and the people of
that cultural bacKground. This is commonly Known
as reverse prejudice and, I b~lieve that in some
areas of intercultural relations, is an area of at
least as great a concern as is that of straight
prejudice, but that is outside of the scope of this
paper.

It should also be duel~ noted, that this process

worKs and is at worK in members of ever~ culture;
that it can and does worK in ever~ concievable
cultural direction, and that the first cited
instance, more commonly Known as prejudice, as well
as reverse prejudice, can also be present, even
though there has been no personal cultrual contact
with the individual people of another culture.
the same needs that we have, one of the strongest of which is

the need to give and receive love, in the most profound sense
The choice is ours and the people of the culture with whom we

interact will very quicKly picK up the choice we have mader

having to assimilate massive amounts of newr and at timesr

seemily strange informationr especially in a langage learning

ill ustrat ing a po int; that be ing, ••if your care for me, 1earn

from me, and accept that what my culture has given me is

not be able to see through the eyes of the person

of the host culture and, inevitably, frustration

 the of mutual

The for mutual

that should beT at all costsT avoided because of

certain resultsT just described.

From the joyous laughter cascade,

Heard of man and child}

From the shrillest cry of pain,

Or deepest moan of broKen heart

And tears that fall}

Between man and wife, or parent and his child,

And all sounds in between,

Tell me, can you Know by sound

From whence it comes?

From blacK or white, or all shades in between

From what nation, Kindred or what tongue

Comes the various sound,

Of the heart's relationship

To those that are around?

Can we feel the joy or feel the pain

As God would have us do?

Can we weep wiith those who weep

And JOY with those who do,

And help to bear the burdens

Of those who are in need

With shoulder, and with heart

And with our spirit too

And thus fulfill the Words of Christ

That this we all must do?

When we looK into the eyes of our fellow man,

How do we see him?

Do we see him or her as someone to be used

Do we see him or her as someone to be controlled

By us?

How do we see him?

Do we looK through eyes of crystal steel,

Or do we looK through eyes that understand

And feel?

Or do we lOOK through Jesus' eyes,

And, see the hurts and hear the cries,

Of IT~n's most deep and renting plea,

o God, won't someone please love me?

Be they large, or be they small,

Be they old, or not yet born,

No matter what the people, bond or free,

Jesus sees all and loves them equally.