Ethnocentrism and Etc.

From Brad.

Okay, maybe its your new vocabulary word for the day. Ethnocentrism is the idea that one's own culture (or people group, tribe, etc.) is superior to others. This is a product of our sin nature and evidences pride and folly. It is not reserved for Americans alone (although in my humble opinion we are really good at it) but touches all cultures. In my current culture, I heard a creation story/myth when I first got here which evidences their ethnocentrism. As it goes the creator made man out of clay and needed to 'bake' him and her to make them human. Well...some he left in too long (black), some he took out too early (white), and some were just right (yellow...but I guess you must include brown in that group). I think the most accurate understanding is that all cultures have their pros & cons, and that probably some have been more affected by truth than others. So all are not equal, but 'ours' is not the ideal like 'we' think it might be.

I've started a list of the pros & cons of my new culture. This is my subjective analysis as I compare my first 35 years in America to my 6 months here.

Pros of my new culture:

1. We have a much easier time meeting our financial needs with a very small amount of money. In other words...things and people's time are cheap. When my Treo phone broke, a guy fixed it right away on the spot for $7 US dollars. The only place I could find in America was charging $75 after you pay for shipping both ways.
2. I sense that people as a whole are kinder here and are more willing to offer their time and help. Maybe that is because I'm a foreigner, but even so, there are many countries where being a foreigner will bring more animosity, rather than a willingness to help.
3. I wrote in a previous blog entry that this country is safer than America.
4. There is a strong interest in us and in new ideas. It is remarkably easy to talk to people about 'weighty' things, whereas in America, people are mostly disinterested or feel that you are 'pushing' something on them.
5. Although there is some immodesty, it is remarkably rare compared to what one sees in America. This is a wonderful pro.

Okay, now the cons...

1. From day one, I realized this place has many more hazards which put my kids in danger (and us). Although I am not as concerned about a robbery, I do exercise caution every time I cross an intersection or street. Playgrounds have no grass, typically concrete. The playground near my house has a 2 foot wall which 'stops' one from a 15' foot drop onto concrete. Safety doesn't seem to be a major consideration when things are designed here (or maybe it costs too much money).
2. Because of a much lower standard of living and the US prices for diapers over here, diapers are pretty much unheard of. This leads to young kids not wearing underwear, with split-crotch pants urinating in public places (including the aisle of wal-mart, etc.). Because its so common parents don't think it is necessary to clean it up. Store employees are never in a hurry and their mops, etc. don't often get washed. Overall, it is much, much cleaner in America. Now, I've had to repent of my snobbishness because for me to expect them to buy diapers is ridiculous. But nonetheless, given the circumstances, there are ways to improve the cleanliness.
3. Kids are rarely disciplined and are rather catered to. This leads to brats who act like...well, brats.
4. Due to the concept of 'face', lying is a common part of this culture. Instead of saying, I'm not really interested in coming to your meeting...thanks for the invite, they agree to come and make up bogus excuses week after week. This applies to all areas of life, honest communication doesn't happen too often. My local friend called another local and asked, 'do you have time, can I come over?' He said yes. My friend made the long trip and when he got to the door his friend said, I'm sorry, but maybe now is not the best time. Saying 'no' over the phone would have been a loss of face, according to my friend.
5. Finally, work and products here are made very poorly. Maybe that's how they so cheap (see pro #1), but often when a worker comes to fix something at your house, or install something, or drop off a purchase, you must carefully inspect every detail...because they just don't really care if it isn't done right.

Well, there you have it. No culture is perfect and I attempt to remember the pros here in order to deal with the things I don't care for. This also promotes a greater love for this country and its people...something necessary in my life. I also try to often repent of the ethnocentrism that I am not immune to. America has her fair share of problems. I wonder if we made a list, what would come up as the pros and cons?