Culture Matters
Diversity in Our Neighborhood
"...if you can't navigate difference, you've had it."
Robert Hughes in The Culture of Complaint
We live in a "mixed-up world"--get used to it. Whoever we are, we will face strangers in our midst. Like us, they will want to follow some of the life ways and achieve some of the goals that they learned to value at their mother's knee.
This can be troublesome to "us." For example, recently in Detroit a Muslim community wished to have the call to prayers broadcast by loudspeaker through their neighborhood. Non-Muslim's objected; after all they would be forced to listen to a different religion's expression. However, no one publicly objected to the bells from a nearby Christian church, which called people to services every day.
How do we navigate this difference?
Such navigation requires thoughtfulness, respect, and knowledge. These qualities should be shown not only towards "the Others" but towards ourselves. But we must be clear-eyed about charting our course.
For example, how can I, a teacher with American Indians in my classroom, teach about Thanksgiving?
Another issue is talking with people from backgrounds very different from my own. Even though I have some experience with this process, there is always room for improvement. These guidelines from Ricky Sherover-Marcuse, Ph.D., are very helpful.
If you are worried about "multiculturalism," or you are suspicious of it, then Robert Hughes some insights about what the word really means.
