Preservation of culture (Page 3)

I am talking about adaptation you are talking about imitation

I agree with the age old adage too 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'

To me the most imperative thing in visiting a country is understanding the local culture and assimilating yourself within it. If you feel that you are unable to understand and assimilate then you should reconsider going there.

I do not think assimilation is a compromise of personal morals or culture, but doing a balanced bit. I honestly do not think Canada is as extreme as making laws for people to dress skimpily.

Many westerners are fascinated with traditional outfits like sarees, salwar kameez and other unique and colorful clothing. They will willingly accept people wearing traditional clothing. However, westerners ultra conservative clothing like veils, feels restrictive and anti-social and feel unnerved when people insist on doing so.

What irks many westerners is the fact that they will wear veils and headdresses when in a conservative country but these very people refuse to change a bit when they come in their country. Another annoying factor is the double standards. Pseudo conservative people coming rambling about the greatness of their culture yet ogling at western women and behaving in a lewd manner.

What also angers many westerners is that even if people want to preserve their culture why do they have to criticize western culture. So many people adapt a holier than thou attitude and look upon western people in a demeaning manner. Won't we be pissed if someone came to our country and looked down on our ways.

Personally, I do not expect any radical changes. I believe Canada and United States are free countries and people should wear what they want. If a Middle Eastern woman wears the burkha that is her choice. I do not care. What needs to stop is cultural segregation. There is a whole wave of separate but equal sweeping through North America. Every immigrant community Indians, Asians, Middle Eastern, African, Latins, Slavs are all forming sub communities. They study and work together, but refuse to mingle with each other. Each is afraid of losing culture and refuses to socialize or assimilate with the rest of them. Children are encouraged to find friends within the same community, outsider friends are discouraged.

This needs to stop. We need to be social and share culture. There is good and bad in all cultural and cultural interaction is beneficial for society. People need to realize that culture will not get destroyed but will evolve for the next generation.

you cant adapt without imitating... Dhona chod key pochna shuru karna may be adaptation or imitation.. the question is how much you are into using that paper at home..... Imitation is with appearance and behavior and I am not talking about that.....unless you give me some good examples of adaptation

Very good point Morning Dew   But what culture and tradition are we talking about in Canada?  Its a multi-cultural society really where people from all countries come and live together.  From my experience I see people follow some traditiona of their own and then also live the Canadian lifestyle.  We have Folklorama Festival each year where people from different countries put up their displays, music, food and various t hings from their culture. 

Canada is certainly not telling people to leave their tradition but people are given education about their rights, about the social services, etc.  esp. when it involves sickening rights on young girls. 

I think the solution is not to enforce regime on citizens.  Thank you!!

 Can't really say that for USA and Canada.  Our constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of expression which Rome never did.   Btw that lady was Russian wasn't she.

@ qwerty - wanted to post the  underlined phrase too.  

@hades - I am afraid you are not quite acquainted with the arab or middleeast culture, Its not just wearing veils and running away from men.  Mingling of men and women , mixed gatherings is not their culture, so its fine if they want to work in a burkha , make some money and walk home, i dont see, what is a big culture segregation deal there!

most goriyaan walking on times square to work,  dont they quite mind their own businesses as well!!! so is it just for a mere 'hi' 'hello' which burkha ladies don't sport, they get labeled as culture stickers. ? ?

and hey , where are you, @bold. nobody is refusing to socialise.

and different people doing things deifferently makes their culture different , i dont see, how it will be called culture, if we share it  

and sharing would mean.......

is ki topi us ke sar, us ka skirt ......... (we again got to the start of debate)

 

There are aspects to this. If I have to work in an office where all the women wear those veils - all of them - that would freak me out... Of course, there are instances where I have seen couple of these arabic women who took the veil off their face and spoke in most intelligent, eloquent, confident English I havent seen many asian talk like that... and yet that veil reflected their adherence to tradition - a mix which absolutely surprised me.. .so it doesnt have to be one or the other... some of these veils hide the ultra-modern mind-sets...which are in fact superior to the average american.....and that fits veri well in that "good america" we refer to...

Edited by qwertyesque - 16 January 2008 at 6:50am