One of the mantras of the "diversity" movement in America and the West is that all cultures are equal. The basic idea is that each culture is an adaptation to a particular environment. Therefore no culture is inherently preferable to another. The political significance of this is that all cultures are equally deserving of respect. The goal of education becomes one of inculcating in young people a respect for all the cultures of the world. By learning that our own culture is not superior, we also become less racist and bigoted toward other cultures.
This doctrine of cultural equality--or more precisely cultural relativism--sounds good when we are considering the quaint folkways of other cultures.
Undergraduates at Yale write papers noting "Who is to say that the Western practice of inventing new technologies is superior to the kangaroo-tracking techniques of the Australian aborigines?" Meanwhile the best students at Stanford can be heard opining that "Shakespeare may have had a rich and supple vocabulary, but let's remember that Eskimos have twenty seven words for 'snow.'"
Then comes a report like the one in Canada about the Muslim father who killed his sixteen-year-old daughter because she didn't want to wear a headscarf. Now it should be noted that the Koran does not mandate that Muslims wear the veil or hijab. These head coverings, however, have come to symbolize modesty in the Islamic world. And Muslim immigrants often bring with them their cultural expectations when they come to America.
Apparently the daughter, Aqsa Parvez, could not convince her parents that her head should be uncovered. She would wear Muslim dress out of the house and then change when she was out of her parents' sight. Perhaps this deception was discovered. Apparently the father Muhammad Parvez was enraged. According to police, he beat the girl so badly that she succumbed to injuries and died. Now the father is charged with murder and the older brother is charged with obstructing police.
I'm waiting to hear from the liberal champions of diversity on this one. Will they say, "Sure, we may not approve of beating one's daughter to death over a headscarf but let's remember that in other cultures they see it very differently. Why should we impose our parochial Western morality on others?" In Canada there may be judges crazy enough to let the murderer walk free. In the United States, I suspect we won't hear too much of this. The reason is that the American brand of cultural relativism is basically a fraud. It's a device to undermine and attack Western institutions and practices. Yet cultural relativism is quietly abandoned when it produces results that liberals don't like.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 26)
76. I think Sarah needs Xanax.
She is over the top.
These forums are for anyone who wants to post.
If you don't like it, don't read.
M2D5: BCE and CE are commonly used in archeology and ancient history. Not politically correct at all. Do research.
Linda at 1:35PM on Dec 12th 2007
77. Now, wait just a moment here, last week we had certain people on here telling us that the Muslim religion was one of the greatest things that had come down the pike for a long time. Now within two weeks we have had a girl raped and beaten because she told she was raped and then we had a teacher, who was jailed and had not the English goverment done something was going to beat her, now this wonderful father killed his daughter all in the name of Allah!!!!! Kind of makes me wonder exactly why you people who are born Americans can't or won't see the devil at work. They started something real good but, since we live in a fallen world they went one to commit all unjustice as usual. When someone commits murder they should be put to death, look it up it's in the old testament. In the ten commandements it says thou shalt not kill (murder)but, at the same time GOD instructed how to carry out the punishment for the crime. There are Muslems who are trying to get out of oppression and yet here you are an American can't figure out which GOD to serve, sounds rather pathetic to me. Rita
Rita at 1:38PM on Dec 12th 2007
78. Josh; since we're not Iranian, it's really not a concern of mine that Christianity is illegial there. Although I think your information is incorrect. It's legal to be a Christian, but you can't convert to Christianity (or anything else) from Islam.
But that is neither here nor there.
Although I consider myself a human being 1st, and an American 2nd, I can only effect the culture of America (and in a very limited way at that).
It's my opinion, that Christianity is responsible for most of the problems in America, so that is what I focus on, rather than Islam.
I do agree that Iran is probably a terrible place. It's just that my energies are better spent worrying about my home rather than Iran.
Ryan Anderson at 1:39PM on Dec 12th 2007
79. TG...so it sounds cultural and DD is arguing that many Western libs will not come out in support of this man's cultural belief ....b/c we don't agree w/killing here.
swimming above the fray at 1:39PM on Dec 12th 2007
80. For even more cultural lunacy, how about the cartoon that Mitt Romney doesn't want you to see?
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/70372/
brandon at 1:41PM on Dec 12th 2007
81. "47. I would like to take this opportunity to plant seeds: The first supernatural being you see descending in the clouds claiming to be Christ will be Satan pretending to be Jesus."
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I think someone has been watching too many episodes of 'Heroes'
:-o
Linda at 1:42PM on Dec 12th 2007
82. 'eye heart g-d'
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Who is that? Is that you, mokele?
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Hey! I just had a thought!
Maybe brian little b is a plant to make us think that christians are silly people!
Linda at 1:47PM on Dec 12th 2007
83. ATHEIST
Last weekend, Dinesh staged a phony debate at Cal Tech with Michael Shermer, using the topic "Is Religion a Force for good or evil?"
Then, he reads the AOL News front page about a religious person (Muslim?) killing his own daughter.
So, using his standard operating rules, Dinesh creates a STRAW MAN.
He invents a PHONY statement by liberals, so he can shoot it down.
Have you been READING our comments, Dinesh?
Christianity has dumbed down America. We could be so much better without Pentecostals talking about the "end times" and "prophecy" and the kingdom of Christ. Because such ideas are nonsense.
The Atheist subculture in America is FAR SUPERIOR to Catholic nonsense, even though the Catholics own churches and schools and should be a force for good in our society.
OUR point.... is the religion, as a whole, is TOXIC.
Case in point: a man beats his own daughter to death because she won't follow the rules of HIS religion.
Dinesh seems to think that everyone here is so dim, we'll agree with him.
Dinesh, as usual, you don't know what you're talking about.
Religion is bad. Christianity has reached a point where it is toxic to the intelligence of its victims.
William Hays at 1:48PM on Dec 12th 2007
84. QUOTE from above " The more it [a culture]invests in social well being, such as the Scandinavians and Japanese, then the more superior I regard it. "
I too love aspects of my relations' Scandinavian culture.
But they are DYING OFF due to not even having enough kids to replace themselves. What sad views of life -
so MANY young people NOT choosing to enrich their own species! A dying culture unless the trend reverses!
And note - After WWII and the 1938 invasion by the Nazis, all norwegian males are now required to serve one year in the MILITARY.
DNA - a great design at 1:51PM on Dec 12th 2007
85. Ryan,
In your opinion you believe that Christianity is responsible for our problems in America. Where do you get your news? Do you have any idea of what you are saying, so here we go with the atheist thing again, you haven't the slighest idea what you are talking about less lone how to say it! Do you know how many men and women are going behind the govenment to become Christian and get away from Islam. Here you people can say anything you want and it is usually bad or stupid or just plain selfish because you haven't even tried to find GOD or anything else in your lives. You don't know what these people are going through and yet you and your feel good generation is going to be running this country one day. I only hope you get a cue as to what is happening in these countries before you spew out of your mouth these things not your problem you just go about with your head in your rear and not really know what's going on in this world due to the fact that you don't have any feeling for anyone else except for yourselves and I'm tired of this mamby-pamby act of yours. Get all clue. If your under thirty years old on this site you better find out what is really going on because if you don't, one day real soon you might have to end up eating every one of your words. Rita
Rita at 2:05PM on Dec 12th 2007
86. ATHEIST
Reply to: diversity forces us to learn understanding and tolerance.
__________
However, the Atheist community on this blog has no interest in "understanding and tolerance."
Like Matthew Murray, we're fed up with the nonsense of Christianity.
We understand all we need to know about Christianity.
Christians plead, "You can't appreciate our religion until you understand it better."
NONSENSE.
Matthew Murray lived in a nightmare, where not only his parents, but everyone he came in contact with on a daily basis, told him to be a better Christian.
Christianity is nonsense. We GET it.
Jesus is your Imaginary Friend. Life is so much better when you have an Imaginary Friend who loves you no matter what, and will cure cancer, and listens to everything you have to say.
I used to have an Imaginary Friend just like that. (OK, I made that last part up.)
By the time you're twelve, you should know the difference between Reality and an Imaginary Friend.
I'm not tolerant of the nonsense in America, and I'm certainly not saying that other cultures should be respected.
No respect for Christians. That's the only practical solution. don't give them permission to dum down their kids and our society.
William Hays at 1:56PM on Dec 12th 2007
87. RITA! I've been worried about you! Especially with those awful ice storms in Oklahoma!
Hope you and yours are well, and your electricity is on. Oh, I guess it is because you were able to post!
Good to hear from you.
Linda at 1:57PM on Dec 12th 2007
88. blah blah blah
Take THAT as gospel!
random name made up to make dd a dupe at 2:08PM on Dec 12th 2007
89. Ideas matter.
Cultural prohibitions matter.
AND PERSONS MARKETING DAMAGING IDEAS (whether OLD or NEW) THRU A CULTURE ---DAMAGE OTHER PERSONS -sometimes for generations.
Dr. Timothy Leary - was kicked out of Harvard inthe early 1960's...
"***...for encouraging students to experiment with the hallucinogen LSD . He became an outspoken advocate of hallucinogenic drug use; his exhortation
"turn on, tune in, drop out" became a catchword of the 1960s. "
I was a kid and teen in the 1960's US. MOST of the 1960's ideas preached to college students (except for most civil rights and womens equality ideas) were FOOLISH. Think how MANY kids ran away---how MANY kids DIED on drug use---because of that silly stupid "Tune In Turn On Drop Out" phrase that was bantered about the 60's American culture?
Cultures MATTER. And their good (or FOOLISH) ideas matter.
I am surprised more do NOT see the CRITICAL importance of this!!!
(Maybe the guy at TODAY'S local mission soup kitchen "tuned out" in the 60's and NEVER recovered.
And now some from a faith based subculture will feed and clothe this sad disciple of the O Leary school of Dumb IDEAS!)
***http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Leary-Ti.html
DNA - a great design at 2:13PM on Dec 12th 2007
90. hey Rita, are you and your god threatening other people?? Sounds like a threat to me, which is a modern miracle (miracle? ie: god's work) that I could comprehend it, because your grammar and typing is that of a 6th grader.
random name made up to make dd a dupe at 2:14PM on Dec 12th 2007