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Why is cultural heritage so important when it just encourages xenophobia?
I've lived in different countries in different continents from a young age, and I'm very grateful. Growing up, I used to not understand where things like racism or xenophobia came from, because all places felt like home to me. It's not something fixed, like a city or country, it's about being anywhere with people you love. So I'm always eager to learn and experience different cultures, but it hurts that when someone is only used to living with one specific culture, they don't want it to be changed in any way. I used to think xenophobia was only about so-called "white man" countries, but it exists world wide. In Japan, if you don't have Japanese heritage and don't "look" a certain way, you're not welcomed. And there's still animosity between them and the Chinese. In Africa, neighboring ethnic groups clash. In Brazil, lighter skinned people have more opportunities. Etc. It's cool to know what your ancestors did but you don't have to continue what they did, and even if you do, why can't you respect others who choose to live differently?
People say the world has progressed, but I don't think so at all. I think globalization is highlighting how uncomfortable a lot of people are with change. Different ideas, different looks, different technology, etc. I don't know how to relate to that, given my life is all I know, but sometimes it makes me feel like an alien, and I'll get looked down upon if I call someone out for being prejudiced, and maybe even criticized or seen as "less than", because I choose to not be intolerant. How could I treat someone else across the world as if they are not human when I've seen them and they have the same needs as anyone else? Everyone just wants to be loved. I once told a couple friends this and they all disagreed, and implied some people were just inherently evil. I was surprised about one of them, too, cause she had done volunteer work in Africa and seemed really happy about it, so I thought she was above that sort of thing.
And just like there is xenophobia, there are also many people of all continents who are less on the afraid side, and are more open to learning from others with different cultures. I don't see culture in a fixed way at all. If someone has a better way of doing something, what is wrong with adapting to it? Giving up a part of your pride, that your specific culture didn't truly know EVERYTHING? I just see culture as the way you live your life. You don't only have to draw inspiration from your ancestral culture. Ancestral cultures have changed over time, too.
I think the fear that exists in the world is cause of the fear of the unknown. They think just cause someone looks different or has a different culture they're going to hate or cause harm to them, or something? It's really hard for me to grasp. What makes people so fearful? Why the spreading of lies to try and separate themselves from other people as much as possible? Treat people as you'd like to be treated in return. All kindergarten rules are relevant in adulthood.
When I saw the Newton killing it brought tears to my eyes because they were just children, but it also made me angry because there are many many more innocent kids who die all around the world, from preventable things, and nobody gives a sh**. It's just expected. Like their lives are worth less than an American life. And when you bring up civilian, Iraqi kids dying, you're seen as "anti American". But b**** please, I am human first, American second. The whole world is our oyster. with all the destruction we've caused in that area, people losing their families and entire villages to war over oil, you have to give someone A LOT of props to still be clear headed and realize to place the blame on the American government, and not ALL american people. And while we talk about anti-Americanism there, what about all the xenophobia and racism that pretty much defines most of American history? and we're talking about people in Iraq who may not even have the best education or anything, but could be far wiser than someone with many degrees who justified the military action.
And as I say this, I don't hate people who are racist. I just hate the racism itself. People need to expose themselves to their fears, to overcome them. Why would someone voluntarily choose to live in fear? When I was young, it used to really bother me how I felt I never fit in anywhere, and how I never truly 100% felt like I connected to any specific "cultural group", but now I think it's a great strength and despite the loneliness I often felt that drove me to look up a lot of international affairs online, once my family settled in an area in America. Even if someone looks at me and doesn't identify with me I'll still try to identify with them and maybe I just have to do a better job at showing it? I'm not "trying" to do anything, I just want to do what makes me happy, and make other people happier too
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Well, I can certainly relate to your situation and to your opinion.
I grew up in three different countries: Denmark, Romania, and USA. I also went to international schools/programmes from kindergarten to university. So, much like you, being around people from every corner of the world was the norm.
I remember when I first heard the term "racism". I think I was about 9 years old and someone had to explain it to me at length. I recall how it simply made no sense at all.
The one thing I have realised about humanity is how much we are programmed to create groups. Whether its a tribe, a nation, a race, a religion, gender, social class, or even a damn football club, there is nothing more natural for humans than to split themselves up into an "us" and a "them". With no effort at all we can hate "them" and demand preferential treatment for "us".
People do not even realise that nationalism/patriotism is a pretty recent thing, at least in the west. Just a few hundred years ago most people did not give a rat's ass about their nation. But, if it wasn't that, then they would kill each other in the name of some other group.
I do think there has been improvement however. Consider how things were less than 100 years ago; I mean, it was a different world. In the early 20th century in Denmark (where I now live) you had Africans, Chinese, Indians, etc living in enclosures at the zoo. Can you even imagine it? A hundred years before that slavery was rampant all over the world.
So while I certainly concur that things are bad, the reality is they were once a lot worse. The advantage with globalisation is that it brings people into contact with other cultures. Its not the same as actually living in different areas, but its a step in the right direction.
Its like tiny little baby steps eating away at that fear of the unknown you spoke about, but because things are progressing slowly it seems like little is happening. However, I can certainly say that I have seen improvements in my lifetime. I have no doubt about that.
Anyway, I mostly agree with what you wrote. I am not a fan of the whole "cultural heritage" thing, nor am I a fan of virtually any other way that people divide themselves up into groups. I also have never fit into any specific group, nor would I want to.
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