I enjoyed reading the essay going to Japan. It really showed cultural differences and how Americans have a different state of mind that the Japanese. It make me realize we are more aggressive people and instead of embracing forgiveness, instead we push for confrontation. The things she did in Japan are everyday practices for us. The essay made me think of everyday things that i experience and how....mean we are! Driving, walking down the street, or basically being in a crowded place often leads to aggressive situations in America.
A major point that stuck out to me in the essay was the stress on respect. We as Americans need to learn how to respect differnces among people and to accept things we do not understand instead of rejecting them and automatically labeling them as wrong. When looking at the essay, not only was I reading, but comparing as well. A few lines stuck out to me." Sensitive topics i may not understand." In America, there are So many different people, cultures, races, ethnicities, rituals, habits, languages, lifestyles, and other expressions that people do not even attempt to understand. Instead, we reject the unfamiliar. We are harsh people who do not have compassion and respect for others. I agree with having American pride, but we should still understand that others are not inferior, just different. Its sad when we take a step back and realize how harsh we can be.
Another line that stuck out was "understanding imperfection". The only thing i have to day about this is that no one is perfect. Thats probably the only way that all cultures are the same.
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2 comments:
what you said is so true. I think that as Americans we tend to think of our country and customs as being so much better than everyone else. Weve got to remember that our way is not the correct way for everyone and that just because something is different doesnt mean it is beneath us.
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