Light Question

Hello all.

The weekly Light questions rarely grab me. This week, however, the "experienced" track question, which seems equally applicable to us Light newbies, struck me.

Q7.The Light Fellowship pre-departure used an often-cited “inter-cultural sensitivity” chart that showed the general trend from “ethnocentric” to “ethnorelative” modes of thinking that tend to occur as a result of study/living abroad. Do you think that you are now somehow more “relative” in your thinking over all? How so? What was it about studying/living abroad that produced this change? If you feel no change, do you still think this experience was useful to you? Why or why not?

First, when considering this question, I need to define that "ethno-" bit. What is an ethnicity? The San Francisco Center for Chinese Culture, in a definition closely matching the others I found, offers four parameters for a distinct ethnic group:

1. Distinct language

2. Indigenous homeland

3. Distinctive customs

4. A strong sense of identity

So, an ethnic group is cultural-linguistic group, and has nothing to do with race or anything else. Our question, then, is basically a cultural one. To put it in personal terms, I am asked whether living in China (for seven weeks at this point) has fostered cultural relativism.

The short answer, simply, is "no". In fact, quite contrary to my rather liberal preconceptions about other cultures, living in China, has, without making broader generalizations, convinced me that modern American culture is actually superior, in terms of "values", to modern Chinese culture.

To give a few examples:

1. Materialism

Americans like to self-deprecate and say "oh, we're so materialistic, Americans just care about money, we're so selfish, bah bah bah bah". Of course, modern American culture /is/ materialistic. I am too materialistic. Most people, to some extent or other, probably are. On the whole, though, I find base materialism significantly more rampant and acceptable here in China than in America. The Chinese really like to talk about /things/. Without leveling any individual criticisms, from my textbook to my teachers to my "Chinese family" to Chinese television news, the Chinese are obsessed with money and goods. Is it name brand? How much money do you make? And so on. This material obsession is reflected in the Chinese political outlook. China's international position and international goals are defined only in terms of economics. China's wealth is a major bragging point.

2. Politeness

Chinese manners, often lauded by the Chinese themselves, are, in general, nothing more than rules. They are meaningless rituals (see below) which, in general, reflect no genuine concern for the needs of others. In America, it's polite for younger men (or women) to offer older folks seats on public transports, and for men to offer women and children seats. This is, of course, because older and younger folks are weaker. In China, on the other hand, you must fight for a seat on a subway. Middle-aged men will be doing battle for seats while the weaker are forced to stand by and watch. Old ladies will fight to be first into elevators, giving you dirty looks for even presuming to ride the same elevator that she ordered by pressing the "up" button. Being sick or sad in public is an embarrassment, so people ignore those who look uncomfortable (so that the other doesn't "lose face") . In America, if someone has a terrible coughing fit, someone says "Bless you!" or "Are you alright?" or "Would like some water?". In China, people ignore that sick person.

Though Chinese selfishness, exemplified in points 1 and 2, is often denied in such ideological code-phrases as "benefiting society" (as a rich man who makes much money must be "benefiting society"--not something I'm necessarily denying, by the way), really these are, under the "Marxism with Chinese characteristics" practiced today, just excuses to continue to seek one's own self-interest.

3. Traditionalism

The Chinese, as a history teacher of mine once observed, are, in many ways, stuck in the past. After century after century of non-progress, despite massive material and human resources, China, today, seems to only be moving forward by the winds of Western and Japanese innovation. Modernity, in China, is simply copying America, Europe, or Japan. On the other hand, old Chinese traditions and ignorant notions persist, and on a massive scale. From fervent belief in Chinese traditional medicine (which no doubt has some valid points, even if it's largely nonsense which encourages the slaying of rare animals) to the fervent belief that Chinese is only one language, China is chock-full of silly old ideas which people cling to without even a pretense of critical examination (don't even get me started on the taboos and superstitions--the number four, green hats, an obsession with pairs). This traditionalism is propagated by a strong sense of national arrogance (I know some people accuse America of the same), an arrogance which totally lacks self-critical thinking (can't accuse America of this). I'm not talking about the criticizing the government or anything, which clearly isn't very possible. Rather, I'm saying that the Chinese are totally unwilling to criticize Chinese history and culture. On the other hand, they're only too happy (as are my fellow students) to constantly criticize and insult America.

Of course, many might argue that, for example, Christianity, still quite strong in America, is also an ignorant notion and old tradition. However, without going in further, I would merely say that, insofar as Chinese beliefs are connected with traditional religious practice, I would omit them from the above criticism. Not that they aren't worthy of criticism (Confucian sexism and elitism? Daoist sexism and elitism?), but that would lead me down another path entirely.

To consider the rest of the Light question, I also found this last bit interesting: "If you feel no change, do you still think this experience was useful to you? Why or why not?"

I think it's interesting that the questions assumes that part of the value of the Light experience is becoming more ethnorelative. I would argue that the value, for me, has been just the opposite. Being in China has actually taught me to value American culture, and, for that, I am grateful.

I would like to say, last of all, that some would no doubt take what I've expressed as an example of a major American cultural flaw ("We need to respect other cultures! Bah bah bah!"). However, I would like to observe that, as I've said, China is also full of pride, and has been more "ethnocentric" tendencies than America insofar as it's a much more distinct and uniform "ethnos". Moreover, as I said, one's America's cultural features is being self-critical, and it's a feature I particularly value. Chinese culture wholly lacks this introspection.