Comments on: Are some cultural practices ‘wrong’?

By: Monica Wotton

Monica Wotton — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:56:16 +0000

Very good suggestions, I’m going to bookmark this and come back to it. I’m curious if you have any follow ups to this post?

By: Hong Maslanka

Hong Maslanka — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:54:42 +0000

Many of them were the guru’s of the time. They in-particular were not desperate, but greedy.

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:06:47 +0000

I would actually find this an easy philosophical question to answer. Does the practice violate an individuals right to pursue their own happiness or life without any restrictions save that they cannot trample that same right for others? If that is violated then the practice is morally wrong.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:07:37 +0000

I am always wary of proclaiming a cultural practice “wrong.” I prefer to examine how the local citizens themselves view the practice. For example, I think most African nations have condemned female circumcision. I think we can say that such a practice IS wrong. However, a practice such a punishing adulterers is another matter. Religious beliefs come into play and the citizenry of fundamentalist countries might not be condemning the practice, it being a tenet of their religion. I am very careful about judging religious beliefs. As a Roman Catholic, my veneration of the Virgin Mary and of the saints is considered idolatry and a sin by some.

By: Eva

Eva — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:20:58 +0000

I find one way to make things easier in this debate is to look at our own “cultural practices” – slavery is the obvious one to pick on. Not something people ordinarily think of as a “cultural practice” I guess, but in the broader sense of the definition that’s what it was.

So yes, it’s certainly possible for cultural practices to be deeply, abhorrently wrong. The tricky part is figuring out how to change them from the outside (when they’re not our own) – or whether we even can…

By: brian

brian — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:46:51 +0000

Wow, hot button topic. Are some cultural practices “wrong?” Sure, but try to do something about it. You may wish to confront your hosts, etc., but if it is truly an ingrained practice or belief, you won’t do more than insult people and possibly put yourself at risk. A far more effective solution is to exercise the power of the purse and let it be know what you observed. The Internet makes this both much easier and more effective than was even conceivable 15 years ago. When tourist dollars dwindle, or the mainstream press sniffs a story, there exists a much better chance that a particular practice will stop. Changing attitudes is much trickier, and the negative pressure from an outside campaign may even make a problem worse as people and cultures circle the wagons. Also remember the sword cuts both ways. Americans behave in ways that make other cultures cringe, and this response could be from teenagers cavorting with little clothing on MTV to shooting deer during hunting season. Speaking of which, I have venison to marinate for Thanksgiving… Happy Thanksgiving all!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:35:05 +0000

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan

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