As a child, I had to experience what it was like live and adapt to different cultures. To me, it didn't seem like too much of a hard task. Although Britain and Korea had different languages and customs, the same concepts of human life applied; do not murder, do not steal, respect one another, etc. In a civilized world, no matter where you go, to the cold regions of Alaska, to sun-shining Spain, these rules apply. Although different regions have different cultures, because they still withhold the rules that the majority of humans follow, they are not considered as a threat.
So, what happens to cultures like the Sawi? They were "headhunters and cannibals who valued treachery through fattening victims with friendship before the slaughter." Their ways of life were everything the civilized world thought was uncivilized. Their laws were everything the world thought as unlawful. In this case, our first instinct would tell us to change these eccentric cultures to a culture we would regard as acceptable. However, in my opinion, these cultures shouldn't be forced to change because they are different from what we consider as ordinary. They have their special way of life, just like every single one of us has special cultures that we have been known to follow since our birth. Just because we are more technologically advanced than them, it does not give us the right to force them to change their culture into what we believe is 'right' in our standards. It is true that some parts of the Sawi culture needs to be changed, for the sake of the tribe's safety, but except for those, I believe that everything else needs to be left alone. They should have the choice of changing their religion, culture, faith, or belief, rather than by oppression from a force they believe to be supernatural. After Don Richardson went to the tribe and explained about Christianity, the tribe had the option of choosing whether to believe or not. Voluntary actions provoke more changes and improvements than an authoritative figure commanding someone to do something.
Sometimes, because we live in a world where civilization is ubiquitous, the thought of uncivilized people in the world immediately equal to our brains as a threat. We think without a doubt that they are uneducated people who will have a happier life if they got out more and explored the world. In our point of view, we see ourselves as reality. But, I think it is time to change that belief. Just because a majority believes something, it doesn't mean that every single minority has to follow. Everyone is entitled to their different beliefs. Cultures like the Sawi don't need to be forced to face the world we live in right now, but they should be given the choice of accepting the new world, or staying in their present condition. That choice is for them to make by themselves, not by anyone else.
So, what happens to cultures like the Sawi? They were "headhunters and cannibals who valued treachery through fattening victims with friendship before the slaughter." Their ways of life were everything the civilized world thought was uncivilized. Their laws were everything the world thought as unlawful. In this case, our first instinct would tell us to change these eccentric cultures to a culture we would regard as acceptable. However, in my opinion, these cultures shouldn't be forced to change because they are different from what we consider as ordinary. They have their special way of life, just like every single one of us has special cultures that we have been known to follow since our birth. Just because we are more technologically advanced than them, it does not give us the right to force them to change their culture into what we believe is 'right' in our standards. It is true that some parts of the Sawi culture needs to be changed, for the sake of the tribe's safety, but except for those, I believe that everything else needs to be left alone. They should have the choice of changing their religion, culture, faith, or belief, rather than by oppression from a force they believe to be supernatural. After Don Richardson went to the tribe and explained about Christianity, the tribe had the option of choosing whether to believe or not. Voluntary actions provoke more changes and improvements than an authoritative figure commanding someone to do something.
Sometimes, because we live in a world where civilization is ubiquitous, the thought of uncivilized people in the world immediately equal to our brains as a threat. We think without a doubt that they are uneducated people who will have a happier life if they got out more and explored the world. In our point of view, we see ourselves as reality. But, I think it is time to change that belief. Just because a majority believes something, it doesn't mean that every single minority has to follow. Everyone is entitled to their different beliefs. Cultures like the Sawi don't need to be forced to face the world we live in right now, but they should be given the choice of accepting the new world, or staying in their present condition. That choice is for them to make by themselves, not by anyone else.
3 comments:
I love your approach to the Sawi. You have related well to this other culture. Your post rings true to our lives and our complicated society, whether that be Sawi or our own. Great Blogging! Mrs.Mc.
I enjoyed reading your post. I strongly agree that forcing a belief on someone is not right because everyone has the freedom to choose for themselves. Although I might value something, it can be different for others. Therefore, respecting the other person's culture and letting them have the choice is the best.
"In our point of view, we see ourselves as reality."
Right before reading your post, I always thought "The Sawi Culture needs help. How come they don't live with computers or telephones? They don't have clothes wrapped around their body and move from places to places throughout their life. They might be suffering." As you said, I was viewing our culture as reality, and thought the Sawi culture was an un-civilized culture, which is completely not-true. Now I agree that we should give them a choice to whether accept a new culture or just stay as a distinct culture. It was a great post and I enjoyed reading it.
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