Acceptable Imperialism?
Living in another country does make you aware of how easy it is to fall into culturally imperialistic attitudes. By that I mean the assumption that your norm is better that the new norm you’re encountering. With this can unwittingly come the urge to convert all around to your way of thinking. I could quite easily become a crusader for the supremacy of the three-pin plug! I’ve long held that the UK as the best system of delivering electricity to devices I’ve ever encountered. Or I could campaign against the common practice here of attempting to overtake four cars at once into a blind corner. Such behaviour is not normal in the UK as we generally relieve such drivers of the undue pressure of holding a driving licence.
However, these and similar desires have to be curbed because different is so often just different; not better or worse. The danger is every new experience is greeted with a value judgement rather than being embraced for what it is. While I don’t underestimate the power of learning from different cultures, the world to does not need Anglicising, nor yet Americanising. However, today we were at a graduation event that served up an array of fine American cakes over drinks afterwards. Part of me felt this a little culturally insensitive. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a noble cake tradition of its own. But as my teeth sank around the thick, gooey goodness of a heavy chocolate cupcake I was forced to ponder if this was, in fact, the acceptable face of cultural imperialism!
However, these and similar desires have to be curbed because different is so often just different; not better or worse. The danger is every new experience is greeted with a value judgement rather than being embraced for what it is. While I don’t underestimate the power of learning from different cultures, the world to does not need Anglicising, nor yet Americanising. However, today we were at a graduation event that served up an array of fine American cakes over drinks afterwards. Part of me felt this a little culturally insensitive. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a noble cake tradition of its own. But as my teeth sank around the thick, gooey goodness of a heavy chocolate cupcake I was forced to ponder if this was, in fact, the acceptable face of cultural imperialism!
Comments
Made a really good choc fudge cake this week; have discovered that Cadbury's Bournville gives it all that it needs in terms of flavour and topping.