“Cross Culture”
December 29, 2011
“It’s not color. It’s culture. That makes folks mad because you can’t be held to blame for your color — but you can for your culture.”
Initially, it seems to be the kind of statement that makes a whole lot of sense. But I ask you to look a little deeper. The person who issued this statement wants you to believe that you are accountable…for your culture. Before I accept this notion, I’d want to know the definition of “culture” to which this person is referring. I’m also keeping in mind that previously, this person claimed that I, and others like me, come from a “culture of violence”. This person never provided a definition of “culture” for that expression either.
I can be a little understanding at his reticence to provide a definition, because on one hand, his listening audience will latch on to these notions and run wildly down the middle of the highway with them because they voraciously seek validation for their feelings, and validation comes so easily when it is expressed in a terse but catchy phrase that seems to make sense (but actually does not). On the other hand, 59 years ago, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn came up with a list of 164 definitions for “culture” in their book Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.
Because the person to whom this catchy quote may be attributed seems to have wanted to simplify an exceedingly complex concept, I will adhere to the three simplest and most commonly used senses of the term “culture”, to see if this statement actually holds water:
I can be a little understanding at his reticence to provide a definition, because on one hand, his listening audience will latch on to these notions and run wildly down the middle of the highway with them because they voraciously seek validation for their feelings, and validation comes so easily when it is expressed in a terse but catchy phrase that seems to make sense (but actually does not). On the other hand, 59 years ago, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn came up with a list of 164 definitions for “culture” in their book Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.
Because the person to whom this catchy quote may be attributed seems to have wanted to simplify an exceedingly complex concept, I will adhere to the three simplest and most commonly used senses of the term “culture”, to see if this statement actually holds water:
- Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities
- An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
- The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization, or group
I would suppose that a person could be “held to blame” for not having excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, but if I consider that the main reason for not developing such taste lies in not being exposed to “high culture”, could you really possibly blame the individual for their own lack of opportunity? Possessing “an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning” could well be held against an individual, but once closer scrutiny is given to the definition, could you, with any honesty, blame an individual for the collective integration of human knowledge, belief, and behavior of a people based on his or her capacity for symbolic thought and social learning? On the very face of it such supposition is ludicrous. The last definition may be the one the person to whom this quote may be attributed was suggesting: the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization, or group. The problem, however is in attempting to stigmatize a group as a culture when you are basing the culture on color. Especially when you are attempting to isolate one particular aspect of the culture and apply it as an aspect of the color. Are you seriously attempting to blame people who don’t participate in any criminal or violent behavior as not only being criminal and/or being violent, but also as being responsible for those who are? Or do we really need to banter the erroneous belief that because a person is certain color, then they must also be criminal and/or violent? If that is the case, would it then be appropriate to hold all those of a particular color and culture as being responsible for the violence perpetrated by a few to advance a the shared attitude, values, goals and practices of bigotry, hatred, intolerance? Certainly not. The source of this inane quote is merely trying to assuage his own bigotry which he constantly denies. Those who quickly accept the flawed logic of this statement may well be doing the same. Though this person is very smart, and very crafty with his wording and the way he uses his words to exert influence…be mindful that “the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made” (Genesis 3:1). Now, I’m not saying this person is the devil. But as a believer, I must be aware how the devil will manipulate situations, words, and yes, even people to move me into an area of sin. I cannot allow another person’s hatred to move me into a position of hating.
I need to be aware of what God says about hating others. “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:11 KJV) While this person has, in the past, acknowledged a belief in “a higher power”, he has openly voiced disdain for Christians and Christian organizations (including churches). Yet, among his many adherents are many Christians. I fail to understand why people who follow God would allow themselves to be led by the godless, especially into an area that is the opposite of where God is trying to lead you. Racism, bigotry, and prejudice are all areas that we should consciously avoid. Don’t step into the craftiness of the wording. I must be constantly, consistently mindful that the more wise I think I become by accepting statements such as the one at the top of this message, the more I may well be venturing into folly. 1 Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
I need to be aware of what God says about hating others. “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:11 KJV) While this person has, in the past, acknowledged a belief in “a higher power”, he has openly voiced disdain for Christians and Christian organizations (including churches). Yet, among his many adherents are many Christians. I fail to understand why people who follow God would allow themselves to be led by the godless, especially into an area that is the opposite of where God is trying to lead you. Racism, bigotry, and prejudice are all areas that we should consciously avoid. Don’t step into the craftiness of the wording. I must be constantly, consistently mindful that the more wise I think I become by accepting statements such as the one at the top of this message, the more I may well be venturing into folly. 1 Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”
©2011 Ronald B. Cason, all rights reserved
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