The 22nd Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “The society in which you live should help you to develop and to make the most of all the advantages (culture, work, social welfare) which are offered to you and to all the men and women in your country.” In every society, there are sets of values and goals that differentiate it from any other.
This is culture. Culture is important to individuals as a definition of who they are and a way to connect to their communities. People value culture and believe it deserves the respect of others. The United Nations Declaration realizes that and affirms it in the above right.The United States of America is described as the “melting pot,” meaning that US is multicultural. The definition of “multiculturalism,” according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy, is a political thought about ways to respond to cultural and religious diversity. It is saddening that some have defiled multiculturalism by choosing to demean cultures they are uninformed about or that are different from their own. Americans do this in various ways.
Commercials, music videos and other media are filed with instances of stereotypes being used to attract people of a certain cultures. The problem with these stereotypes is that they are based on a notion of what their culture is about and who people are. In a lecture about simplifying people to a “single story,” titled, The Danger of A Single Story, Chimamanda Adichie defines a single story as “ …showing a people as one thing over a period of time, resulting in them becoming that one thing.”
She goes on to define the loss of dignity caused by stereotypes: “A single story leads to stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. Stereotypes lead to prejudices, which rob people of their dignity.”
The more we reduce people to a single story, the more we are demeaning their cultures. The video Kumbaya, by Peace Man (Sir Ivan) illustrates how Americans mock cultures they do not know. In the video, he presents Africans as people who fight aimlessly and need him to bring peace to them (which is why he calls himself “Peace Man”). Sir Ivan did not get to understand why Africans are fighting in Africa. In the video, he does not explain a reason for their fighting, instead he shifts from a fighting scene to his appearance, which suddenly stops their fighting.
He illustrates his ignorant view of bringing peace through lyrics like “Give them peace, my Lord,” implying that the people do not know of or have peace. Aspects of different cultures are assimilated in the American culture.
For example, the dream catcher from Native Americans, beaded jewelry from all over the world, drums and other instruments from Africa and saris and the Indian Buddha statue, amongst many other things that are sold and bought daily. The problem is most people do not know the history behind some of these things. People think things are cool or look interesting and so they buy them for their aesthetic value. People may have knowledge about the religious significance of the Buddha or dream catchers, but this knowledge is incomplete.
When it comes to things such as jewelry, clothing, and instruments, little is known about their significance or the situations where they are used. During the presentation on African drums and chorus by a MUS192 class at UT, there was no mention of the history of the drums and choruses, their origin, or who plays them or during what occasions. I believe that though the presentation was entertaining for the crowd, it held no educational value.
The only message I left with was how rhythmic and fun African drums are. In a casual conversation with a student in the class, I discovered that they had forgotten the historical significance of the drums and choruses that they had been taught. This was disappointing, since the drums have a lot of significance, as many other cultural artifacts from any culture do.
As a person from a different culture, I believe that if Americans truly do want to practice multiculturalism, they should truly learn about the great values cultures have to teach.
Camilla Chebet can be reached at cchebet@spartans.ut.edu.
@Nice
It hurts that people like you hate on other people who try to make a difference in their worlds. This Camilla Chebet might be a bad writter (Not that I think she is) but it isn’t enough to call her out online. If you feel so strongly about this, why not get a time to meet up with her and tutor her on the art of writing? I am an international student and a student writer myself and comments like yours makes the world think of Americans as Ignorant, misinformed people.
If you are going to hate on a writer, make sure you attach a copy of YOUR article so we can all compare.
That said, your comment, “Anyways, ever think that maybe Americans don’t want to learn about other cultures. It could be part of OUR culture. If we want to learn about things, we will. Quit trying to cram it down our throat, saying we are wrong or whatever. BS” just goes along way to show how ignorant you and people who think like you are. No one is trying to force other cultures down your throat, merely tolerance and understanding. Your ignorance of other cultures could put you in trouble. Try serving pork to a Middle-Eastern and tell him after he’s eaten it. That would give you an idea of why you need to learn about other cultures.
Have a great day and remember, Be Nice!
Honestly, who cares? She sux. I was actually making a joke ??, but that’s cool.
RESPONSE TO “Seriously?”
I know Camilla writes for free, good for her. College is meant to be a learning experience to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life correct? In this case i think it’s best to be brutally honest and let this girl know she won’t be a successful writer. Sure, positive support is always nice but I’ve never seen a well written article by this girl so just as she’s free to express her opinions in this column, I’m free to express mine in the comments under the story.
Yea, i know, this post is probably considered “mean”, but just as you argue she’s trying and it’s only a college paper, is this really the level of writing that should be considered “college level”?
High school students write just as good, if not better than this girl.
“The United States of America is described as the ‘melting pot,’ meaning that US is multicultural.”
An outsider’s unique perspective of America can be valuable and is welcome, but applying a false assumption of multiculturalism to society here will only generate incorrect conclusions.
The traditional “melting pot” analogy refers to the principle of assimilation of immigrants to our American culture. It’s main strength is how new beneficial traditions gradually rise and spread while any detrimental customs lose sway. “E pluribus unum” out of many, one.
Camilla, like other writers for the Minaret, is writing for free to express her ideas and get experience. Are the articles she writes likely to win the Pulitzer? Probably not but for crying out loud this is a student paper full of some interesting writing with expected hints of amateurism. Put simply, there are many strengths and weaknesses in Camilla’s writing but how is that so different from other Minaret writers or writers for the SPT or Tampa Trib? Her article about troops was certainly provocative and I’d guess that it generated more discussion than most articles. My problem was not with what she said, which we all are certainly free to agree or disagree with, but how disheartening it is for people to get riled up when their preconceived notions of themselves and their world are questioned. A much more interesting and intelligent response is to accept the criticism, value its strengths and merits, and to see if you can emerge the other side a better person. This doesn’t necessarily mean the article writer is correct, it just means that you should probably not be all too proud to be such a simple brute that you cannot learn from others. This trait makes even anonymous trolls look like dolts and reflects poorly on our university and those who read its paper.
You really think that claim deserves an argument? It’s well known that everyone on campus thinks she’s the worst writer for the minaret and if anything she makes the whole paper look like a joke. If you don’t agree you’re either a family member or a personal friend of hers.
Her military article didn’t get over 100 comments because it was good… she’s a complete joke and nobody takes her columns seriously because they’re so poorly written.
The Minaret has completely fallen apart this year with Camilla’s articles along with the love and sex columns. It’s literally like they’ll put ANYTHING in the paper no matter how weak the content and writing is. It’s a shame. The paper used to win awards.
@yea
Whats really awful about it??? You haven’t really made any valid arguments?
@ Nice.
Oh thats why the rest of the world calls Americans stupid. thanks for clarifying.
yea she is a pretty awful writer
Ahh Ms. Chebet… they still let you write for them? Just goes to show how messed up this “paper” has become.
Anyways, ever think that maybe Americans don’t want to learn about other cultures. It could be part of OUR culture. If we want to learn about things, we will. Quit trying to cram it down our throat, saying we are wrong or whatever. BS