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The above title may not send me to the forefront of search engines. I am neither a sociologist nor anthropologist. I’ll never understand how geologists and forensic paleontologists may tell one rock or bone from another. I did, however, consultation the late anthropologist, Dr. Margaret Mead when she was in Washington, D.C. for a World Health Organization conference. It was the spotlight of my Washington experience when we met at her hotel. In her late seventies, the legendary Mead had gone through three marriages like a hot knife through butter. The feisty anthropologist could charm you one minute, and seconds later splatter you with potty mouth language. I didn’t care. She was mine for two hours. Once I got over my firstborn jitters we settled into a somewhat congenial speech regarding the reasons for her attendance at the conference: the status of women in Third World countries. By living with them, Mead had expended a lifetime studying child rearing and the role of women in primitive societies. Her firstborn three books were Bestsellers: “Coming of Age in Samoa,” “Growing Up in New Guinea,” and “Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies.” At age nine, I’d came across the latter among my older brother’s books. Assuming I’d stumbled onto some torrid stuff to portion with my pals, you may imagine our disappointment when reading Dr. Mead’s textbook determinations that young Samoan girls tended to have casual sex with men until the time they married. Considered shocking when she wrote it in the 1930s, it was no more scandalous than her own personal life. Christian missionaries have since transformed most primitive peoples, at least on the surface. I say on the surface because we in the West tend to see things through our own lenses. Always the teacher, Dr. Mead told me, “No doctorate degree is going to instruct you regarding any society or it is persons until you live, eat and sleep with them.” Those who knew her would tell you she did all three. We have only to look at examples of other cultures to know that Mead was right. When I lived in Nairobi, Kenya near the edge of a deep forest, I went to sleep at night to the sound of distant drums. Teenage circumcision of girls and boys was versus the law. But every one knew what the drums meant. Although their Harvard educated diplomats will deny it, these ceremonial rites persist today in a good deal of African cultures. In 17th century Japan, a Samurai lived by a rigorous code of honor and commitment to his lord. Honor (and acquiring wealth) was what he lived and passed away for. As progressed as we understand Japan today, saving face, honor and dedication stay fixed in the Japanese character. Saving face is necessary in Eastern cultures. An Oriental will tell a Westerner what he thinks the Westerner wants to hear. He believes it is better to placate the stranger than to offend by displeasing him. A follower of Islam will do likewise. Anyone who has expended time in these countries knows this to be true. A follower of Islam comes from a tribal desert culture of antiquity. He will not dishonor his family or his tribe. Lebanese President Emile LaHud and his Prime Minister, Najib MIKATI, belong to an honor culture that adheres to saving face. The proof is clear in the United States. Ever wonder why the American Islamic community is not more vocal regarding the “evil doers?” It’s not because they condone wanton murder. It is the occupation of Western diplomats to perceive and work with diplomats of cultures alien to them-to see through a dissimilar lens. How else may seemingly totally unlikely solutions be received in an equitable manner? Equitable meaning, “you do this for me, I’ll do that for you, not to you.” Ever buy a carpet in a Middle East bazaar? If you plunk down your cash without haggling, they think you are a initial class moron. First you sit and drink a heap of mint tea; talk in regards to your kids and the price of oranges. Incidentally, in order to settle an insult, the Samurai did their own tea thing before a major battle. On the other hand, militant proxies like Hezbollah have no country and no rich culture. Under the guise of protectors of the innocent, they happily fall on their swords to take humanity back to the heady days of the Taliban. Hezbollah, Al Quaeda, Hamas and the rest of the alphabet soup are a disgrace to their ancestors and all followers of true Islam. Whether poverty or hopelessness, whatsoever evil thing gives birth to terrorists is for another Margaret Mead to ponder. The Europeans are good at giving counsel when it serves their own interests, i.e. the French. But they’re reluctant to stick out their necks when the chips are down on the Lebanon/Israei border. The United Nations is a peacetime support organization. The U.S. Administration is clueless. It’s difficult but not inconceivable to see through an individual else’s glasses. As the leader of the free world keeps telling us, “It’s hard work.” “Simplicity-Courage-Humor-Soul”® Most helpful customer reviews 14 of 17 people found the following review helpful. 6 of 9 people found the following review helpful. 10 of 28 people found the following review helpful. |
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