24) Respecting a Culture Does Not Mean Liking or Agreeing With Every Part of It
“In history, truth should be held sacred, at whatever cost…especially against the narrow and futile patriotism, which, instead of pressing forward in pursuit of truth, takes pride in walking backwards to cover the slightest nakedness of our forefathers.” ~Col. Thomas Aspinwall
I am a serious Japanophile. But my love of Japanese culture, history, martial arts, food, anime, manga, literature, architecture, gardens, and music do not blind me to the country’s many modern problems and past atrocities. Appreciating and respecting a culture does not mean liking or supporting every part of it. The same exact thing is true for my home country, the United States. I love the creativity, ingenuity, and strong individuality found in American culture, and am proud of our many contributions to the arts and sciences. But this pride doesn’t mean I must ignore:
- How physically and financially unhealthy the American lifestyle has become
- How much environmental devastation is caused by this lifestyle
- How quickly so many Americans rushed to “give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety”1 in the wake of 9/11
- How easily so many Americans bought the lie that we were invading resource-rich nations to “fight terrorism” and “spread democracy”
- How our media has become part of the military-industrial complex
No, I can’t ignore these, nor should any true patriot.
25) Foreign Languages Open Doors You Didn’t Even Know Were There Return to the List
- Benjamin Franklin [↩]
