Ethnocentrism

Wiki #4 Post, ETHN330
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[@parnpichate]

There are two sides to every debate and this no different. While the negative impact of ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor in conflict between nations, I would argue that the positive impacts are very important and especially relevant in 2017. While ethnocentrism can cause strife between nations, it is a strong unifying force within the inhabitants of a nation.
America, for example, is the bastion of Western culture and often looked at as the greatest nation in existence today. This is due to our values and culture which have created a template for success like no other; values such as freedom, and capitalism to name just two. People all over the world want to come here because they believe they will lead a better life. They believe that their nation and culture are oppressive or restrictive. The Left would have you believe that all cultures are equal but this is just not the case. If the proverbial grass was not greener in America, then nobody would want to come here.
In any competition, there is a first, second, third place and so on. This metaphor applies to ways of life (culture). Some are more efficient, more compassionate, more accommodating, and ultimately lead to a more inclusive and fulfilling life for a greater percentage of people. This is the reason people fight and die for their country. They believe that their way of life is worth preserving and so do I.
The main thing to remember is that we must treat others with decency and be open to new ideas. It is perfectly acceptable to believe one's culture is better, but we must respect other peoples' rights and cultures so long as they do not infringe upon us.
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REPLY

[@jonahropes9836]

The problem when a group believes that they are better they often believe that they need to show others the 'correct' way of life.. President Truman's speech... colonialism... Spanish conquest just to name a few. We should respect other people's cultures and see it from an emic point of view. We are familiar with the way of life we are born into however it does not mean our way of life is better... simply different. People flee countries for a better life due to what they are taught.. "the US" etc can offer that... but 'third world' countries are in economic turmoil etc due to exploitation of the core countries... People's cultural differences should not be a competition. Ethnocentrism to me is superiority/inferiority as oppose to general acceptance. It is one thing to express that you can't imagine living like that due to the fact that its something different to what you have grown accustomed to as oppose to saying these people so barbaric how can they live like that??

[@parnpichate]

Jonah, the competition analogy was just conveying my point that all cultures are not equal. I agree that there have been some injustices that have occurred in the name of showing others the 'correct' way of life. However, there is a healthy level of ethnocentrism that a people can and should maintain. It ensures the security and future existence of the culture. It ensures that people value the sovereignty of their nation / land. It recognizes that there is such a thing as an enemy. Look at what is happening right now in France, Sweden, and Germany. The current mass immigration policies are an illustration of what happens when a nation does not recognize the value of its own culture and the importance of its preservation. As a result of letting people in that have no love of western culture and no desire to assimilate, crime rates have risen and the indigenous people are finding themselves more and more displaced and disconnected. By accepting the leftist ideology of cultural / ethnorelativism (all cultures are equal), we are denying the concept that civilization has progressed. We are shunning the advancements, achievements and general improvement in the quality of life for the people of western civilization. Finally, we are accepting that these 'barbaric' cultures that allow the stoning of women for infidelity, and the killing of homosexuals, for example, are on par with western culture. If you believe that these cultures deserve equal respect and should be welcomed in to our nations with open arms in the sake of forced diversity, then I disagree wholeheartedly.