Multiculturalism
POSTED BY: Wishimay
UPDATED: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 16:19
VIEWED: 7977
PAGE 2 of 7
Just cause I'm sitting waiting in a doctor's office, I'll butt in.
Wish I May,
Don't do the negative. You might think of it as fair and balanced, but kids won't, and the bullies will pick up on the negative and use it to tease other kids or spread childish propaganda. Hey, it's what politicians do.
Also, don't avoid the cultures more distinctive sides, just find something positive. Collect a list of like "ten things you like about being a muslim" or whatever from the muslim kids, and you'll find some distinctly positive things. It's probably also good if you can get some good kids as a test audience from another perspective, like some jewish kids says "hey, that's pretty nifty, I didn't know muslims did that." or something, then you probably have a good one. I can't think of any, because most of their best habits, we've copied over the centuries, and the kids are likely to think of them as western, you know, stuff like forks and towels, just good ideas. Our ancestors? They didn't bathe and they ate with their hands. Still, I suppose throwing some of that stuff in there, like "the origin of this comes from... Does anyone know?" and have stuff from all over the world that we use all the time.
Failing any of that, I support the food idea, it almost doesn't fail, but it can. You should go to the restaurant and try it, and think as a kid. Is this like a candy bar meets cream puff? Or is it just broiled octopus?
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I probably should add that 99.99% are white and regular Christian. They don't even ever discuss other religions here, and other cultures only in a generalized sense. I'd also say 99.9 have never been to another country.
I hadn't planned on harping on negativity. That doesn't usually go over so well with the kids or parents. I just want to remind people that there is a whole other planet out there. Maybe I just need to move. It would probably be easier. But considering we're lucky enough to have a job-when a good part of the country doesn't...maybe I'll just bang my head against a wall until I go blind. I've been watching Daria on dvd lately......sighing helps a little.
I'll check into the food thing. And maybe an "Intersting things about Countries around the world" poster ...And maybe get a pinata. Little buggers like ta hit things, right? I could get one of a Muslim, one of a mexican, one of a black and one Jew(for PNews). But then how would anything have changed.........
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Falafel is delicious and Arabic (though not all Muslims are Arabic, true, just an idea).
Also algebra. Though the kids might be less enthused about that.
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If it were me, I would pick things that are totally different from what kids here experience. It wouldn't be hard, things like how people in different countries live.
Off the top of my head: Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures. So if you try to get too close to an American during your conversation, he or she will feel that you are "in their face" and will try to back away. It's different in Japan.
It is considered rude to say 'no' out-right in China. Often, a native Hong Kong resident will walk away from a conversation after saying something like 'I'll think about it' with the impression that they've refused while the American will think that the person will, indeed 'think about it'.
In Canada, since a lot of people speak French and 20% of the population of Canada is French-Canadian, on most things not only English is written but so is French--you could show a sign or something from Canada in French and English.
In France, When you are eating at the table, both of your hands must be on the table. if you have bread, the bread goes on the table, not on your plate. If you are a little bit thirsty, and you're very hot, you will have to ask for a lot of ice. In France, in the soda, you will have one ice cube, two if it's hot.
My husband ordered vodka over ice in Italy--the guy kept staring at him and asking if that's what he wanted. What he got was vodka over ICE CREAM, because "ice cream" is called "ice" there.
Driving in India is very different from driving in America. Indians seem to snub almost all road laws including red lights and helmets, so it can get very crazy. In the U.S. you can for the most part get in a cab and say where you’re going and get there. In India you almost always have to know where you are going and that also almost always involves landmarks as few streets are properly labeled. Something like: “Go past Apollo hospital and when you get to the fork with the temple, stay to the right. Go about 1km and make a right at the VSIP sign.” Navigating involves all parties in the vehicle and can become quite a bonding experience with the driver. Cows are sacred in India, so go wherever they want, even on the road. You must never harm a cow.
In Afghanistan, Women and men will never shake hands let alone speak directly to one another. Eye contact should also be avoided between men and women. Between men eye contact is acceptable as long as it is not prolonged - it is best to only occasionally look someone in the eyes. If a man speaks to a woman directly in a social context, he is dishonouring her. If someone speaks to a woman on the street, that is equally inappropriate. Women should avoid looking men in the eyes, and keep their eyes lowered when they walk down the street to maintain their reputation as a proper woman.
Things like in Afghanistan they eat sitting on the floor, usually on cushions, and you should sit cross legged if you can, or however is comfortable, but never with legs outstretched and your feet facing people. Food is generally served communally and everyone will share from the same dish. Food is usually scooped up into a ball at the tip of the fingers, then eaten. Everything is done with the right hand; eating, passing food, receiving food (you don't need to tell them that's because the left hand is used to go to the bathroom!), and if you don't leave a bit of food on your plate, it will keep being refilled.
You could have pictures representing these differences, kids love photos and they make more of an impact than words. Like a photo of driving in India, for example:
Cows have the right of way
Four on a motorcycle
Buses in Afghanistan are painted vividly:
http://i.pbase.com/u7/qleap/upload/1100913.A00207R.jp
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Stick with food, and maybe clothing - one thing I miss about Detroit is how our insane levels of rabid nationalism and paranoia have discouraged folk from wearing anything that might be percieved as foreign, bleh...
But food, and the sharing of it, is one of THE most basic of human interactions, involving both a conscious and subconscious level of trust and willingness to accept folk as something besides "other", to acknowledge them as people, and that's a good place to start.
Me and my buddy Rev managed to actually open real negotiations with the Albanians over in Kosovo with chocolate chip cookies, which led to some very real progress in locating and removing degraded and dangerous caches of arms and the like - they might not have trusted the smooth talking negotiators, but the guy who tried to learn their language and speak to them in it, who shared his cookies, they trusted HIM, you see.
Start with food, trust me - and natural curiosity will engage and continue the process far beyond even your expectations, trust me on this.
-Frem
I do not serve the Blind God.
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But Frem, food doesn't help children learn about different CULTURES. It's an easy one, of course, but think how much he could make them think, widen their horizons, by explaining/showing some really dramatic differences between cultures (especially SHOWING). It changes your whole world when you live in a dramatically different culture from America, and we're so DAMNED insular, any child could benefit from realizing just HOW different countries are. I know I'm a pest about this, but I think the idea is fantastic and it always amazes me how little American's understand about the rest of the world.
Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of Veritas Oilspillus, code name “Nike”,
signing off 
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Thank you for the info Niki! I'll probably work on this for a while, so if you remember anything else interesting, please post it....
Or I could just bring YOU in for show and tell, heh.
BTW, what DO they call ice? And what was the worst thing you've ever eaten?
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Multiculturalism... heh.
Ok.
1. Fried chicken (and watermelon)
2. Ludafisk.
3. Sushi.
4. Bagels (or matza balls)
5. Pho
6. Hamburgers.
7. Kabob
8. Rice and beans
Really, should I go on? The food we have here, in America, is an example of the many cultures that have come here.
Maybe, instead of "celebrating "multiculturalism" you should figure out a way where all the different cultures can coalesce into one AMERICAN culture.
AND, maybe celebrating so called "multiculturalism" is the dumbest thing ever.
Yeah, we are a melting pot, but stop separating the ingredients.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
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Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,
I wonder if the U.S. would make a top ten country list (by what criteria) and if so, what negative things would you be allowed to say about the U.S. without getting into hot water?
--Anthony
Anyone can say anything they want about the US here, with out fear of reprisal from the federal govt. Doesn't mean there won't be repercussions, though.
Just ask the Dixie Twits..err.. Chicks.
" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "
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"Yeah, we are a melting pot, but stop separating the ingredients."
Hello,
Does this mean you are abandoning your previous position, Sir, and will soon be asking for advice about AMERICAN Flash Mobs?
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
“If you are not free to choose wrongly and irresponsibly, you are not free at all”
Jacob Hornberger
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right.”
Mahatma Gandhi
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