Question: What is the value of making cross-cultural comparisons? (Miller,
Pg#11: 1999) Cultural anthropology encompasses all aspects of human beliefs,
behaviors and ideas. What would the world be like without any knowledge of other
cultures? Anthropologists study different cultures to be more understanding and
accepting, more appreciative and to enrich our own culture.
What is the real problem with the Ku Klux Klan? Perhaps, if they took the
time to understand the African-American and Jewish cultures, for example, they
would be more accepting of the diversity. Hundreds of years of cultural
imperialism has evolved into a legion of hate. Emic studies put the researcher
in the middle of the culture, free to interact and discover a new life style.
After a few months or even a year in a different culture, one has a better
understanding of the lifestyle, and understanding leads to acceptance. Once
people, especially powerful political leaders, learn cultural relativism war
will be a practice of the past and only discussed in history classes. Another
reason for cross-cultural comparison is to make us more appreciative of our own
culture and environment. For example, members of the Peace Corp volunteer months
to years of their lives to live and help in third world countries.
They may not be there with the purpose of studying culture, however, living
among the people and having to adapt to their way of life gives them a
first-hand experience of a third world life. Seeing the way life is without any
luxuries make us realize how convenient our lives are. Plentiful amounts of
food, clean water, stable shelter and adequate clothing are just a few of the
many luxuries that our culture sees as essentials. Many volunteers return from
the Peace Corp and adopt a new way of life; much less extravagant than the one
they led before.
Finally, we study other cultures to enrich our own. Where would Canadian
culture be without the influence of the French, Italian, Chinese, and all the
other cultures that form the cultural mosaic that defines Canada? Without the
mixture of cultures in our country, we would still be eating meat and potatoes
for every meal. The cultural blend that has come together to make up Canada, but
yet retain their own individualities, work together to make a hybrid culture
created from the best of all that are combined.
In conclusion, we see that without cross-cultural comparisons life would be
boring and monotonous. Learning about other cultures makes us more
understanding, accepting, and appreciative of the diversity. No more war, no
more racism and no more ethnic cleansing once ethnocentrism and cultural
imperialism are abolished. Cultural diversity is the spice of life.
