Something that really struck me during the Privilege Walk on
Wednesday was how different our backgrounds are from one another. Yet there we are week after week, sitting in the
same room at the same time, having the same conversation. Even more striking: think of how different
any of our backgrounds are compared to someone living across the world.
Given our distinct backgrounds, I think we take it for
granted how easily we can speak to one another.
This is possible because we adhere to a similar paradigm and have a
common language, understanding, and mutual desire to listen.
In the context of establishing universal human rights, I
think an endeavor such as this is only successful if some mutual framework, or
paradigm, is established that can cross cultural boundaries. In class, my first thought is: here are my
fellow Mines students. But when I look
outwardly – when I read a poem about a mother suffering in a refugee camp or
listen to stories of witness emerging from revolutions – my first thought is:
here is a fellow human. I think it is
important to see beyond the first and most obvious thread of commonality. Doing so helps us to better empathize, understand,
and work collaboratively with people regardless of culture or background.
Here is an interesting article I read a couple weeks ago: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/a-yo-yo-ma-project-brings-together-musicians-from-warring-nations/280458/
I’d also encourage you to watch the video of their performance;
the musicians do a great job of harmonizing given the diversity of
instruments.
The goal of this ensemble is to “foster cross-cultural
understanding through music, education and cultural entrepreneurship.” Music is a common language. A smile in one part of the world is
interpreted as a smile in any other place.
These are just a few of the methods which “provide a framework for how intercultural
understanding and empathy can be forged even outside the realm of musical
collaboration.” I think the same can
really be said for any of the arts and sciences.
Is it necessary to have a common paradigm or mutual
framework for universal human rights to be adopted and fulfilled by all? What are some other unifying paradigms that
can span across cultures and unite us with others? Despite all of our differences, how can we
converge?
"Is it necessary to have a common paradigm or mutual framework for universal human rights to be adopted and fulfilled by all?" Very interesting question, which sets up a follow-up question, "who's paradigm?" The UDHR has been criticized as a "western" attempt to foist "western" ideas onto other cultures. A lot of people don't agree that the rights listed therein should be guaranteed, from people like Saudi Arabians who are currently fighting to prevent women from driving, to libertarians in the US who say, you get what you work for, and nobody owes you food or water or a living or anything else, to the Pentagon, which insists on holding suspected terrorists without due process in the interest of national security. So I would venture to answer, yes, we need to at least agree upon a common framework for human rights, and what those rights are, before it will be possible to implement them universally. And we are quite far away from that.
ReplyDeleteFinding areas of intersection and commonality is crucial for cultures to develop better understanding of one another, which can only help bridge those cultural divides. One really huge one, maybe the biggest one I know of, is science!