How can I best teach someone to embrace culture?

Cadet LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:16:59 -0400

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 28 at 2017 10:38 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:38:49 -0400

Interesting question. What does it mean?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 10:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:45:44 -0400

Are we talking about military culture? Army culture? A foreign culture?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 10:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:52:43 -0400

You really can't. They either will or they won't. Some people are open to new ideas, new cultures, new experiences. Others are set in their ways and have their baggage and don't want to drop it.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 11:00 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:00:17 -0400

In my experience, reading about culture and experiencing culture are completely different. The best way with most things is first hand experience. Socialize with people of said culture, maybe share a meal or a drink. It definitely gives people a different outlook.
If that answers the question.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 1:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 13:25:09 -0400

Show them something they don't know about that culture...
Brake a negative thinking norm about the culture

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jun 28 at 2017 2:14 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:14:43 -0400

Understanding and embracing are two very different things.

Whose "Non-American Culture" needs to be taught; everyone's or only those where the military is going? (I am assuming for practical purposes, the latter.)

To what degree does another's culture need to be taught and/or experienced?

Do we need to treat certain foreign cultural aspects--once we have figured out answers to the 1st two questions--that are anathema to American/western values in a way that gives them equal weight to our own?

I had a friend who was a tanker in the 1st Gulf War and years ago he showed me some DoD literature regarding Arab culture; and it was actually rather enlightening to me to not only understand WHAT their culture/subcultures values and how they behave, but to an extent WHY their cultural norms are as they are. So I had a clearer understanding, but that in no way equated "embracing" their culture.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jun 28 at 2017 2:47 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:47:07 -0400

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force them to drink.
Give them the information, let them make the decision. If you force it, the odds are you will only get resentment....

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 28 at 2017 4:02 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:02:55 -0400

That really depends on a few things:
1. Who is the person you are trying to teach?
2. What is the culture?
3. Why are you trying to teach them?

Answer any one of these questions wrong, and yes there is a wrong answer, and you may not be able to do so.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 28 at 2017 6:00 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:00:23 -0400

You can't teach someone to embrace culture. Each of us have our own cultures based on our upbringing and our values. Now you can make them more open towards other cultures, but that comes primarily from experiencing the culture themselves. Our culture and values is largely formed by our every day lives and surroundings.

I grew up in a heavy fishing community. So you would think seafood would be a big part of my diet, but in fact it's just the opposite. My brain associates all seafood with the nasty smells coming from the wharf. So I physically can not be near it without feeling ill. But there are other cultures where seafood is a large part of their diet. No amount of exposure to their culture is going to make me open to the prospect of eating seafood because my brain has already been wired against it.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 6:52 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:52:55 -0400

Cadet LT Private RallyPoint Member - Inject your target with a toxin that kills within 6 hours, take him to the ballet/opera/theatre venue, clearly and unambiguously inform him that he shall enjoy the performance, or you will not inject the antidote before he expires. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

https://youtu.be/45W5JyNN-80

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