Every being has their own perspective of history, and this in turn shapes our intercultural relations – how we do, what we do, who we do it with. How we see the past is directly proportioned and influences how we view ourselves and the world we live in, this is apparent in many recent events. Often people feel uncomfortable in dealing with history and the past because they don’t know how they are supposed to feel towards certain other people, or cultures in this instance, and how to deal with many of the dreadful things that have happened.
This is particularly true for the Y generation, whom most have experienced firsthand the scars of war, terrorism and what not. The younger generation tend to think “Why can’t we move on and not dwell in the past? ” Of course, the older know this is not possible. While it’s true that with old age, one gathers a collection of experiences, observations, and perspectives that someone other than myself would classify as wisdom, something that tends to get overlooked, yet not completely ignored, is that it comes from a different time, a past life, another earth- change is rapid, as J.
W Berry (2008) points out, especially with the storm of globalization. Which for me, while completely reliable in analyzing the modern world, is respectfully, unreasonable in preaching ideals to the newer generations. Not to say their theories are useless, they should be taken into consideration, and adapted to apply to the circumstances of particular cases as opposed to a general concrete theory printed in textbooks. That being said, history influencing intercultural relations is very evident in many different contexts.
The Essay on The Study of History
... uses of history. Do we implement what we have learned from past mistakes to make the present and future better for generations to ... come? A final aspect of the study of history is ... most commonly disputed. They are, history is the entire human past; history is all of recorded human past; and history is what historians write ...
Mainly the fact that the notion of “culture” changes after 1938. As people start to conceptualize and have a certain perception of the words exact meaning. This is created by our history, what our ancestors’ cultural identity lifestyle choices, food, plays, music, and how they constructed themselves in social groups. All this contributed to stereotyping certain ‘cultures’. And culture being a particular way of life (J. Lull, 1995).
If it wasn’t for history, we would not have had this building block in the first place.
Having established that, another example of history being important to intercultural relations is Australia being known formerly as “White Australia”. This policy followed through with countless immigration restrictions as they did not allow non-Europeans to immigrate into Australia. These racial limitations were hauled off in the 1970’s. (Department of Immigration, 2002) Trade played a major part of our past which in turn aided what happens with intercultural relations. Trade between Europe and China from 200BCE through the Silk Road meant ideas were passed on about each other, a lot of them incorrect.
Missionaries were sent to “civilize” Africans, as well as change religion (M. Everett & M. Stienfatt, 1999).
Our perspective and differentiation of certain “cultures” were primarily formed by what took place in history. Europeans saw Africans as primitive people because they had no organized nation states, roads, lamp posts, etc. (M. Everett et. al 1999) Another very controversial topic – Inter racial marriages. It is claimed that neither the white nor black community accepts children born of mixed marriages (P. Ernest, 1978).
If only for the sake of preserving the sanity, dignity, and hope in people who have no choice but to isolate themselves from the ones they fall in love with for the mere fear of being condemned. By way of contrast, Lang (2005) argued that “the number of interracial marriages involving whites, blacks and Hispanics each year in the United States has jumped tenfold since the 1960s. ” Finally, another good example of history coming into play an important role is world war two resulting in a new approach to intercultural relations, an article by J.
The Essay on Communication Between Cultures Intercultural Person Important
Communication Between Different Cultures Some people say why is important for us to study intercultural communication? Another question which sometimes arises what is intercultural communication, which I sometimes ask myself. Intercultural communication is a very important subject. It teaches us how to manage differences. Culture is a very important thing in a person's life. It is the identity of ...
Lull (1995) specifies the holocaust causing revulsion against racism and cultural suppression. And ideas about eugenics and the superiority of white races of the others are being challenged. People have come out of war crime, battered and evolved. Settling into your average post-adolescent despondence; the worry of a relapse has long died. But what now? What happens? Are they to remain at this plateau indefinitely? People don’t forget. So what do they do now? Do they press on? Do they live within the restrictions of this new regime?
Do they self-impose exile? Banishment? It’s hard to tell. For these reasons I’d like to conclude stating – the history we know as well as our feelings towards it are influenced strongly by us and the people around ours’ culture. We are all caught in the cycle, no matter how much people may try to deny. Although peace, at least on the surface, seems prevalent many have hardwired grudges and ideologies in their head about the past. This affects intercultural relations to a vast degree and cannot be ignored.
This is why history, being the building blocks of where we stand today, is of utmost importance to intercultural relations. Natalie Karu KANBD1102 Bibliography Rogers, Everett M. , & Stienfatt, Thomas M. , (1999) Illinois: Waveland Press, Intercultural Communication, Context and Contact, pp. 1-38. J. W Berry, (2008) Globalisation and acculturation, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Psychology Department, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, p. 328–336.
Lull, James (1995), Media, Communication, Culture: A Global Approach, Culture, UK: Polity Press in Association with Blackwells, pp. 129-159. Susan S. Lang 2005, ‘Interracial relationships are on the increase in U. S. , but decline with age Cornel study finds’, Chronicle Online, 2 November 2005, p. 30. Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs, Abolition of the “White Australia” Policy, Public Affairs Section, FactSheet No. 8, November 6, 2002. Porterfield E. , 1978, Children of Black-White Marriages, Black and White Mixed Marriages, p. 8-13.
