Celebrate Culture

Racisms: A belief that race is the primaryenvironments which contribute to our outlook on
determinant of human traits and capacities andlife, these contributing factors are the makeup of
that racial differences produce an inherentculture.
superiority in a specific race. Prejudice: injury orEvery culture is different, even cultures that
damage resulting from some judgment or actionmight seem the same such as Asian or Latin
of another in disregard of one's rights; especially(South American) have very specific differences
detriment to one's legal rights. For those of usthat need to be understood to communicate with
that teach or consult about international culture,people in those cultures. I like to call these larger
we realize quickly that there will be some peoplecultures "mega-cultures" meaning the general
who accuse us of spreading racist views orculture within a region. Mega-cultures would be
perpetuating stereotypes. These critics believeAsian, Latin, European...
that discussing the differences between cultures isYet within these mega-cultures lie the essence of
the same as saying that one group is inferior tonational cultures that can be very different from
another group.each other. Both German and Italian cultures have
Those that make this argument are really missingsome basic similarities it is wrong to assume that
the point. Culture consultants are not in thethey are identical cultures because there are
business of pointing out the differences betweenmany subtleties that make these two cultures
races or cultures nor do we state that onevery different. Germany is a cold weather
culture or race is better than another. Rather wecountry that puts an emphasis on detail efficiency
celebrate, respect and understand (or at least tryand accuracy. Italy is a warm weather country
to understand) various cultures. We appreciatethat embraces "la Dulce Vida" The sweet life. A
them and work with clients to help those clientsGerman in Italy might feel like the land is in chaos
understand them for the benefit of all.while an Italian in Germany might feel incredible
Understanding the differences between culturestructure and restriction, vast differences
and racism/prejudice is vital in this ever shrinkingbetween two European cultures that share a
world. Greater numbers of people are traveling toborder.
new lands, corporations are establishing locations inTo ignore culture of a country is to do a
developing countries, the internet and other formsdisservice to the people and the place. It is
of technology are allowing information to bedisrespectful and an insult that says "Your culture
shares globally and e-businesses to expand tois not important enough for me to understand"
markets across the globe.Yet this is the wrong manner of thinking. To
The reality is that although in some ways peopleknow and understand different cultures is to
are the same, in many others, we are different.demonstrate respect for those cultures. Ignoring
We come from different experiences anddifferences is racism celebrating them is diversity.