This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 10:08 and is filed under News You Can Use..
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One Response to “Australian MP Calls for Migrants to Be Taught to Wear Deodorant”
‘”It’s also showing a lack of awareness that this is a two-way street, when you talk about cultural understanding…”‘
This might be a pertinant comment, did the discussion include Australians emmigrating to somewhere else. But it doesn’t, so ‘cultural understanding’ only goes so far.
Americans, for one, have been historically lacking in cultural awareness and sensitivity when visiting other countries–the ‘Ugly American’ syndrome. (The same could be said of certain sub-groups, such as New Jersey-ites, even when visiting other parts of their own country.) But when foreigners come here, it is reasonable to expect a modicum of conformance to cultural norms, such as driving on the correct side of the road. To advocate for such conformance is, in my opinion, neither racist nor discriminatory. It’s just common sense.
It all goes back to the old saying: When in Australia, do as the Australians do. There is nothing new under the sun.
January 13th, 2012 at 11:09
‘”It’s also showing a lack of awareness that this is a two-way street, when you talk about cultural understanding…”‘
This might be a pertinant comment, did the discussion include Australians emmigrating to somewhere else. But it doesn’t, so ‘cultural understanding’ only goes so far.
Americans, for one, have been historically lacking in cultural awareness and sensitivity when visiting other countries–the ‘Ugly American’ syndrome. (The same could be said of certain sub-groups, such as New Jersey-ites, even when visiting other parts of their own country.) But when foreigners come here, it is reasonable to expect a modicum of conformance to cultural norms, such as driving on the correct side of the road. To advocate for such conformance is, in my opinion, neither racist nor discriminatory. It’s just common sense.
It all goes back to the old saying: When in Australia, do as the Australians do. There is nothing new under the sun.