Last week my wife and I sat down to watch the Obama/Romney debate. I usually avoid watch these debates because I turn into a cynic (and learn very little). Long story short, I watched it – was pretty much what I expected. One thing that I didn’t see coming was some of the harsh language against China.
I guess being out of America for so long had left me separated from parts of the politically-changing landscape and public opinion of China as whole. Now I very much understand the international politics that are involved in a Presidential election(human rights, international trade, pollution, government philosophical differences, etc) and how these things do need to be addressed in America’s diplomacy with China. These are all very serious and important issues – issues that justify the term ‘Getting tough on China.”
However, I fear us as humans accidentally dehumanizing the average Chinese person. It’s no question that I love China, and for the most part, I sincerely love the Chinese – a fact that probably disqualifies me from speaking on such a subject in many peoples minds. But we should remember this: horrible things happen when we dehumanize other people.
I’ll leave my thoughts there, but state that the innately humanizing ability of photography is one of the things I love about it. Photography has the ability to remind us of our similarities versus our differences and put a literal face on situations like these.
“When I dehumanize you, I indirectly dehumanize myself.” – Nelson Mandela
“I sincerely love the Chinese – a fact that probably disqualifies me from speaking on such a subject in many peoples minds”
This is precisely what qualifies you. I hope you’ll write more about this. The only way we can learn that there is no such thing as “them”, only “us”, is by getting to know each other. You can make introductions for a lot of us.
Thanks for this, Brian.
The question is how do we go about getting rid of the ‘them’ vs ‘us’ mentality that is so prevalent in politics… is that even possible at such a high level?
Thanks Brian. I really appreciate this.
Thanks for the comment, Jenny
Jenny, Erin – Thanks for your comments. I feel like it’s a super important message and one that I’m ill-equiped to communicate.
Definitely not a simple issue. Eric has identified part of the solution (getting to know the ‘other’), but has also said something really important. We have to be willing to face and make amends for our own racism. I tend to think none of us would admit to it, but it’s there in most of us. We’re fine with immigrants being duped into slavery conditions to pick tomatoes for us, because we don’t want to do that work. We’re fine with Africans dying of poisoning, and their landscapes decimated, so we can have the necessary minerals for all our devices and toys (Canadian companies are the main culprits, I’m afraid). We’re fine with Indians dying of cancer and poisoning from disposing of marine and e-waste because we don’t want to deal with the repercussions of what we produce. And really… how can the KKK still have thousands of members, still cause terror, still actively work to destroy non-whites?? If the KKK were a group of non-whites participating in these activities for so many years, they woud have been labeled for what they are, a terrorist organization.
But we don’t want to see that in ourselves. We just want to point that out in others. A grand bunch of plank-eyes.
Sorry for sounding rant-y. I guess I really wanted to say that we are all part of the problem, and things will only get better when we each take responsibility, seek to know the ‘other’, and actively love.
This thread just keeps coming to my mind. My glaring omission above, of course, is how we’re fine with Chinese workers toiling in sweatshops so we can have cheap goods. We’re fine with Chinese workers paying for our lifestyles with their time and effort, because we are living above our means.
I think ‘us’ vs ‘them’ starts to dissolve when you actually value the other culture. Fear seems to keep that value and understanding out of reach.
Living ‘there’ can help, knowing more about ‘their’ culture can help. Ignorance doesn’t help. For example, there’s a certain flavor of Americans who don’t like the French, but I have to wonder how many of the Freedom Fries crowd have had the chance to enjoy a coffee and a fresh pastry made by a 4th generation bakery off some cobblestone alleyway in Paris.
Same goes for the Chinese, its easy to rag on people you don’t know, don’t understand and are afraid that they’re ‘stealing’ your jobs.
I think it’s possible that the ONLY way to rag on others is by refusing to understand them. Understanding has to be the opposite of prejudice – I really liked your analogy with the French and probably something an older generation can understand.
What I find interesting is that in every culture I’ve visited or lived in that there is a group that culture can’t stand. The Chinese hate the Japanese, the western Chinese Muslims hate the Tibetans, Iran hates America (the government at least, I dare not speak for it’s people).
What stops hate? Love.
Love. Always.