Food for thought!
Today we were reading an excerpt from Noam Chomsky's book - Chomsky: On Democracy and Education. The class got into a heated debate when we were discussing Chomsky's comment on patriarchal and egalitarian societies. He has said that China and other Asian countries still have patriarchal societies while America has egalitarian society. So, he concludes that America has moved upward in the cultural ladder meaning that the other countries are backward. In a way he is right. Though America does have its own issues , it does to some extent exercise individual rights and gender equality. But that doesn't mean that the countries that don't follow egalitarian society are inferior. Every culture is different and should be respected for that. Each culture has its own pros and cons and no culture seems to be perfect. But we should always strive towards achieving what is best for us and not think about how superior or inferior we are compared to others. As long as we show respect to others, other cultures and other countries we can surely go high up the cultural ladder . It is left to us to decide what kind of a culture we want to follow. Our ancestors followed patriarchal society because men were actually stronger and more powerful than women and so they were the dominant gender. But now men and women are equally strong and powerful so we should be able to lead each other to the right path rather than being forced to follow orders.
"....like peeling away layers of an onion....for cultural reasons, the move away from patriarchy is a step upward , not just a change, It's step toward understanding our true nature ." (Chomsky) . He is right when he says that the farther we move from a patriarchal society , the more advanced we are. We are all humans and we should all be treated with the same respect. Why should there be any discrimination when we are all co-existing in the same planet with the same mental and physical capacities? Humans dominate animals , men dominate women, why should there be any kind of domination? Yes, there should be domination not discrimination, else the world will be in chaos. But that doesn't mean that the ones who are dominated should be disrespected. Even in egalitarian societies there is always a leader. Its just that everybody is given equal opportunities to choose their leaders and that everyone has an equal chance to voice their opinion. So, let us all hold hands and reach the final step of the cultural ladder which is: making this world a place filled with love, respect and peace.
Food for thought!
Today we were reading an excerpt from Noam Chomsky's book - Chomsky: On Democracy and Education. The class got into a heated debate when we were discussing Chomsky's comment on patriarchal and egalitarian societies. He has said that China and other Asian countries still have patriarchal societies while America has egalitarian society. So, he concludes that America has moved upward in the cultural ladder meaning that the other countries are backward. In a way he is right. Though America does have its own issues , it does to some extent exercise individual rights and gender equality. But that doesn't mean that the countries that don't follow egalitarian society are inferior. Every culture is different and should be respected for that. Each culture has its own pros and cons and no culture seems to be perfect. But we should always strive towards achieving what is best for us and not think about how superior or inferior we are compared to others. As long as we show respect to others, other cultures and other countries we can surely go high up the cultural ladder . It is left to us to decide what kind of a culture we want to follow. Our ancestors followed patriarchal society because men were actually stronger and more powerful than women and so they were the dominant gender. But now men and women are equally strong and powerful so we should be able to lead each other to the right path rather than being forced to follow orders.
"....like peeling away layers of an onion....for cultural reasons, the move away from patriarchy is a step upward , not just a change, It's step toward understanding our true nature ." (Chomsky) . He is right when he says that the farther we move from a patriarchal society , the more advanced we are. We are all humans and we should all be treated with the same respect. Why should there be any discrimination when we are all co-existing in the same planet with the same mental and physical capacities? Humans dominate animals , men dominate women, why should there be any kind of domination? Yes, there should be domination not discrimination, else the world will be in chaos. But that doesn't mean that the ones who are dominated should be disrespected. Even in egalitarian societies there is always a leader. Its just that everybody is given equal opportunities to choose their leaders and that everyone has an equal chance to voice their opinion. So, let us all hold hands and reach the final step of the cultural ladder which is: making this world a place filled with love, respect and peace.
4 comments:
I think India is not completely backward, every woman who has stood up and voiced her opinion, the country has listened to her. Be it from electing Chief Ministers, President, or even a local Mayor. Time has changed now, we are moving forward. Domination exists but discrimination has almost gone.
America is a 200 Odd year old Country, I think India is in a great place at 62 than America was at that age.
The Country has greater problems in terms of religious discrimination, if that is solved, then no one can stop us.
I am not specifying any country. This was given in the text. I am not saying India is backward nor am I saying America is advanced. India is defintely in a better place!
If America is egalitarian then why have they not had even 1 woman president since it's birth? It's just a false claim if you ask me.
And women and men simply have different roles to play in society. And it does not mean that either gender is inferior.
And discrimination does exist in a lot of parts of the world, and it has to be eradicated.
Yup!! All points noted!! :)
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