Multi-Cultural Relationships
...the Holocaust, the need for the Black Panther Party, the Ku Klux Klan… some of the darkest times in the history of our existence could have been avoided through cultural and racial tolerance and understanding. There are those who would say that the issue of race is really no longer a major concern in the world. However, in an age when the internet is home to hundreds of hateful, racist forums at the fingertips of today’s youth, now is not the time to rest on our laurels where the area of racial tolerance and education are concerned. With web sites such as www.stormfront.org and www.kkk.net breeding hate and bigotry, cultural and racial tolerance should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind; to change the current state of race and culture intolerance we need to face it head on instead of ignoring it. On the issue of tolerance, some would ask, “Why then, should we not be tolerant of all beliefs, including those that promote their own race as superior?” These people undermine the attempt to achieve tolerance throughout the races. If tolerance is to be taught and learned, there is no room for racism or those who promote it in our society. The two simply cannot exist together in congruity. Cultural relativism suggests that this is not true. Cultural relativists argue that it is never true to say simply that a certain kind of behavior is right or wrong; rather, it can only ever be true that a certain kind a behavior is right or wrong relative to a specified society. However, the ideas of brotherhood, friendship and understanding extend to all societies. These concepts have been necessary to all cultures and races throughout history. Until the present time, we have only exercised them in partiality. Were we to practice them in their full realization, one can only imagine how significant the benefits would be, both socially and economically. Tolerance in the workplace is a must. With the melding of races and cultures, in this country especially, acceptance of others beliefs is essential in keeping one’s job. Employers will not allow racial intolerance or bigotry to be outwardly shown. They have a duty to make sure their employees are not discriminated against for reasons of race, religion or gender. With globalization of markets in today’s financial world, being able to speak, interact and show respect to those of a different color or nationality is a boost to economies. No country can stand alone on its own production. Comparing beliefs and practices in times past with those of today, it is easy to see the trend that we have increasingly become a more socially accepting society, with the issue of race relations at or near the center of that trend. It would only make sense then, that the natural progression of things would be for us to continue to move towards a universal belief in racial equality. Just realizing this natural progression is not enough though. We must strive to reach total equality as soon as is humanly possible to avoid as much inevitable violence and pain in the future. It is much easier to harm someone once you have dehumanized them by way of racism. Becoming friendly or intimate with someone takes away that component of dehumanization. There are those who would question intimate multi-cultural relationships based on practicality. Race and religious beliefs can be barriers not seen through easily. Beliefs on how their child should be raised based on different cultural practices between the couple can be problematic. What religion, if any, should be instilled? Will the child of a racially mixed couple have problems with his or her identity? These are all questions that would be of no consequence at all if tolerance was exercised universally. There would be no reason for a power struggle to find the answers to thes...