Your culture counts

There is more than one way to celebrate the diversity of cultures in this world.

One well-established technique is to claim that nothing is true and therefore that no group can claim superiority over any other. Once truth is ejected from our thinking, we are led to believe, somehow we are all going to be magically united: It is just going to be one big, happy, international potluck after another.

This, dare I say, is a dumb idea that has been around now for a very long time.

True, competing truth-claims have contributed to conflict in the past. But there is much more to the typical conflict equation. Consider, sadly, any particular group of Christian people. What will you find? All to often, it will be people who claim to believe much the same things and yet are still occasionally fighting (quarrelling might be a better word) among themselves.

Take away the core convictions people have in common, and what do you suppose might happen? Even more conflict?

Another option, is to hold that each culture should be celebrated because each culture actually matters. Part of the truth is that they do matter. Consider that from this perspective there is going to be a whole lot more authentic cultural-diversity-celebration going on. The music will somehow be more lively. The dancing…more joyful. There will be more heart, more flair. It will be a true festival – a feast.

Everything in any one particular culture will likely not be celebrated. But something in each one will be. The English might turn to the French and say, “What would this world be like without the joy you bring?” The Spanish might give the Germans a great big hug and exclaim, “Your discipline and determination is absolutely wonderful!”

Having a sense of what is good and true and right, each person in each culture could look for it in cultures and communities around them. And affirm what they find.

One problem that affects many people, preventing them from becoming all that they were intended to be, is a deep sense of inferiority – personal and even national inferiority. With this in mind, although a few days ago I expressed a few words of genuine affirmation for American people, today I need to say (please take this the right way) that I am glad I am not an American. I am a Canadian. Canadians are important people too. They have a role to play. Like everybody else. I am happy to be who I am. Are you?

When deeper truths fade they are often replaced with shallow lies. Consider the whole idea that you need to be wealthy or powerful to be important. Where did that come from? Does that really make sense? Take a human being, give him or her a wad of cash, and somehow they are now instantly transformed into a more valuable human being? So that is how it works? Hand some guy a gun and he arrives at a whole new level of human dignity? No. Not at all.

People and cultures and nations who have a measure of wealth and power need to be thankful and careful about how they use what they have. It does give them more immediate opportunity to exert a positive influence. They have more responsibility to be sure. But it doesn’t make them more important as a group of human beings. Not in terms of dignity or core worth, anyway. So as you prosper or struggle with poverty, please keep this thought in mind.

Your culture counts. Your people matter. Your language is important. Your history is significant. Your success deserves to be celebrated.

Whatever you do, don’t get in the habit of putting your culture and people down. Consider, rather, that the nation you are a part of may well have incredible potential.