Parents and teachers in the Far East often ask why their kids are so shy, why they are not just self-confident like their American counterparts. I have wondered about it too.
I realized that it has to do with power dynamics. The US was founded on a framework of political equality. Thomas Jefferson, the founding father of the US, penned in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal”. Political equality has largely characterized American civic life. Everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, social status, profession, ability and appearance, is seen as equal.
That sounded a bit naive to me at first. In the environment I grew up in, preferential treatments are the norm - be it in school, neighborhoods, social interactions or political scenes. I have unconsciously internalized that it is only human to have biases and prejudice. Indirectly, the people around and I reinforce the prevalent culture of conditional treatment hinged upon one’s ability (i.e. “smartness”), social status, race and appearance. And we hardly, if ever, examine such mentality.
When equality is not observed, an imbalance of power is the concomitant outcome. Imbalance of power inevitably results in dominance and oppression. The oppressed ones will have their agency - the ability to make a choice without external influence - undermined. Because they need to be cautious of potential penalty inflicted by the dominant. Such a penalty could be as general as feeling unwelcome.
When there is such consideration to take into account, people tend to be apprehensive in whatever they do. In other words, their enslaved position or mentality will be manifested in their outward behavior. But in the US, unequal treatments are liable to legal actions. The message of “it is not okay to discriminate” is conspicuous, at least on my campus.
I observe such distinction in the service staff (janitors, maintenance people and cafeteria crew) on the campus here and back at home. The service staff here have a higher level of self-esteem. They would greet me with “How are you?” and smile at me. Back at home, I sense more of avoidance and power disparity between me and the service staff.
Personally, I feel comfortable attending classes and walking around the campus here. Because I know that I can safely expect to be seen as equal by the people around me despite my hearing impairment. I want to be seen for the value I bring, not my physical deficiency. The culture here makes me feel welcome. I want to bring such culture home. This is what it should be like - God sees every person as equal.
Galatians 3:28 “There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there cannot be slave nor free man, there cannot be male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
I realized that it has to do with power dynamics. The US was founded on a framework of political equality. Thomas Jefferson, the founding father of the US, penned in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal”. Political equality has largely characterized American civic life. Everyone, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, social status, profession, ability and appearance, is seen as equal.
That sounded a bit naive to me at first. In the environment I grew up in, preferential treatments are the norm - be it in school, neighborhoods, social interactions or political scenes. I have unconsciously internalized that it is only human to have biases and prejudice. Indirectly, the people around and I reinforce the prevalent culture of conditional treatment hinged upon one’s ability (i.e. “smartness”), social status, race and appearance. And we hardly, if ever, examine such mentality.
When equality is not observed, an imbalance of power is the concomitant outcome. Imbalance of power inevitably results in dominance and oppression. The oppressed ones will have their agency - the ability to make a choice without external influence - undermined. Because they need to be cautious of potential penalty inflicted by the dominant. Such a penalty could be as general as feeling unwelcome.
When there is such consideration to take into account, people tend to be apprehensive in whatever they do. In other words, their enslaved position or mentality will be manifested in their outward behavior. But in the US, unequal treatments are liable to legal actions. The message of “it is not okay to discriminate” is conspicuous, at least on my campus.
I observe such distinction in the service staff (janitors, maintenance people and cafeteria crew) on the campus here and back at home. The service staff here have a higher level of self-esteem. They would greet me with “How are you?” and smile at me. Back at home, I sense more of avoidance and power disparity between me and the service staff.
Personally, I feel comfortable attending classes and walking around the campus here. Because I know that I can safely expect to be seen as equal by the people around me despite my hearing impairment. I want to be seen for the value I bring, not my physical deficiency. The culture here makes me feel welcome. I want to bring such culture home. This is what it should be like - God sees every person as equal.
Galatians 3:28 “There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there cannot be slave nor free man, there cannot be male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”