Traditionalism and Democracy in a Contemporary World
Our planet is becoming ever more interconnected and interdependent at an increasingly frenetic pace; as this takes place convulsions and explosions rack the organism that we call humanity. At any given moment there are wars, terrorism, coup d'états, revolutions and counterrevolutions taking place throughout the world. Extraordinary technological advances result in millions of people migrating from country to country in search of better and ultimately more peaceful lives. Herein, lays the thread that connects all three essays: The perpetual struggle of human beings for a better existence. In her essay Maxine Hong Kingston an author and senior lecturer at the University of California agonizes over her upbringing as a Chinese-American straddling two diverse cultural traditions. In “No Name Women" Kingston is emotionally torn by the story of an aunt who herself is erased from the family as a result of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Cornel West an intellectual social critic and professor at Princeton who wrote “The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society” examines with great insight the moral decay of traditional values in today’s society.In his essay West highlights the moral imperative of the individual’s need to return to a traditional struggle for a democratic and just society. Lastly Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, wrote “Nobel Lecture" his acceptance speech in Norway; Annan talks about the obligations of the United Nations in promoting democracy, peace, justice and lifting the oppressed and poor out of their condition while respecting traditional values and cultural differences worldwide.
Chinese tradition is complex and ingrained in their culture. The first thing that M.H. Kingston is told by her mother is: “You must not tell anyone," as she relays the story of an unmentionable aunt who had a child out of wedlock; Kingston is sworn to secrecy and silence. As a result, the aunt’s name and existence is expunged from the family forever, “We say that your father has all brothers, because it is as if she had never been born." Secrecy and silence is elementary to this society so as was customary the men went away to earn a living; but they were glad to go as her aunt was alluring to uncles, cousins, nephews and others, “and they left, fearful that their glances, like a field of nesting birds, might be startled and caught." Traditionally a wrong word even in the USA could “incite the kins people” to do unspeakable and mysterious harm to her father. Secrecy and silence are traditional values reemphasized by Kingston’s mother when she implicitly threatens her, “Do not do what she did or the same could happen to you." implying that she too could be forgotten by the family. Adultery could traditionally be considered a mistake in good times, however in bad times it became a crime as the villagers were preoccupied with feeding themselves, thus adultery was a punishable extravagance. Kingston struggled caught between two traditions, growing up in America but raised in a Chinese traditional culture. As a result, she comments on her struggle at dating, “if I made myself American-pretty so that the five or six Chinese boys in the class fell in love with me, everyone else – the Caucasian, Negro and Japanese boys – would too," so it was best to act sisterly. In addition, Kingston also struggles with inner turmoil as she consented and allowed the punishment of her aunt to continue long after her death: “I have not asked for details nor said my aunt’s name; I do not know it." She is caught in a perfect storm of emotional contradictions, different traditions, loyalty to family and disloyalty to an aunt she never knew. In the end, Kingston is haunted by her aunt and not sure whether writing about her is necessarily appreciated by her aunt’s ghost: “I do not think she always means me well. I am telling on her," but in her own way, Kingston’s pays homage to her aunt.
Traditional democracy is the perpetual struggle of the individual fighting for the greater good of society. Cornel West refers to past African-American personalities Sojourner Truth and W.E.B. Du Bois amongst others as traditional and inspirational leaders of the democratic struggle. West draws insight from Du Bois who says that ordinary people are dehumanized by being lumped together and stereotyped; it is very difficult to sustain a vibrant and thriving democracy in this manner. West further expounds that traditionally the ruling classes, “subordinated and exploited everyday people” for the sake of maintaining their power and influence. West declares that a small percentage of the American population possess an overwhelming amount of the wealth; corporations have to be more accountable to the public because of their great wealth and influence. The middle class is threatened and under siege therefore under these circumstances authoritarian rule is desired, consequently traditional democracy and the poor are at great risk “that middle class scapegoat those that are most vulnerable.” Traditional democracy is always under threat when wealth, power and material possessions are far more important than the intangibles: mercy, justice, fidelity and kindness, etc. Mr. West says when moral values are in decay we have to return to traditional values such as sacrifice, empathy and courage. As part of the democratic tradition hope is a value to be engaged in perpetually; struggling and persisting for what is morally right and just. It is our moral obligation to have integrity, decency and compassion for our fellow man. This struggle West says is about leaving our society and ultimately the world a little better for the next generation.
The founding principle of the United Nations is of a tradition of individual rights for all human beings. Kofi Annan says the United Nation’s mission for the 21st century is: “awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life," and in this manner improve the condition of men and women. Nations should not hide behind their sovereignty as a way of violating human rights; peace should be real and sustainable in the daily lives of every individual. Kofi Annan states that the three top priorities at the United Nations in the 21st century are: eradicating poverty, preventing conflict, and promoting democracy. Human beings are products of many traditions, cultures, and memories; mutual respect allows us to learn from other culture and traditions. Improvement in the human condition is only possible with freedom of expression, religion, freedom of assembly, and basic equality under the law. Lessons of the 20th century have taught us that whenever the dignity of the individual was trampled on and democracy suppressed, conflict soon followed and thousands of human beings suffered. The Quran, Confucius, the Torah, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism all in their own way uphold the traditional values of tolerance and mutual understanding. Every human being should be proud of his or her own unique traditions, faith and heritage; but never think what they love and cherish is better or superior to others’. Human beings of many religions live side by side all over the world; even with different traditions we have much more in common than what separates us. Obstacles to democracy have little to do with traditions, culture or religion but only the desire to hold on to power at any cost. Mr. Annan says member States must affirm the dignity and traditional value of every human being and secure peace and prosperity for all humanity.
In closing, the authors convey to us the complex tapestry of human beings as individuals and part of society. People are in a constant struggle and influx as to how to coexist with those around them while having diverse traditions, values, and democratic or undemocratic institutions around them. It is a perpetual and never-ending narrative whose history goes back to the beginning of humanity itself.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Cornel West – The Moral Obligation of Living in a Democratic Society
Developing a Culture of Traditional Democracy
Traditional democracy is the perpetual struggle of the individual fighting for the greater good of society.
Cornel West refers to past African-American personalities (Sojourner Truth and W.E.B. Du Bois) amongst others as traditional and inspirational leaders of the democratic struggle. West draws insight from Du Bois who says that ordinary people are dehumanized by being lumped together and stereotyped; it is very difficult to sustain a vibrant and thriving democracy in this manner.
West further expounds that traditionally the ruling classes, “…subordinated and exploited everyday people” for the sake of maintaining their power and influence. West says that a small percentage of the American population possesses an overwhelming amount of the wealth; corporations have to be more accountable to the public because of their great wealth and influence. The middle class is threatened and under siege; under these circumstances authoritarian rule is sought after, therefore traditional democracy and the poor are at great risk: “…significant segments of that middle class to scapegoat those that are most vulnerable.”
Traditional democracy is always under threat when wealth, power and material possessions are far more important than the intangibles: “…mercy, justice, fidelity and kindness, etc.” Traditionally moral values are in decay and we have to return to old values such as sacrifice, empathy and courage. As part of the democratic tradition hope is a value to be engaged in perpetually; struggling and persisting for what is morally just and right. It is our moral obligation to have integrity, decency and compassion for our fellow man.
This struggle West says is about leaving our society and ultimately the world a little better.
Traditional democracy is the perpetual struggle of the individual fighting for the greater good of society.
Cornel West refers to past African-American personalities (Sojourner Truth and W.E.B. Du Bois) amongst others as traditional and inspirational leaders of the democratic struggle. West draws insight from Du Bois who says that ordinary people are dehumanized by being lumped together and stereotyped; it is very difficult to sustain a vibrant and thriving democracy in this manner.
West further expounds that traditionally the ruling classes, “…subordinated and exploited everyday people” for the sake of maintaining their power and influence. West says that a small percentage of the American population possesses an overwhelming amount of the wealth; corporations have to be more accountable to the public because of their great wealth and influence. The middle class is threatened and under siege; under these circumstances authoritarian rule is sought after, therefore traditional democracy and the poor are at great risk: “…significant segments of that middle class to scapegoat those that are most vulnerable.”
Traditional democracy is always under threat when wealth, power and material possessions are far more important than the intangibles: “…mercy, justice, fidelity and kindness, etc.” Traditionally moral values are in decay and we have to return to old values such as sacrifice, empathy and courage. As part of the democratic tradition hope is a value to be engaged in perpetually; struggling and persisting for what is morally just and right. It is our moral obligation to have integrity, decency and compassion for our fellow man.
This struggle West says is about leaving our society and ultimately the world a little better.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Maxine Hong Kingston’s Essay: “No Name Woman”
Secrecy and Silence – Traditional Chinese Society
Chinese tradition is complex and ingrained in this culture.
The first thing that M.H. Kingston is told by her mother is: “You must not tell anyone”, as the story of her unmentionable aunt who had a child out of wedlock is relayed to her and Kingston is sworn to secrecy and silence. As a result, the aunt’s name and existence is expunged from by the family forever, “We say that your father has all brothers, because it is as if she had never been born”. Secrecy and silence is elementary to this society so as was customary; the men went away to earn a living but they were glad to go as her aunt was alluring to uncles, cousins, nephews and others, “…and they left, fearful that their glances, like a field of nesting birds, might be startled and caught.”
Traditionally a wrong word even in the USA could “incite the kins people…”, to do some kind of unspeakable and mysterious harm to her father. Secrecy and silence are traditional values reemphasized by Kingston’s mother when she implicitly threatens her, “Do not do what she did or the same could happen to you”, implying that she too could be forgotten by the family. Unfortunately, adultery was traditionally considered a mistake in good times however in bad times this became a crime as the villagers were preoccupied feeding themselves thus adultery was an extravagance and punishable.
Kingston struggled caught between two traditions, growing up in America but raised in a Chinese traditional culture. As a result, she comments on her struggle at dating: “if I made myself American-pretty so that the five or six Chinese boys in the class fell in love with me, everyone else – the Caucasian, Negro and Japanese boys – would too”, so it was best to act sisterly”. In addition, Kingston also struggles with inner turmoil as she consented and allowed the punishment of her aunt to continue long after her death: “I have not asked for details nor said my aunt’s name; I do not know it”; she is caught in a perfect storm of emotional contradictions, different traditions, loyalty to family and disloyalty to an aunt she never knew.
In the end, Kingston is haunted by her aunt and not sure whether writing about her necessarily is appreciated by her aunt’s ghost: “I do not think she always means me well. I am telling on her…”, but in her own way Kingston’s pays homage to her aunt.
Chinese tradition is complex and ingrained in this culture.
The first thing that M.H. Kingston is told by her mother is: “You must not tell anyone”, as the story of her unmentionable aunt who had a child out of wedlock is relayed to her and Kingston is sworn to secrecy and silence. As a result, the aunt’s name and existence is expunged from by the family forever, “We say that your father has all brothers, because it is as if she had never been born”. Secrecy and silence is elementary to this society so as was customary; the men went away to earn a living but they were glad to go as her aunt was alluring to uncles, cousins, nephews and others, “…and they left, fearful that their glances, like a field of nesting birds, might be startled and caught.”
Traditionally a wrong word even in the USA could “incite the kins people…”, to do some kind of unspeakable and mysterious harm to her father. Secrecy and silence are traditional values reemphasized by Kingston’s mother when she implicitly threatens her, “Do not do what she did or the same could happen to you”, implying that she too could be forgotten by the family. Unfortunately, adultery was traditionally considered a mistake in good times however in bad times this became a crime as the villagers were preoccupied feeding themselves thus adultery was an extravagance and punishable.
Kingston struggled caught between two traditions, growing up in America but raised in a Chinese traditional culture. As a result, she comments on her struggle at dating: “if I made myself American-pretty so that the five or six Chinese boys in the class fell in love with me, everyone else – the Caucasian, Negro and Japanese boys – would too”, so it was best to act sisterly”. In addition, Kingston also struggles with inner turmoil as she consented and allowed the punishment of her aunt to continue long after her death: “I have not asked for details nor said my aunt’s name; I do not know it”; she is caught in a perfect storm of emotional contradictions, different traditions, loyalty to family and disloyalty to an aunt she never knew.
In the end, Kingston is haunted by her aunt and not sure whether writing about her necessarily is appreciated by her aunt’s ghost: “I do not think she always means me well. I am telling on her…”, but in her own way Kingston’s pays homage to her aunt.
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