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Respect (Thoughts of a traveler, part 2)
I wrote about it before, but can only repeat it again from time to time)
Respect is something you have to earn.
I strongly believe in that.
Even if it’s your closest family or people from a different culture.
If someone wants my respect and they don’t show any to me, they won’t get it.
When going to a different country, I check the customs, traditions and “rules".
I play by them.
If single people of said country don’t show me said respect I can turn into a very disrespectful person.
It ticks me off.
It also ticks me off when people come to MY home country and request changes they won’t permit in their own culture.
When they want us to change. Not respectful. Yet they want to be treated with respect, because they are strangers in a strange country.
The ones of you that know me a little by now, know that I am all for freedom and liberty.
Freedom of speech, freedom to show what religion (if any) you belong to.
Respect is one of the top priorities. But often it only works one way for some.
Westerners in the Middle East are expected to follow the rules suit.
People from the Middle East in the Western world are a whole different ball game.
And I’m not talking about wearing a Abaya and Hijab or not. It’s the small things.
The things that lead in the end to showing respect to your host country.
It seems to me that Westerners are expected to adapt to all the rules (that lead to showing respect) but the other way around it seems to me that many Middle Eastern Expats want to keep their way of living and traditions and even want their country of choice to adapt to their terms & culture.
Do I make sense or am I just ranting? 
I don’t know.
I just hope that one day maybe all cultures and religions can live together without trying to proof that they are superior.
Thoughts of a traveler, part 1
Related posts:
A hit
Animal rights and tolerance & respect…. or my Life as a racist
On my old blog (not yet transferred to their new home here):
Respect & Dress code
Today at the grocery shop
Religion
ShoeShoe?!
Tips to get around
Respect
2008-12-04. 08:36:23. 386 words, 461 views. Categories: *Life - Leben , 17 comments » • Send a trackback »
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17 comments
That's it!
If we could be just one big family life would be easier. A lot!
But we humans are full of fear.
Fear is one of the most powerful forces.
We're afraid of each others if we are not similar.
Different color, clothes, disability, too beautiful/too "ugly"...and so on...
If OTHERS are not the same as me they are my enemies or at least no my cup of tea...autch!
Terrible!
So. Would it be better to have SAME uniforms all over the world?
When you go out from your home you should dress in certain way? Then we all would look the same, kind of...
BUT clothing does NOT mean respect or less harrasment...
but that's an other thing...
(I hope you understand what I'm trying write. I'm really tired but wanted say something...)
I will keep that point of view in mind when I run into people the wrong way.
Def. something to ponder about.
"I just hope that one day maybe all cultures and religions can live together without trying to proof that they are superior."
Amen, sister! I look forward to the day when respect goes across classes, races, sexes, and religions. *sigh* Some day...
That can of worms is a neverending spoiled box of fish bait and haunts me since ages
Yepp, some day....
But Europeans are not better travelers by any means. I've seen it during my days while working in the Hotel business and while being in different countries.
Don't paint Americans too black, they are not different then any other people
.What does PC mean, Paddy?
Pro Culture?
And no, it doesn't seem to work the other way in many cases.
One school in the UK is going to celebrate EID this year instead of Christmas.
And one minister (at least) in Germany wants Turkish (I think) as the main language taught in school.
You've obviously never run across Norwegians as foreigners. :-) I know of no other nationality that so puts its mark on where it goes to the degree the Norwegians do, with their seamen's churches all over the globe and Sons of Norway organization. No other European does that, AFAIK.
I don't really care to lump people in groups - you know, stereotype and pigeon-hole. Too many individual variables. I'm not your typical American, and I wasn't typical even when I lived in the US, and I am by no means Norwegian. I'm me, and I've been hurt by assumptions made just because of my passport. So I prefer to avoid doing the same to others.
What do you think why I kept the ball flat while in Kuwait?
I don't really want to get arrested.
And I've seen quite a few Norwegians, but only as Tourists in the Hotel I worked for in Germany.
I've seen Jehovah's witness groups and Christians all over the Globe though. Especially in Korea.
But you know, Westerners could start growing the Balls to say know when it comes to celebrating Eid in a scholl INSTEAD of Christmas.
They could have both, no?
I say neither, when it comes to that.
"Middle Eastern immigrants can make those demands because westerners won't kill them for being different."
Thank you!
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