Talking about different cultures, two things stand out about Arabs
compared with Westerners.
For example, to Easterners (like Chinese and Japanese and Indonesians) the concept of 'not losing face' is very important. Japanese for example wouldn't easily come out with a direct 'no'
but instead are inclined to say 'perhaps', or some other delaying response because they don't want to offend you.
Now, as far as Arabs are concerned, there are at least two characteristics which stand out and, because it goes against our grain, it makes it very hard for us to reach an understanding of other cultures like the Arabs because we continuously try to understand and explain their behaviour in our terms.
Firstly, it looks to me that telling lies doesn't appear to be the wrong thing to do.
That isn't to say that westerners don't tell lies. Of course, some do. However telling lies does carry a stigma here.
That stigma doesn't necessarily appear to be the case with Arabs.
Secondly, there is something else which is rather puzzling to me.
Take for example yesterday's bus attack in Israel. The Palestinian bomber has a note in his pocket stating his name and the town he comes from and it also gives a tirade against the US, praising El Quada for the 9/11 event.
Now I can understand that they have an intense dislike (thus the tirade), that part is easy to understand.
I can even understand the part of planting a bomb.
What I cannot understand is that, even though they are very much aware what the consequences are for their families (i.e. that their families' houses will be knocked down by the Israelies) they nevertheless still want to identify themselves DESPITE THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
I doubt that westerners would be announcing their names under the same set of circumstances.
So is there anyone who can explain such behaviour ??
freealways
compared with Westerners.
For example, to Easterners (like Chinese and Japanese and Indonesians) the concept of 'not losing face' is very important. Japanese for example wouldn't easily come out with a direct 'no'
but instead are inclined to say 'perhaps', or some other delaying response because they don't want to offend you.
Now, as far as Arabs are concerned, there are at least two characteristics which stand out and, because it goes against our grain, it makes it very hard for us to reach an understanding of other cultures like the Arabs because we continuously try to understand and explain their behaviour in our terms.
Firstly, it looks to me that telling lies doesn't appear to be the wrong thing to do.
That isn't to say that westerners don't tell lies. Of course, some do. However telling lies does carry a stigma here.
That stigma doesn't necessarily appear to be the case with Arabs.
Secondly, there is something else which is rather puzzling to me.
Take for example yesterday's bus attack in Israel. The Palestinian bomber has a note in his pocket stating his name and the town he comes from and it also gives a tirade against the US, praising El Quada for the 9/11 event.
Now I can understand that they have an intense dislike (thus the tirade), that part is easy to understand.
I can even understand the part of planting a bomb.
What I cannot understand is that, even though they are very much aware what the consequences are for their families (i.e. that their families' houses will be knocked down by the Israelies) they nevertheless still want to identify themselves DESPITE THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
I doubt that westerners would be announcing their names under the same set of circumstances.
So is there anyone who can explain such behaviour ??
freealways
