Perspectives and Their Origins: Some Ramblings
Over the last few days, I have heard a few reactions, both online and offline, from Chinese and non-Chinese people, on the recent thoughts I had on western media reports. It strikes me that depite we know where the differences in opinions lie, it seems that often we are not clear how people from another culture formulate their thinking. Why do they value the things they value? What informed their thoughts? What shaped their opinions?
Sometimes I am not even sure whether written words and the internet is a good medium for bridging cultural gaps, as words can also be misread or misinterpreted and understanding don't necessarily come instantly, but often through a series of conversations that span over a long period of time and by seeing with one's eyes how people in other cultures live.
I remember a couple of years ago in a discussion group that was made up of participants coming from various parts of the world, with many who were raised or have lived and worked in more than one culture, the discussion facilitator asked the participants: "where do you come from?" The typical answer was structured like this: "I was born and raised in X country, graduated from X school with a degree in X, now worked in XXX corporation as a X professional." Later, the facilitator told me when she asked "where do you come from", she meant, "where were your viewpoints from" (i.e. the books, people and experiences that have heavy influence on the way you think).
I don't know how to best explain mines, some came from books such as some of these ones on China and some of these ones on political philosophy. The most important ones came from actual living experiences and chatting with people. People like him and her have changed me and how I see the place I once lived but now observe from afar.
Sometimes I am not even sure whether written words and the internet is a good medium for bridging cultural gaps, as words can also be misread or misinterpreted and understanding don't necessarily come instantly, but often through a series of conversations that span over a long period of time and by seeing with one's eyes how people in other cultures live.
I remember a couple of years ago in a discussion group that was made up of participants coming from various parts of the world, with many who were raised or have lived and worked in more than one culture, the discussion facilitator asked the participants: "where do you come from?" The typical answer was structured like this: "I was born and raised in X country, graduated from X school with a degree in X, now worked in XXX corporation as a X professional." Later, the facilitator told me when she asked "where do you come from", she meant, "where were your viewpoints from" (i.e. the books, people and experiences that have heavy influence on the way you think).
I don't know how to best explain mines, some came from books such as some of these ones on China and some of these ones on political philosophy. The most important ones came from actual living experiences and chatting with people. People like him and her have changed me and how I see the place I once lived but now observe from afar.
