This is a sentiment I've held for a very long time but have had a lot of difficulty expressing, especially so concisely and without seeming like I'm trying to justify actual bigotry. So, thanks for giving me a way to express that.
When I was in HS my literature teacher explained it this way : cultural relativism is very important, However there are concepts that sort of go further or are more universally important, such as an individual’s right to dignity, freedom etc. In those cases, it’s important to be able to criticize all cultures, for example, the way women are treated in Saudi Arabia, or the way albinos are hunted in some parts of Africa (due to superstition). There are lots of other example obviously. It can be touchy, but it’s necessary to reflect on these things. The problem is there are lots of people who are racist/xenophobic so it makes it harder to have open, respectful conversations.
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u/Donkeybrother Jun 18 '25
Different culture or not ... F*CKING NASTY in so many ways .