How should we react when science collides with the so-called superstition? And how should we behave when “the civilized” clashes with “the barbaric”? These questions linger in my mind after reading through the story of “The Dead Men’s Path”.
Here is the answer I got from the story, “Let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch!”(54).
The notorious “culture imperialism” has already done much wrong to human's civilization, which is also reflected in this story , Acting on the belief that they are bringing the dominating force of science and technology to the “less-civilized” society, some western countries eradicate other nation’s tradition and culture brutally. Their eagerness and enthusiasm, together with the efforts from some local people, always results in the local people’s blood and tears. The aftermath of this kind of eradication might not show itself immediately, for western education and modern lifestyle do bring the locals higher living standard and more enjoyment. However there is time when the fear and confusion from the local people is looming large, for they realize not only do they cast aside their customs and beliefs, but also put their culture and their own identity at a risk! In this sense, this story could raise the concern of people from different cultures. We should realize that it is not the color of our hair of our eyes and skin that distinguishes us from each other, but the culture in which we are brought up and the value we share. Who am I? Where do I belong? How can we answer such questions if we lost our culture as well as our own identity?
With such an understanding of the vitality of culture, we should always cherish the hope that we can still appreciate the beauty of Greek mythology even if there is nowhere called Olympus; we can still pay tribute to our ancestors even if there is no spirit after death; we can still promote CTM (Chinese traditional medicine) to the other parts of the world even if some of its methods temporarily fail scientific explanation.
No wonder a lot of these beliefs and customs stem from our forefathers totally false assumption of the world, but they have long been woven into our culture and thus acquired a new significance—they bond us together; they guide our spirit back to our home. Too often we tend to overlook or even snore at such ideas, just in the name of science.
There still exists the paradox, and the clashes are never-relenting. But with the rise of more and more nations’ awareness, the attempt of a brutal eradication of culture is doomed to fail, just like the beautiful hedges torn down and trampled by the furious villagers.
Here is the answer I got from the story, “Let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch!”(54).
The notorious “culture imperialism” has already done much wrong to human's civilization, which is also reflected in this story , Acting on the belief that they are bringing the dominating force of science and technology to the “less-civilized” society, some western countries eradicate other nation’s tradition and culture brutally. Their eagerness and enthusiasm, together with the efforts from some local people, always results in the local people’s blood and tears. The aftermath of this kind of eradication might not show itself immediately, for western education and modern lifestyle do bring the locals higher living standard and more enjoyment. However there is time when the fear and confusion from the local people is looming large, for they realize not only do they cast aside their customs and beliefs, but also put their culture and their own identity at a risk! In this sense, this story could raise the concern of people from different cultures. We should realize that it is not the color of our hair of our eyes and skin that distinguishes us from each other, but the culture in which we are brought up and the value we share. Who am I? Where do I belong? How can we answer such questions if we lost our culture as well as our own identity?
With such an understanding of the vitality of culture, we should always cherish the hope that we can still appreciate the beauty of Greek mythology even if there is nowhere called Olympus; we can still pay tribute to our ancestors even if there is no spirit after death; we can still promote CTM (Chinese traditional medicine) to the other parts of the world even if some of its methods temporarily fail scientific explanation.
No wonder a lot of these beliefs and customs stem from our forefathers totally false assumption of the world, but they have long been woven into our culture and thus acquired a new significance—they bond us together; they guide our spirit back to our home. Too often we tend to overlook or even snore at such ideas, just in the name of science.
There still exists the paradox, and the clashes are never-relenting. But with the rise of more and more nations’ awareness, the attempt of a brutal eradication of culture is doomed to fail, just like the beautiful hedges torn down and trampled by the furious villagers.
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