Prof discusses global trends from Beijing

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  Diane said on July 15, 2010 at 9:34 p.m.
  I agree with you, there is something about assimilation that inslaves a culture. We should each embrace our differences and learn from them. I lived in Shanghai, China for two years and saw the younger generation embracing our Western culture so eagerly. It was kinda shocking. I guess I liked the traditional culture and wished they wouldn't let that slip away....
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  Brian Adkins said on June 26, 2010 at 3:02 p.m.
  Being very close to my 64th birthday I am aware of the fact that we as an Americans have seemed to adopt an apologetic attitude for not knowing every other ethnic culture which we encounter. I certainly believe that we should make an effort to know how to display behavior toward others that does not offend, but not everyone is going to be able to study abroad. The errors in English are certainly no worse than the ones that are made by anyone from a non English speaking country attempting to communicate in a language such as Russian or Spanish. Most of the article and the comments about it are certainly valid and expressed well. I would like to point out that we are not the only English language based nation nor the only one whose citizens travel abroad. Does an Italian expect a Turkish native to not err in some way it in Italy?Maybe we beat ourselves up by taking responsibility for all cultural misunderstandings upon ourselves.