Ukrainian refugees rush to borders to flee Russia’s war- BBC News

The denial of an innate and ever-undiminished urge for political freedom by European colonialism in the recent past would have left traces (subliminal as they may be) in the psyches of those who had been on the receiving end of that domination, and their descendants, all coloured people. To survive or even to cope with the neo-colonialism of the modern age, it might be useful to note some of the features of colonialism in an objective glance.

Necessary adaptation to the culture of one’s tribe does enable one to cohabit readily with those of other cultures at a basal level, because successful acculturation produces uniformly acceptable good conduct globally. Yet, immigrants who seek to integrate effectively into the land they have chosen to live need to disregard those divisive features of their own culture based on difference and implied superiority, while retaining those features celebrated in private. Integration offers benefits otherwise not available.

I am referring to the situation seen regularly by those Eilatis who pass through the industrial area. I say Eilatis, because this is not a part of the city visited by tourists. I doubt that most tourists even know of its existence. There is one notorious roundabout situated on the border where industrial area ends and the residential area begins.

At its simplest level, culture represents the ways we do things in life, underpinned by certain beliefs and values. It produces good conduct, which is essentially uniform across the globe. Yet, it is the weapon of choice in inter-tribal contests reflecting a cult of difference-with-superiority. Who benefits?

Humans can be enslaved in all manner of ways. By force by others is the usual image, but there is conscription and of course the bowing and scraping that’s part and parcel of being a law-abiding citizen. You probably feel a slave at work, but at least its voluntary and you do get paid for it. What I’m on about here is self-enslavement and how you willingly dance to the many tunes of the numerous pied pipers.

The cultural conflicts which surfaced when Asian students entered White Australia in the 1940s and the years following do present a useful window for assessing why such tensions generally arise. The causes then were: unequal ‘ethnic’ power relationships, verging onto skin colours then associated with disparities in power; claimed religious superiority; divergent cultural values and practices; and protection of territory.

When people who had grown up or been acculturated in diverse environments come together, there may arise cultural conflicts, because of the manner in which human societies have developed over their histories. A strong distinction between ‘them’ and ‘us’ seems to be the basal layer of human relationships. What triggers these conflicts?

Volunteering abroad is an act of self-less service that crosses international boundaries to help the destitute community, the less fortunate, or the endangered species in areas that are most in need. The purpose of volunteering may vary according to individuals from academic fulfillment to professional and career improvement. While this act of self-less service benefits the individuals and the local community, it can undoubtedly contribute to the development and promotion of tourism in developing countries, eventually uplifting the economic condition.

The last couple of weeks more and more articles have been popping up in the Dutch media about a camp of homeless people on the outskirts of Utrecht, the fourth largest city of the Netherlands. Reportedly, these people are not Dutch, but mostly Eastern-European. This made me wonder, is this also the case for the homeless inhabitants of Amsterdam? I rarely see homeless people in the streets of Amsterdam, so this might not the case here, I naively thought. To learn more, I signed up as a volunteer for the Amsterdam Salvation Army.

Cross-cultural shocks, even clashes, occur. What is the trigger when, in normal day-to-day life, one’s cultural values are not on display? What then is it about ‘them’ (who are ‘not us’) which arouses attitudes of prejudice and discriminatory behaviour? When the accepted new arrival conforms to the institutions and social mores of the host people, what else could either side reasonably expect from the other?

The opening of British Australia to European immigrants and to Asian students was, understandably, a shock to the white Australians. Attitudes of intolerance, and some denigration and discrimination, within the populace was par for the course – until time, habituation, the education system and the passing of older prejudiced persons brought tolerance and acceptance.

It depends on the exact definition and application. One definition of Apartheid, based on the South African model, is forcible segregation by race. This is what immediately springs to the minds of people when they see or hear this word. The very word ” Apartheid” has taken on such emotive connotations that it almost cannot be used, unless accompanied by expressions of disgust and condemnation.