1.
Watch excerpts from
The Hutterites and find similarities and
differences between the Amish and the Hutterites in America.
2A.
Optional Activity:
In 1776, a Virginian named Thomas Jefferson wrote:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness." Yet children, women,
slaves, criminals, the insane, and American Indians were not included.
2B. Today's class gives you an opportunity to reflect on what
happiness means to you. Using a handout from Explorations in American
Culture, pages 30-34, your instructor may introduce you to Anthony Brandt,
who will argue:
"Happiness at the time of the Declaration was not a state of mind that one
pursued in and for oneself, but a version of the common good, an idea of general
human felicity that one pursued both for oneself and for all. Jefferson was
trying to establish the idea that government has no right to stand in the way of
our pursuit of felicity so conceived." - American Culture Read the
article and return it to your instructor.
2C. See if your class
members agree with the statement that "Certainly the native American Indian did not participate in
the "general human felicity that one pursued both for oneself and for all." On the other hand, certain collectivist societies, the Amish
and the Hutterites seem to extend among one another, and to have been afforded
to some degree, the kind of tolerance embodied in Brandt's statement.
3. Visit the link to the
First Book Report and discuss its requirements. The link to the book
reports is on the Course Homepage.
Has Your Travel Agent Told You?
A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked
what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an
ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in
the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map
and Florida is a very thin state."
crosscultural.com
1.
Those who came to America have frequently remained ethnocentric and stripped
persons unlike themselves from the dignity to which their own culture entitles
them.
2.
Yet American extends religious tolerance insofar as possible, and purports in
its Declaration of Independence that all are entitled to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence as learned cultural behavior
is embodied in subsequent language worldwide, amongst ourselves and even our
enemies. Ho Chi Minh espoused the language of Jefferson three times in letters
to President Harry Truman asking for a U.S. guarantee for an independent Viet
Nam. President Truman instead permitted French allies to return the area to
French control. Frustrated, but undefeated, Ho Chi Minh then gave his
allegiance to Communist-inspired doctrine, with the ultimate consequences
inherent for America's foray into the Viet Nam War.
3.
Happiness can be either a personal or a collective value. The Hutterite
people seem repressed by conventional Western thinking, and yet their society
seems destined to survive if given the chance, while America continues to
generate its own small proportion of disaffected peoples.
1. Read Chapter Twelve "Was Hunger the Motivation for Aztec
Cannibalism?" pages 62-66 in
Cross-Cultural Perspectives in America.
Answer the following questions in your notebook:
Canada (Western and
Atlantic Provinces)
|
| A firm handshake plus direct eye contact is the
standard form of greeting in Canada. Men should shake hands with women if
they offer their hand, but many women will just say 'hello,' perhaps with a
nod of the head, and not shake hands.
 | Distances are farther apart than in Latin America or the Far East.
When conversing, people will stand about a half meter apart.
|
| There is little or no casual touching. The only exceptions are that
good male friends may occasionally pat the other's back, close relatives
may put their arms around another's shoulder, and good female friends may
occasionally hug when greeting each other after long intervals.
|
| Good eye contact is important, whether it is during business or social
conversation.
|
| In social situations, men will usually rise when women enter a room.
|
| Canadians in these provinces are described as 'friendly,' 'somewhat
reserved,' and "on the conservative side.' Therefore, excessive gesturing
is not common.
|
| Men will sit with legs crossed, and all three forms are common and
accepted: crossed at the ankles, crossed at the knees, and having one
ankle crossed on the other knee.
|
| Beckoning is done by raising the hand, fingers pointing up and palm
inward, and motioning the fingers toward one's face or body. This
contrasts with the beckoning signal in many other parts of the world where
the arm is extended, palm down, and the fingers are moved in a scratching
motion.
|
| To beckon a waiter, just raise the hand at or above head level. To
signal that you want the check, make a motion with the hands as if you are
signing a piece of paper.
|
| Canadians may eat with either the continental style (fork constantly
in the left hand) or the American style (where the fork moves back and
forth between the hands).
|
| Most of the popular gestures shown will be known, used
and fully understood in Canada. The one exception might be the 'hook 'em
horns' gesture known in the United States (especially in Texas), and in
Italy, Africa, and Brazil. |
webofculture.com |
