Cultural identity and understanding (#122, Topic E)

The second day of a two-day seminar on "China Today" (#118), sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown WV and held yesterday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on the campus of world-class National Conservation Training Center, was for high-school students. Some 200, from seven high schools in the county, participated. The format called for (1) four panelists to give a 20-minute presentation each in the plenary session, (2) students to discuss specific topics in small groups while having lunch, (3) panelists to visit some of these small groups and participate in their discussions, (4) spokespersons from each small group to present key points in the reconvened plenary session, and (5) panelists to comment on some of these key points. These students impressed me greatly -- they listened intently, they debated issues seriously, they summarized points systematically -- above all, they asked thoughtful questions. One of the themes that was mentioned repeatedly by various small groups is culture -- culture identity, understanding of culture, cultural differences, exchange of culture. Come to think of it, if China represents east and if USA represents west, a China-USA encounter is indeed a East-West encounter. Given their youthful exuberance and their sheltered life, it is understandable that many students held/hold a high regard for western culture -- "ours is superior," almost along the line of "you are either with us or against us." To gently counter the former, I mentioned that "Chinese culture has several thousand years of history behind it;" to the latter, I offered that, to the Chinese way of thinking, it is "Live and let live." To these impressionable minds, it is hoped that the program sponsored by the Rotary club has allowed them to broaden their thinking and entertain alternative viewpoints.