Bill Harris wrote:
>
> Bill Braun wrote:
>
> > I'm puzzled about this. On one hand I have a hightened sensitivity to
> > cultural respect. On the other, I cannot see how using a custom from
> > another culture raises the dilemma. Could you develop your thoughts a bit
Jim Wiegel here. Here is another $0.02. I have experienced a couple of
situations related to this, especially with Native American colleagues. I
think they are quite tired of non-Native Americans becoming rapid experts
in their culture and using pieces 'out of context" I have used a ball
point pen as a substitute microphone in groups so one person would talk at
a time (it really got people to project as well), but it did not have any
additional "meaning" beyond here is a way for us to focus attention. It
did not evoke sacred or larger symbolic meaning.
I personally feel a bit bereft not being able to bring into groups the
richness of cultural heritages and symbol systems. I suppose this is
something that the next generations will look to us as having developed
"good manners" for how this can be done appropriately. The only guideline
I have come up with for myself comes from a book by John Donne, a
professor at Notre Dame. He uses the image of passing over and returning
as a way of connecting with another tradition. I first ground myself in
my own tradition (for me that is American Christianity, Protestant,
Lutheran). Then I can "pass over" into another tradition, but I end up
returning to mine (this is a poor summary). I think where I get in
trouble is when I start with "this is something from some other culture"
that means thus and so without first sharing from my own culture.
I appreciate the analogy of bread and wine.
--"James F. Wiegel" <icaphoenix@igc.org>
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