Is it ethical to judge other cultures pr ...

Is it ethical to judge other cultures practices?

Sep 24, 2022
  • Argue whether this practice should be judged (as wrong) or tolerated, providing reasons for your conclusion (specific example given is Female Genital Mutilation)

Tolerance of something, to my way of thinking, is to accept the discomfort from/ wrongness of/ to suffer something that is not necessary. To tolerate means to allow, not to be glad about or to enjoy. I teach that tolerance is a sin against the self, one should not be someplace where they have to tolerate anything. I will therefore argue that if you have to consider whether to tolerate something or not, choose not, whatever it is it is "wrong". I tolerated the abuse of my ex-wife for 25 years, I took her back time and time again because I figured "I deserved" what I got... (I won't get into it). When I decided to stop punishing myself, I decided to stop tolerating... things. What was happening was wrong. 

          I feel strongly about judgment, about seeing things for what they are and correctly defining them. Whether something is "good or evil" is purely subjective to whether or not one likes the outcome (in most instances, see the time machine Vs Hitler argument, is killing him in 1945 evil? Is it evil in 1912?). While evil is subject to perspective, right and wrong are easier to see, define, and understand in the real world. Are you hurting someone in any way that way is not asked for? If so, Wrong. Are you hurting, taking advantage of, or in any other way harming anyone incapable of self-defense? Always Wrong. 

          I will say directly to the question of female genital mutilation, I will not use the pretty "soft" name, it is a lie. Female genital mutilation is wrong, the arguments put forth in the text about how the unit benefits from the castration of the female sound very, much the same as the reasons I am given to spay my cat. Because it takes the "spit" out of them and makes them docile. Is this the correct way to treat a human, as we would an angry tomcat? 

          I believe it is important to judge people, events, practices, etc... at all times but I also believe being able to see beyond your own perspective is important. One paradigm should not be the weight against which the world is judged, but instead should be built out of knowledge, understanding, and acceptance. People are different, and their practices are sometimes bizarre, but if none is harmed, what is to be judged? By the same token, we recognize that gathering people into camps and forcing them to labor while doing other things that are clearly intended to lead to the genocide of those such as the Uyghurs is in fact wrong and should be considered a crime against all mankind. 

          There is no place in the continued evolution of the species homo-sapien for intentional harm and destruction. We must, as a whole and united people, find a common understanding of what is and is not good for us as a whole and work harder towards our shared future, not murdering Czechs, not trying to wipe a culture from the surface of the planet, and certainly not by mutilating women (especially not just so you do not have to learn how to please a woman...).

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