The Cultural Divide

Since the triumph of Christianity, we in the West have been in the habit of imposing our cultural will on others. The Christian Roman emperors did this. The medieval warlords and kings did so as well – notably, Charlemagne, to whom the slaughter of 30,000 Pagan Saxons was a picnic excursion. All in a good cause, of course. The inferior must give way to the superior. They’re not quite up to snuff? No problem! We’ll elevate them! That was the cry of the Christians in charge of America’s “Indian policy” in the 19th century. Let’s elevate those savages and make them cultured, civilized Christian people. Then they can help us slaughter some more uncivilized people and force them to accept our bloody civilization in a most thoroughly bloody manner.

Now, we modern-day Pagans ought to be aware of just how problematic the idea of exporting culture is. After all, we live in a Christian culture because of a centuries long embrace of this way of thinking. And it’s not over yet by a long shot. We saw under the Bush Administration how capable we in the US are of imposing our cultural will on others. After all, we had to bring them our good old democracy. Give them democracy and everything will be fine. Sure. If you already enjoy a “European” culture. It’s a neat fit for us. It’s part of our heritage, going back to ancient Athens, or even Rome, which had a Republic at one time.

But Rome didn’t really force its culture down anybody’s throats. Rome’s was a fairly benign “cultural imperialism” in that while it exported its own culture, it didn’t impose it on the locals. Native cultures remained. They changed of course, but cultures do. They’d have changed in any case due to exposure to foreign influences, just as native cultures influenced Rome as the republic, then empire, expanded. And most of all, Rome did not impose her religion on others. Worship our gods. We’ll worship yours. They all exist, after all. And if we think your culture is kind of kooky, that’s all right. It’s yours. We’ll abide.

Monotheism, being one of those “black and white” worldviewing devices, doesn’t tolerate this sort of give and take. There is give, no doubt. Forcible giving. We insist. No, really. WE INSIST.

Where am I going with this? I’m sure by now everyone is aware of the new “marriage” policy in Afghanistan recently given publicity. Husbands can legally rape their wives. Everyone is outraged of course. Never mind the fact that many Christians still think this way in the West. They even legitimize it with the Bible. Then are hypocritical enough to condemn others for doing the same.

I’m against female circumcision. I’m against husbands raping wives.

I’m also against cultural genocide.

But our culture is superior! Look how barbaric they are!

Certainly. From our perspective. But look at it from theirs. They think we’re the barbarians. They’re as offended by some of our practices as we are by some of theirs.

Who is right?

I assert that it is not so easily proven.

We want Muslim women to have the right to vote. But that goes against their culture. Women in Saudi Arabia made clear once to Condoleeza Rice that they were perfectly happy with the status quo. Maybe they are. But even if they’re not, do we have the right to impose our cultural norm on Islamic cultures?

No.

We can plead. We can cajole. We can ask nicely. With sugar on top. But we can’t force them. We have no right.

What, permit them to abuse women in that way? How dare you!

Right. So we should go in and slaughter tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands if not millions, to force them to be nice to the ladies?

Didn’t we see something like that before? The Crusades? Any other holy war you care to name? The Inquisition?

The idea of “Just War” leads to a very slippery slope. It’s easy to justify yourself, to say right is on your side, or your god. But the other side will make the same claims.

I don’t want anyone imposing their cultural norms on me. What I’m stuck with because of Christianity’s triumph 17 centuries ago is bad enough. But it can get worse. I don’t want to impose my own flawed culture on anyone else.

With time, perhaps things will change. But killing multitudes in order to correct a perceived wrong is not the way to go. My Pagan ancestors didn’t act this way. Nor will I.

c