Learning From Others
Part of being human is to learn from one another. Knowledge, skills, and
even philosophy are passed on not only from generation to generation, but
from culture to culture.
The primary culture in North America was derived from the British Isles
and, later, various parts of Continental Europe. Since the early 20th Century
we in North America have felt that we have all the answers and will lead
the way without a sideways glance. This has accelerated since World War
II and, indeed, we and much of the rest of the world seems to assume that
the North American "Coca-Cola Cowboy" culture will naturally take
over all other cultures. This culture promotes commercial consumption, unbridled
materialism and a "don't-fence-me-in" attitude toward traditions
and restraint.
However, at the end of the 20th Century, we are hitting up against boundaries
and boundaries are not an agreeable concept in North America.
During the 1987-88 school year our family went to Bavaria to live so that
our boys could learn to speak German before they were twelve.years old.
Birgit, my wife, was born in Germany, and her father had made a deal with
all of his grandchildren that they would get a small reward if they could
speak a second language by the age of twelve. Any language would do and
we picked German.
That year was a great eye-opener for me. We found ourselves living in a
milieu where respect seemed to be an important element.....respect for the
landscape, for nature, for heritage, for the family and for future generations.
Respect is not a word that springs to mind in the 20th Century. In fact,
the United States was founded on disrespect. From the Boston Tea Party to
the cowboys and on to Rambo.... American heroes are revered for their disrespect.
Europe has had many centuries to work itself through that adolescent, disrespectful
phase. Europe has very painfully learned to live with boundaries. In my
view, the more sophisticated and mature philosophy of Northwest Europe represents
the best hope for the future of North America and, indeed, the world. We
must learn to live with boundaries, restraint and respect. If not, human
societies and nature will be devastated in a very short time.
During our year in Bavaria, we had a strong feeling that Germany has much
to teach North America about new ways to move into a kinder, gentler, more
sustainable future. It is possible to harmonize modern technology and respect
for natural and human heritage.
German-American studies are a two way street. We, on this side of the Atlantic,
can no longer afford this 20th Century self-centred myopia. North America
needs to look beyond Beethoven and Goethe to possible models for the future.
And Germany needs to look beyond the "Coca-Cola-Cowboy" culture
to more profound American values.
Robert Bateman
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