Psychology has not developed very much in Western society. By thorough contrast, in Zimbabwean society, people are natural psychologists, but in Western society, identity as a moral category stands in place of any organic understanding of the structure of human relations and its consequences. Above all, people want to be assured that you're in the right category, that you understand what category you're in, and that you're not laying claim to be in a category you lack the moral right to be in.
For the most part, Zimbabweans don't view reality in these terms. Those terms above are quintessentially Western. Rather, Zimbabweans try to gauge your political stance by watching your behavior. They're extremely responsive to what seems to be implied by one's actions, and will respond immediately to any sudden changes in behavior, such as moving from aggression to amicability. In all, it's one's behavior that matters, rather than one's self-proclaimed identity.
Westerners, though, want to be moral arbiters of human rights. They want to be in a position to determine whether or not you deserve your rights, and to what degree. Their decisions are not based on actual behavior, but on the assumption that identities are fixed, some wholly righteous, others infinitely evil.
The Westerner's role as moral arbiter is to make sure those he or she deems evil should suffer their commupance, whilst those who deemed on the side of good should receive their rewards and recognition.
Unlike the typical Zimbabwean, the average Westerner has come into the world to teach us something.
For the most part, Zimbabweans don't view reality in these terms. Those terms above are quintessentially Western. Rather, Zimbabweans try to gauge your political stance by watching your behavior. They're extremely responsive to what seems to be implied by one's actions, and will respond immediately to any sudden changes in behavior, such as moving from aggression to amicability. In all, it's one's behavior that matters, rather than one's self-proclaimed identity.
Westerners, though, want to be moral arbiters of human rights. They want to be in a position to determine whether or not you deserve your rights, and to what degree. Their decisions are not based on actual behavior, but on the assumption that identities are fixed, some wholly righteous, others infinitely evil.
The Westerner's role as moral arbiter is to make sure those he or she deems evil should suffer their commupance, whilst those who deemed on the side of good should receive their rewards and recognition.
Unlike the typical Zimbabwean, the average Westerner has come into the world to teach us something.
No comments:
Post a Comment