THERE is something beautiful about culture. Apart from it being the pillar for identity, it holds room for discussions and debates concerning the feasibility of its practices.
Culture is interesting since we can talk about it from dusk till dawn. But culture is a very sensitive zone to be traipsing on unarmed. Sometimes, debating and questioning cultural beliefs of a society might cause outrage that can lead loss of life for those poking their noses into it. For these societies, culture acts as a barrier from external intrusion. When culture is mentioned, it seems to be the point when we are not to question or cross it. It shields its practices from being scrutinised and criticized.
Today I would like us to venture into something that I have observed. This concerns the phrase ‘It’s the Asian culture or it’s the culture here’, which many people have been saying either to me or to other people around me.
This phrase comes to life when one is trying to explain a cultural element that is present here in Kuching or Malaysia at large. On the surface it looks like a simple statement that aims to educate one who is not aware of the Asian culture.
But in reality, this statement has serious repercussions that will be discussed later in this article. What is important to note though is that, it’s not just Malaysians who are using this phrase. A big crowd of non-Malaysians are proficient in expounding it too.
I believe the problem is not so much with the phrase per se, but lies in the way it’s used plus the body language expressed with it. This phrase is notorious with the not-so-good cultural values present in this part of the universe.
You will hear it said when students do not speak up in class or when people do not finish food on their plates or in the instance when one parks illegally. In very rare occasions I have encountered this phrase in more positive elements.
The phrase is said in a matter-of-fact kind of manner. One would say this phrase with an aura that speaks of lack of hope for change. Sometimes it looks as if one is okay-ing the notorious elements. It’s said as if there is nothing wrong at all with the behaviour in question.
Anthropologist David Hall spoke of the Asian culture as a high context culture that is complex and employing a wide range of non-verbal cues. It takes an effort to learn and understand this kind of culture. I think this is when the phrase comes in; trying to explain the unchangeable nature of this culture due to its complexity.
Going deeper, I believe the phrase enforces some sense of behaviour defence; protecting the Asian culture from evolving and correcting itself. By just uttering this phrase we are sending the message that, this is how things are down here and this is how we deal with them.
There are problems with this. Firstly, we are enunciating our approval towards these cultural practices. El Hombre sees this as a move to ‘legalise’ the unworthy behaviours through the utterance of the phrase that gives us a reason to not change.
It makes it easier for everyone to find a stronghold to defend whatever unworthy practices they have, since people (foreigners) will be discouraged to question further, as I have indicated earlier that culture requires sensitivity and acceptance.
Secondly, there is a tragedy of handing down these traits from one generation to another in the name of culture. Reiterating the phrase encourages the passing of these values to our children and the coming generations.
Not only will our kids use this phrase but also the foreigners, the act that’ll exacerbate the situation. Foreigners will come here and they will utter the same phrase when encountered by unworthy behaviours.
They will go back and write books on these values; calling them Asian values.
Above all, we are creating a disincentive for change and evolution due to the social conditioning we’re creating. No one will see the need for change since whatever practice is in question, it will be regarded as a cultural element that needs to be embraced.
Due to the fact that most people are afraid of altering cultural values, upon hearing this phrase, it
automatically tells them not to touch that practice since it’s notorious and unchangeable, a message that obliterates the incentive for change.
This reminds me of those people who have problems and instead of finding cure for them, they make the problem look as if it’s a part of them. This does not help the situation at all since it removes the will to solve the problem
There is an outing from this situation. We need to stop owning deficiencies in our cultural practices. We shouldn’t stoop so low and label every unpleasant practice as ‘Asian’. We shouldn’t let this notoriety pervades, since it will impair our ability to correct unwanted behaviours.
The writer can be contacted at stephencollin86@gmail. com.