Letters to the Editor
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"The allegiance of civilized peoples is to the community, nation and world"
The allegiance of civilized peoples is to the community, nation and world, regardless of family, religious or ethnic ties.
You're not serious, are you? IMHO, allegiance to community and nation is just more tribalism. Why have allegiance along those lines, any more than having allegiance along religious lines?
I have neither patience nor tolerance for cultural equivalency types who argue that certain practices of non-Western cultures are okay, because Westerners cannot grasp the traditions of other cultures. Female genital mutilation, child slavery, and, yes, murdering people from tribes other than yours are always barbaric, uncivilized and wrong.
Mmm, indeed. So, um, how many people have we killed in Iraq, people who are from other tribes? Is that barbaric, uncivilized and wrong.
As for female genital mutilation, i agree that it shouldn't be forced on anyone. But what do you say to a grown woman who says, "this is my tradition, this is what I want"? should you tell her that you know better than she what is best for her? This is an oft-encountered situation by well-meaning western humanitarian workers, I know people who have encoutered this personally. What to do, which is the lesser evil, paternalistic treatment African women, or FGM? I don't know.