A Cultural Buzz Kill
12-30-2005 - It is not only a profound dillemma, but a truism for every world traveler...while immersed in a culture other than their own, there will be a time and place in which one will feel that other culture's practices and mores to be uncomfortable...and at times, downright unpleasant...but that's part of the necessary journey in emancipating one's self of egocentric and ethnocentric views...that is for anyone open to embracing an experience that's different from their own...
....this time had come for me...
After an afternoon of wicked jetskiing and a solemn moment of connecting with kindred spirits of the next world, we had dinner and went to watch a Muay Thay match. I was taken aback at the two small figures in the ring. Were they kids? And was one a girl? How old were they? Yes, they were kids, yes one girl was matched with one boy and they were both 6 years old.
Up to that point, I had two cocktails and had my "drink-groove" on...all at once it hit me...BUZZ kill.
The argument is an all too familiar one - THIS represented economic freedom for these kids and their families...they were the fortunate ones...this was their outlet to empower themselves and their families financially...such a played out intellectual cliche (NOTE: After each match, the kids approach the spectators to solicit funds). But THIS was not my intellectual challenge nor the source of my internal conflict. What I found more challenging and a struggle to reconcile was that I was surrounded by ADULTS (much like myself) who were there as spectators and actually enjoyed it...and perhaps even gambled on the match! More academic jargon...were we sanctioning the "exploitation" of THESE children by being there?
....this time had come for me...
After an afternoon of wicked jetskiing and a solemn moment of connecting with kindred spirits of the next world, we had dinner and went to watch a Muay Thay match. I was taken aback at the two small figures in the ring. Were they kids? And was one a girl? How old were they? Yes, they were kids, yes one girl was matched with one boy and they were both 6 years old.
Up to that point, I had two cocktails and had my "drink-groove" on...all at once it hit me...BUZZ kill.
The argument is an all too familiar one - THIS represented economic freedom for these kids and their families...they were the fortunate ones...this was their outlet to empower themselves and their families financially...such a played out intellectual cliche (NOTE: After each match, the kids approach the spectators to solicit funds). But THIS was not my intellectual challenge nor the source of my internal conflict. What I found more challenging and a struggle to reconcile was that I was surrounded by ADULTS (much like myself) who were there as spectators and actually enjoyed it...and perhaps even gambled on the match! More academic jargon...were we sanctioning the "exploitation" of THESE children by being there?
posted by Islandmele at 12:56 PM
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