Yoghourt Life

Despite the ongoing process of globalization, it seems that cultural diversification is always standing out and being discussed by people throughout the world. A relative hot topic in current days is the difference between Asian values and Western values. In particular, with the emergence of many Asian nations, western people are pretty keen on such a topic. They show much more interest in the so-called “Asian values”.

Then, what’s the exact definition of Asian values? Actually, no one can give the actual answer. What has been widely recognized is that the Asian value is mainly characterized by the concept of harmony.

It is well known that many Asian countries are greatly influenced by Confucianism and it is also clear that the two pillars of the imagined edifice Confucianism are loyalty to family and obedience to the state through the forgoing of individuality for the sake of society’s stability and prosperity. As a result, many people in the world, especially the western people, play up such a feature claiming that there is a lack of human right and democracy in Asian countries. Thus, cultural differences and value differences between Asia and the West were stressed by several official delegations at the World Conference on Human Rights. As a result, the question of Asian values has become so politicized.

According to my knowledge, there are a few evident features that comprise the so-called Asian value. Firstly, Asian people are required to work for the good of society and to accept that the cohesion and stability of society are more important than the rights of themselves which makes people appear less selfish. Human behaviors should be conducted not only for the concern of individual rights but also equally of social duties and responsibilities. Group orientation is also combined with values such as self-discipline and personal sacrifice to the greater good. However, in fact it is only a logical situation. Secondly, which is still popular in people’s mindset is respecting for family ties and the elderly, frugality, filial piety, hard work and teamwork are also indispensable elements of this concept. Even in modern time, it is still considered as an important moral benchmark. But it is undeniable such kind of concept contributes much to the establishment of harmonious society. Take the relationship between parents and children in our country as example, children at home are always the passive listeners rather than the discussion leaders. Although it is unavoidable that divergences of views arise in discussions, exchanging views of points make parents and children go a step further in understanding each other, which contributes to the harmony of family life. If parents are in the wrong in arguments in families, there’s no denying that the ultimate result is that children have to acknowledge their mistakes, even if the fact is quite the opposite—the children are in the right. On the other hand, of course, it is inappropriate to do so.

To conclude, regardless of the Asian values or western values, different traditions nurture different cultures as well as national values. There’s no definite benchmark to tell the right and wrong and. What we should do is to show mutual respect for diverse cultures rather than to decry the different.