For me, culture is all about deeper meaning — being to look past superficialities and stereotypes to the essence, the real nature of the thing.
It seems to me that cultural differences only become a problem if we stick with our perception of others' beliefs or values or cultural practices. For example, my perspective on a certain cultural rite or ritual might initially lead me to believe that a particular culture is out of touch or behind the times. Or even if I don't pass judgment on it specifically, I might not have much of an appreciation for that cultural practice.
That's where understanding, and a desire to get at the underlying idea, comes in. In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy called this way of thinking resolving "things into thoughts," or, exchanging "the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul." Science and Health, p. 269. As we do this, we're able to draw out, or at the very least become aware of, the very best parts, the richness, of culture.
Going back to the essence, to what you might call the spiritual sense of culture and its manifestations, it's easy to find the good.
One of the things I love about South African culture is its diversity—and the appreciation of that diversity that's been growing, especially over the last decade. Of course, diversity also brings with it its own challenges, one of which is integration. Companies are under great pressure to meet equity targets (to have, among their employees, certain percentages of various racial or ethnic groups), and at times that can result in what almost feels like reverse discrimination.
It would seem easy to get frustrated or disillusioned in this kind of environment, but going back to the essence, to what you might call the spiritual sense of culture and its manifestations, it's easy to find the good. For South Africa that good takes shape in the desire for equality, the valuing of diversity, the harmonizing of differences. The openness and acceptance and desire for understanding.
I think it's as we focus on that good that we're able to amplify it. And that, in turn, can only cause those less-favorable aspects of culture to recede until we see it in its purest form, its innately beautiful expression.
