When in Rome...

[.Sabre.]

...do as the Romans do.

How applicable is that maxim in modern, supposedly multicultural society?


I believe it is applicable in order to be politically correct and not offend people.However, losing your own cultural identity in order to be PC is no good for anyone. Multiculturalism's very foundation is based on people being diverse. I will agree with the conservatives of this board on one point: some people are way too sensitive and play the victim too much. I have heard people say that they were treated unfairly when they honestly weren't, and they make it harder to help people who do get treated unfairly because they then get brushed off as attention-seekers.

 

[Lynden1000]

"When in Rome..." applies to those visiting another country and following the social mores of that country. For example, you don't go to a predominantly Muslim country and shake hands with someone else's wife, even though you might do so here in the US.

I don't think it's meant to suggest anything more or less than that.

 

[Rebekka]

When in Rome... you should cover your body between shoulders and knees when you want to visit a church. And don't yell, that's bad manners. And don't complain that they only serve Italian food. And learn some Italian. It doesn't hurt to learn something about catholicism either - will make you understand = appreciate your trip more.

 

[Voegelin]

Considering the state of many America cities, I would say one shouldn't even visit much less imitate the culture.

 

[spartacus1984]

sabre.
When in Rome... do as the Romans do?

Shouldn’t English solders when in Iraq do as the Iraqis do?

Didn’t the British when in India do as the Indians do?

When in england do as the hypocrites do?

 

[.Sabre.]

sabre.
When in Rome... do as the Romans do?

Shouldn’t English solders when in Iraq do as the Iraqis do?

Didn’t the British when in India do as the Indians do?

When in england do as the hypocrites do?

Bots: when on forums, do as human posters do.

 

[spartacus1984]

sabre.

sabre. When the English in Africa, the English killed the Africans and the English took Africans away in chains to be sold as slave.
and
sabre. When the English in Australia, the English killed the aborigines. the English steal the aborigines land.
and
sabre. When the English in Iraq, the English kill Iraqis. the English steal the Iraqis oil
And
sabre. When the English in Afghanistan, the English kill Afghans. the English and the Afghans opium?



sabre.When in England do as the Hypocrites do?

sabre. Should the Africans, the aborigines, the Iraqis and the Afghans do as the English do?

 

[rambot]

Living in another culture puts a BRAND spanking new perspective on this "when in rome" idea.
Where I'm living, my western viewpoints find that the natives are:

1) Xenophobic, or at least racially ignorant (oh, white people are weaker, that is why they are sick a lot more).
2) Selfish
3) Inconsiderate
4) Weak willed
5) Dishonest

I think that, realistically speaking, they are merely 1-6 in a way that's different than my peeps back in Canada.

It's difficult for an outsider to ingratiate himself into her/his host nations affairs. Some foreigners will view him has a "traitor" and it's simply a fact that many locals will simply never accept him. For eg: in my country, a person who doesn't look the ethnicity will NEVER be considered part of the culture, even if they grew up there.