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Multicultural Moments - a periodic newsletter with brief items of note on our multicultural lives (Newsletter #15.01.09).  See prior editions in our Archives.  

Welcome back to Multicultural Moments, this time with enlightening responses to our last edition from Granada, Spain.  These reader perspectives deserved special attention.  Also in this edition look for new items on our ever-expanding multicultural world.

Reader Responses to Newsletter #14.01.08

(For clarity, my original item appears first after keyword, followed by responses.)

Spain:  The definition "of Hispanic origin" took on new meaning.  I have often heard Latinos object to being grouped with Spaniards, and now I have seen some of the differences myself.  I found the Spanish people to be relatively conservative, even staid, formal in their approach to strangers, whereas Latinos I have met are generally more relaxed and friendly at the outset.  It was a good example of how cultures evolve over time and geography.  Latin America has evolved from many cultures, including Indian and African, as well as those from the Spanish and European explorers.  Today's Spain appears to have retained much of Queen Isabella's & King Ferdinand's interpretation of Christian doctrine, which introduced the Inquisition to rid the population of Islamic impact and enforce a new way of thinking.  This formality to outsiders is consistent with many other cultures, particularly in Europe....The Spanish do not speak much English and somewhat resent an expectation they should speak it.

• "Spain is one of my most favorite countries.  I love its history, the Moorish architecture and influence (especially in many of the Spanish words), the food, the music and lots of other things.  The Madrilenos are certainly more formal.  I tend to enjoy the Andalusians more because they are usually more relaxed, warm and affable.  Spain is a country that underwent a crusade against Moorish occupation that lasted eight centuries....Those centuries of war, plus the horrific civil war of the mid-thirties in the 20th Century, hardened people.  Yet the Spanish can be both wonderfully gracious and shockingly rude at times; their use of foul language is extensive and most Spaniards don't seem to be bothered by it."  MW
   

• "Sounds like an interesting conference in Spain.  I find the age division quite common in the (American) nursing field.  A lot of young new nurses, older experienced nurses, and older new nurses (second career).  As a preceptor in my field you have to work with a great deal of diversity, all different backgrounds...even the patients and their families can pose a great challenge."  LD
   

• "Many of the observations you write about I have experienced.  One that I especially remember when I visited Madrid, was that in the old part of town if you didn't speak good Spanish the waiters gave poor service." AD 

Alhambra:  A bonus of holding the (SIETAR) conference in Granada was an extensive tour of the Alhambra, a fortress-like structure housing extraordinary palaces with exquisite architecture.  It typifies the almost eight centuries when Moors ruled Spain.  A BBC documentary, "When the Moors Ruled in Europe," reveals how Moorish advances in mathematics, astronomy, art and agriculture helped propel the West out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance.  For a free view, see http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-768956312207897325   The American writer, Washington Irving, was so impressed with the structure and its history that he wrote what has now become the classic, "Tales of the Alhambra."

• "I had the opportunity to visit the Alhambra a few years ago and found it quite fascinating.  Few realize the many contributions of the Moors." RL
   

• "I absolutely love visiting the Alhambra; its beauty is beyond parallel and, no matter how many times you may have visited it before, you could never just take it for granted."  MW
   

• "It was very interesting and reminded me of when my daughter did her junior year in Spain.  We toured all over Spain, including the Alhambra, and then went on to Lisbon.  Had a great time there."  JC
   

• "The Spain-Moor video reminded me that Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand not only decreed expulsion or death to the Muslims, but also the Jewish population.  These laws regarding the Jews were still in force into the 19th Century.  Thus did the 'wandering Jews' bring their culture to other parts of Europe."  SM

Japan:  In today's Japanese business culture, inter-generational problems have popped up.  Younger workers are more individualistic and do not necessary respect older workers based on seniority/age alone.  Direct criticism of management may occur, appalling many older-generation supervisors accustomed to the many layers of rules and etiquette embedded in Japanese business culture.  To bridge these generational gaps a new form of coaching, or mentoring, has evolved (koukan-nikki), sort of a big-brother relationship with another worker where no direct supervision is involved. Thus candor can occur easily and younger workers learn the "rules of the game."  Diversity training is becoming more popular in Japan, but value systems change slowly.

• "Having worked for two Japanese firms in my career, the problem with the young having different values is very evident and may (result in) the decline of Japan as an industrial nation."  AD
   

• "I found your comments regarding the Japanese generation gap interesting.  In Tokyo there is a special market in a part of the city where all the electronics companies test their new products for receptivity on the part of the younger generations.  The younger people also prefer fast food to traditional meals.  They like Rock, and dress and look like what we in America call Goths.  No wonder they have generational problems in the workplace."  MW
   

• "I was struck by your remarks relating to the generational issue in Japan's workforce.  I have been seeing the exact same issue in the US IT teams since the dot com boom.  The situation occurred because the rush to get new web-based applications meant that companies used new technology (which older workers generally did not know well) and did not restrain those younger workers with budgets and standards.  When the dot com boom went bust, many companies had issues because they had to clean up the mess (in their systems) & try to put constraints on Gen X/Y workers.
  
  "I always thought that what was missing was the 'mentor/coach' system I had when I started in business  Each team had a mentor who would insure that young workers would follow acceptable business practices and IT standards.  The mentor had input into your evaluation.  And each worker had a coach, typically a more senior person in another department, who was available to help with culture training and career advice, but would have no input into your evaluation.  So, you could generally be more candid.  
  
  "We did this 25+ years ago, although American companies are dropping the approach in this era of 'lean' organizations."  DD

"The opportunity that Hawaii offered—to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect—became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear....We cannot help but believe...that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself."

Barack Obama, 44th President of the USA

Multicultural Transplants:  Many attendees I met (in Spain) were transplants, sometimes several times, i.e., Scandinavians working in France; a Brit based in Germany working in Dubai; a German working in California; an Indian/Arab raised in England working in New York; a German working in Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria; an American based in Paris & working worldwide; an American working in Japan, Ecuador and Colombia; a Vietnamese working in Amsterdam; an American working all over Asia; a German working in Russia; a Czech working in New Jersey; an Indian working in Chicago & India.

• "I worked for (a major oil company) for 20 years in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an expatriate.  Later I also lived in London for half a year.  I've experienced first-hand the importance of effective, multicultural communications."  HE
   

• "Your examples of 'transplants' (sometimes many times over!) were certainly reminders of today's fluid communities.  We live in an interesting world for sure!  JB

World Time

A colleague forwarded an Internet world clock link, showing the time anywhere in the world  to, literally, the second.  Also included are demographics data, environment and natural resources statistics, and more. Take a look:  http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf.

Art World's Global View

"Pakistani artists come to Venice, Americans show in Cuba and a Paris auction is drawing buzz," thus begins a summary of how the art world crosses borders to find and show new treasures.  Global art events in Paris, South Africa, London, Italy, etc. include participants from the United Arab Emirates, Gabon, Pakistan, Montenegro and Argentina, to name a few.  For the full story see:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123084831492247351.html

Individual Rights & Christianity

A provocative article from Hillsdale College's Imprimis publication recently came to my attention entitled:  "Created Equal:  How Christianity Shaped the West."  It explores the premise that western countries were built upon the core values of Christianity and, therefore, the value of individual "equal" rights.  Other world cultures not sharing this premise have demonstrated that individual freedoms are often secondary to the greater "whole."  With increased emphasis on secularization in western countries today, will the decline of human individual rights follow?  Some say this is already happening.  For more information see:  http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2008&month=11

That's all for now.  See more blog comments from readers below...and we look forward to hearing from you!  jas@StarkeyGrp.com

P.S. Take a look at our website at www.StarkeyGrp.com with links to more resources, archives of this newsletter and sample case studies.

Judith Starkey
Multicultural  Strategies                
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Additional Blog Responses to Newsletter #14.01.08:

• "We need to start making friends in this world, and (SIETAR) sounds like it is moving in a positive direction.  We applaud your efforts."  RC
   
• "This was fascinating and enjoyable.  I am passing it on to (the person) who runs our diversity practice and who shares your broader interpretation of the role." AF
   
• "Your enthusiasm for your work shines through and your information is terrific...many thanks for including me in your mailings."  DG
   
• "The information about the World Congress in Spain was fascinating.  That led me to The Starkey Group website, which was equally interesting.  Congratulations on your success!  Now I want to read your book!"  HE
   
• "I just wanted to say I enjoyed reading what you had to say.  Thanks for sharing!"  T S-B
   
• "Your comments were very thought-provoking, and the photos were excellent."  SL
   
• "Very informative and well-presented.  The pictures brought back some wonderful memories of Granada."  MG

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Judith A. Starkey, President
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