Racism

Is racism caused by the fact that people know only their own culture and believe it to be superior to others?

That reason can certainly be considered one of the major causes of racism. A person who demonstrates racist behavior has little consideration of the world around him. He seeks refuge in his culture and stays closed off to others. His knowledge of other cultures is often very limited therefore he is incapable of any deep understanding of other cultural differences. As a traveler I’ve met numerous people of all ethnicity who were truly interested in my cultural background, and so I’ve never noticed any racist attitudes. Exploring a foreign culture is always a rich adventure for everyone, especially when one succeeds in breaking through purely rational rules and protocols and appreciates the emotional experience of those cultures’ values. The more we permeate into the heart of a foreign culture, the less strange it seems to us, and the more we understand that their culture gives them a sense of security and a meaning to life. Above all, we realize that our intellectual enrichment is dependent upon our ability to have dignified respect for other cultures.