3.3.09

Culture and language have been on my mind lately: I am in a comparative education and poverty reduction class and the issue of culturally sensitive policies comes up frequently. However, even though I see the logic and importance of culturally sensitive programs and initiatives, I have a tendency to exclude myself. There is a fear there, deep under the skin, of cultural division. And so, I understand culturally empowering motives, but there is a part of me that fears them; a part of me that I hope will continue to recede in coming years.

To illustrate: yesterday we discussed language of instruction issues which is one of my education policy passions. Basically, the argument is this: children should be instructed, at least for their first few schooling years, in their native language in order to ease understanding and preserve cultural roots. The effects of these initiatives are both economic and social and, I believe, are among the most effective in ensuring income and cultural equality. But what of the US? Yesterday, as we were discussing, our own education policies came into question. I was asked: are you saying that the US should adopt multilingual language of instruction policies? A few months ago, my answer would undoubtedly have been no. But not yesterday. Yesterday, and today, my answer was and is: absolutely.

I would not have intended to say no out of a conscious intolerance for other cultures, but most likely out of a certain brand of patriotism that lingers with the scent of Cold War suspicions. However, I believe my yes answer is truly patriotic in other ways; transformative ways; progressive ways. Imagine with me: all cultures within the US receiving equal opportunities and rights to education in their own languages. Does it stir you? It most certainly has me.

English is obviously the administrative language of the states that I do not believe this should change. But what is the US? Did we think that, in our dive into globalization, we could still preserve the same types of borders? Maybe we so thought, but the consequences are clear: today's world is increasingly a world of cultures and not of geographical boundaries. And, like the boundaries with which we are so familiar, this new development has been and will continue to be both beautiful and terrible as the years progress.

But we are so afraid, at least I was, to start to let go of those boundaries. Wouldn't I be doing a disservice to those who gave their lives for our independence? Isn't the US ours; haven't we defended it; haven't we nourished it; haven't we helped it grow? Fascinating questions; so incredibly fascinating!

I'll tell you what I believe: I think we would do more of a disservice to our predecessors by forgetting the edifying values of our culture in an attempt to secure a piece of land. In the slow, unstoppable progression of time, all will change anyway. Everything except the edifying truth of values. I believe that cultures are a way to preserve those values across time; from generation to generation.

That is why, to me, language is one of the greatest empowerment tools. That is why, to me, one of the greatest things we can do to be leaders is ensure the preservation and perpetuation of the edifying values of each culture in whatsoever place they reside; be it post-colonial Africa or the US.