When Has "Cultural Sensitivity" Gone Too Far?

[Angela]

Covering up nude ancient statues because of the visit of the Iranian leader?

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rome?src=hash

This is way too far for me; Renzi should be ashamed.

Plus, if he finds that offensive they're going to have to blanket the whole city in shrouds; there's a nude statue on every corner.

I feel the approach of an Oriana Fallaci moment. Someone should whisk them off right as he passes.

"OF: I still have to ask you a lot of things. About the "chador", for example, which I was obliged to wear to come and interview you, and which you impose on Iranian women. [...] I am not only referring to the dress but to what it represents, I mean the apartheid Iranian women have been forced into after the revolution. They cannot study at the university with men, they cannot work with men, they cannot swim in the sea or in a swimming-pool with men. They have to do everything separately, wearing their "chador." By the way, how can you swim wearing a "chador"?

AK: None of this concerns you, our customs do not concern you. If you don't like the Islamic dress you are not obliged to wear it, since it is for young women and respectable ladies.
OF: This is very kind of you, Imam, since you tell me that, I'm going to immediately rid myself of this stupid medieval rag. There!.<sup>[8]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci</sup>



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[LeBrok]

If he can't handle this "cultural shock" he shouldn't come.

 

[RobertColumbia]

"Cultural sensitivity" means that you are willing to learn and take into account others' cultural practices, beliefs, and customs and that you will make a reasonable effort to not be an arsehole. It doesn't mean that anyone and everyone is allowed to force you to do (or not do) whatever they want in the name of "cultural sensitivity". If that was actually the case, I could claim that my culture permits me to chop off your head, and that by refusing to put your head on the block and accept my axe, you are not being sufficiently sensitive to my "culture".

Using another metaphor, "cultural sensitivity" means that you need to recognize that a door exists and that opening it and looking inside is probably a good idea. It doesn't mean that you must fall in front of the door and be the doormat of anyone who wants to come in or out.

 

[LeBrok]

"Cultural sensitivity" means that you are willing to learn and take into account others' cultural practices, beliefs, and customs and that you will make a reasonable effort to not be an arsehole. It doesn't mean that anyone and everyone is allowed to force you to do (or not do) whatever they want in the name of "cultural sensitivity". If that was actually the case, I could claim that my culture permits me to chop off your head, and that by refusing to put your head on the block and accept my axe, you are not being sufficiently sensitive to my "culture".

I'm not sure if it is a good analogy. But I'm sure that all the thieves, who are about to have their hand chopped off, will refuse this custom and tradition gladly. No matter what culture they come from.
And honestly, in his age, typical for Iranian top mullas, he could only get erection with help of viagra or two, when looking upon naked statues. I don't even care what gender of statue he likes. What is he afraid of or his staff who called Italian government about this issue? (it wasn't Italian bureaucrats initiative, I hope) Perhaps he should practice his strong will, and embrace this test to enter heavens? One would think he should be immune to female beauty by now seeing mostly women in burka all his life.
Well, it is all more of a comical nature to me, lol.

Using another metaphor, "cultural sensitivity" means that you need to recognize that a door exists and that opening it and looking inside is probably a good idea. It doesn't mean that you must fall in front of the door and be the doormat of anyone who wants to come in or out.

That's right. I would say more. Cultural sensitivity is more about making room for someone's customs, but keeping in mind that his/her customs can't overwrite the inclusive and tolerant value of western culture (I'm so proud of). What I mean is, we (western culture) should be tolerant to all, as long as all are tolerant to all.
I'm not sure if I expressed myself clearly. Let me try again. We should be tolerant to all tolerant. We shouldn't be tolerant to intolerant. Other words, our tolerance stops for intolerance.

 

[RobertColumbia]

One can also see that "cultural sensitivity" is, or ought to be, a two-way street. It is not just a matter of one person demanding cultural sensitivity and another person either complying or disobeying, but about people being able to come together where each participant makes some sort of sacrifice for the sake of everyone getting along and getting things done. For example, a person with strong religious beliefs against homosexuality could agree to be friendly toward a gay neighbor in exchange for said neighbor not verbally attacking the sincerity of the first person's religious beliefs.