Cultural criticism

Back in my time

Cultural sensitivity

"Don't worry, my friend! Yes, I know what you have gone through. I know you have been unjustly accused, flogged and publicly humiliated... But you can rest assured that at least I will respect your autonomy and not impose values on you that are alien to your culture, like, say, presumption of innocence and protection against torture."

"Uuh..."

"No, you don't need to thank me. I would do this for anyone."

Relativism 2

Out of deference to the cultural sensibilities of some readers that have written in, the present counterpoint to last Tuesday's cartoon is offered. There, no one needs to be offended now.

"Nothing personal. It's just a part of my culture."

"Er... Well, in my culture there exists the custom of living many years."

"Silence. Don't try to impose your values on me."

Column

"The culture columnist called in sick. Can you take his place today?"

"Well, I usually do science news... But I can give it a try."

"Moby Dick, Hermione Mobile's new book about the biggest killer whale in the world, is baffling critics and bringing literary theory into question—"

Values

"Woman condemned to death for adultery in Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups try to stop the execution."

"That's outrageous!"

"You can say that again! Who do these groups think they are to impose their values on another culture?"

"It's sickeningly imperialistic."