#gettingalong

How Can People From Different Cultures Get Along?

As humans it is very easy for us to get lost in our own culture, and we tend to forget that there are other cultures other than ours. Many people have bias opinions about other cultures, leading them to have little thought or no care at all for a specific culture. But it is very possible for people that differ from other cultures to get along. Yes, culture is very important in life, but we are humans first. Human interaction is normal, and it is perfectly normal for humans to get along. It’s easy to misjudge someone based off of their culture; but having an open mind and getting to know someone as a human being, adds to getting along with each other. Finding things you have in common with someone from another culture is another step forward to getting along. Open communication, explaining your culture and listening to someone else explain their culture is another stepping stone toward getting along. There are many things people from other cultures can do to simply live and get along with each other in peace. For example, in the Intercultural Communications it states, “A group of Palestinian and Israeli soldiers who previously “saw each other only through gun sights” but came to believe that conflict can not be solved by military means. Following principles of nonviolence, they now organize activities, tours, lectures, and events for both Israeli and Palestinian audiences, with goals of better understanding of the group through active dialogue and ultimately reducing violence and conflict” (Martin, Judith. “Chapter 12: Striving For Engaged And Effective Intercultural Communication” Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 7th ed., p. 478-512)

People from different cultures are able to get along simply by having the same passion in something. For example, in the program “Brasslands” bands from all around the world come together for the Guca Trumpet Festival. People from many different cultures come to listen, compete, and dance, just because they enjoy it. “But this year there’s gonna be a competition of foreign bands” “and each foreign band, and I have no idea who’s coming, or where from, is going to play one Serbian tune, and one from their own country,” said an American brass player. Just by being able to play other cultures music, is a way of getting along. Many people come to this festival to get to witness the different types of cultures, and have an open mind about each one.