Respectfully, There are cultural differences between Westerners and other cultures in the way they interact in social and business settings. Well documented fact. This may sometimes lead to misunderstandings and hard feelings when, in this case, Americans feel that a member of an immigrant culture has been rude, when the immigrant they felt that they have been perfectly civil - according to the mores of their culture.
The response is simple, educate with subtle persuasion - socialize. Cease to patronize businesses that do not respond to complaints. Hold discourse with your neighbors. Set an example. Use your horn - gently. Race-baiting is not the answer. The decay of civility among native born americans, particularly white americans is another issue altogether. I believe it's real, not just anecdotal. And a real problem with costs to society. Isn't this part and parcel of the Christian Right's "moral decay" issue? I agree with them that there are symptoms but not with the diagnosis and certainly not the treament plan. What are the historical forces tearing apart families and other primary social structures in industrialized countries? And by family I do not mean nuclear. Our society has real problems to face in this generation as a result of the breakdown of familial based support sytems (e.g. increasing prison populations and an aging population with a shortage of care-givers). Freedom from small town/traditional religious norms and mores and the restrictions of extended familial obligations allows for great personal liberty. But if we agree that this is the way we want to shape society then we have to come up with creative ways to replace the necessary functions that these institutions serve(d). And I don't think we've done that yet. Matthew Devany Powderhorn, Mpls. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
