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| So, the question is: if we consider knowledge of effects, does “difference with equality” lose its moral force as an ideal? |
In order to analyze this question, I will apply the idea of
“difference with equality” to different cultures. Presenting an example, I will
aim to determine if the ideal stands firm.
The gears in my mind start to turn when posed with a
question along these lines. Any answer to a question that essentially calls
into question the value of a culture enters a very slippery slope. The fragile
state of this discussion is created as a result of the seemingly unavoidable
statements that are made when comparing different cultures.
For Example:
A few months ago, Houston Rockets GM, Daryll Morey Tweeted a
symbol that signaled his support for the “Free Hong Kong” movement. Within
hours it was almost like the Houston Rockets never existed in China. If you
viewed the official NBA website while in China, you could not purchase, watch,
or look up anything related to the team. A few days later, NBA superstar,
Lebron James, said that Morrey should not have made any statements until he was
aware of all the circumstances. James got a lot of hate for his comments. The
NBA backed Morey, but his action started a larger conversation about U.S.
citizens having the tendency to try to impose what they think is “right” on
others. Returning back to the idea of “difference with equality,” it is quite
apparent that Morey believes that this ideal is non-existent. Thinking the
cultural values of the U.S. should be applied to China, Morey fails to consider
the history, culture, and way of life in China. The natural human inclination
to use an ethnocentric lens when viewing situations like these goes to show
that maybe “difference with equality” is not necessarily a morally firm idea.
From an American lens, the rights to protest and free speech are at the core of
their values. Contrastingly, the same values might not hold the same level of
significance in a different culture. We can infer that Americans like Morey
believe that cultures or countries that do not uphold the same values are
indeed, in their eyes, insubordinate.
The question I pose is as follows: Is a culture that does
not significantly value free speech, rights to protest, and individuality
inferior to one that does?
In my purview, yes. But again, I have the flaw of viewing
things from an American ethnocentric lens. The mere existence of these
different kinds of cultural lenses, I believe, makes the entire idea of
“difference with equality” invalid. How can we determine the value of a culture
if we nothing else to compare it to? We can’t. After all, we can only determine
the value of something if we have something (i.e.: moral compass, set of ideals,
religion...etc) that determines how significant things are to us.
Is there such a thing as the correct dismissal of
alternatives, so to speak?
I am a firm believer that every human is equal, regardless of
race, gender, or religion. Alternatively, there are cultures and religions that
do not agree with any part of my previous statement. Again, based on what I
value, the various cultures and religions that do not acknowledge this level of
equality are dismissed in my mind. I am not denying their existence, rather
just saying that I see no benefit to their existence.
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