This is said to civilized men who are to venture into…
““This is said to civilized men who are to venture into countries where sacred cows are fed, while children are left to starve - where female infants are killed or abandoned by the roadside- where men go blind, medical help being forbidden by their religion - where women are mutilated, to insure their fidelity - where unspeakable tortures are ceremonially inflicted on prisoners - where cannibalism is practiced. Are these the ‘cultural riches’ which a Western man is to greet with ‘brotherly love’? Are these the ‘valuable elements’ which he is to admire and adopt? Are these the ‘fields’ in which he is not to regard himself as superior? And when he discovers entire populations rotting alive in such conditions, is he not to acknowledge, with a burning stab of pride - of pride and gratitude - the achievements of his nation and his culture, of the men who created them and left him a nobler heritage to carry forward?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques the hypocrisy of praising cultural “riches” while ignoring severe human rights abuses, questioning whether true admiration can coexist with moral blindness.
In simple terms: Celebrating culture while ignoring suffering is hypocritical.
Key Takeaway
Moral blindness undermines cultural pride.
Themes
ethics
cultural criticism
human rights
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
somber
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- tourism
- foreign aid
- media coverage
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
moral relativism
cultural imperialism
Practical Applications
- promote ethical awareness
- challenge selective admiration
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we separate art from the artist’s context?
- How should societies confront their own atrocities?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that cultural achievements can be appreciated separately from societal flaws.