For prosperity: The Other

In fact, our planet has always been multicultural--since time immemorial the people on it have spoken different languages and believed in different gods, but the world's destiny developed in such a way that for the past five centuries European culture or civilization has dominated us, and as a result, in saying 'we', we understood-- 'we, all people', though in reality we only meant us, the Europeans.

--Ryszard Kapuściński

For prosperity: The Other

The paradoxical nature of the media situation goes further. On the one hand the media are becoming more globalised, but on the other they are becoming shallower, more incoherent and confused.


Ryszard Kapuściński

For prosperity: The Other

Let us note that the concept of 'the Other' is usually defined from the white, European point of view. Nowadays, however, as I walk through a village in the mountains of Ethiopia, a gang of children runs after me, pointing at me in amusement and shouting: 'Faranji! Faranji!' That means 'foreigner', 'other', because to them I am an Other.

In this sense we are all in the same boat. Every one of us living on this planet is an Other in the view of Others--I am in their view, and they are in mine.

Ryszard Kapuściński

For prosperity: The Other

Moreover, nowadays we say that the world has become multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, not because there are more of these societies and cultures than before, but because they are speaking ever louder, ever more independently and decisively demanding to be accepted and acknowledged, and to be given a place at the round table of nations.

Ryszard Kapuściński



//Maybe you're wondering what is For Prosperity and why do I keep on spamming the subscription list. For Prosperity is a specific tag I use for quotes that I really like from books I'm currently reading. Usually they aren't in such bursts but sometimes it happens; I am considering making all the ones back to back not show up on sub-lists so they don't look too spammy. In this case, The Other is due back today so I had to read most of it in the morning.//