educators, social workers, and non-Muslims in appropriate social interaction.
True or False?
All the questions below are true or false and meant for a healthy discussion. You are not expected to have all the answers. Some of these examples are definitely false!
True or False?
1. The Maghreb and North Africa are the same thing.
2. Africa is a country. (Because George Bush said so).
3. North Africa is part of the Middle East because they are all Arabs.
4. Gulf Arabs speak the same dialect as African Arabs?
True or False?
5. Arabs are considered Mediterranean, unlike Africans who have dark skin. They may come in as many skin colors as"Americans." It can reference both an ethnic group or the people of a country in general. It does not include Berbers, Kurds, or Tuareg.
6. A Berber is genetically and culturally different from Arabs.
7. A Tuareg is an Arab because he lives in an Arab country.
True or False?
8. A Tuareg is sort of like a Berber but with differences.
True or False?
9. Berbers may still live in tents today, and may even prefer them.
10. Many nomads have been forced to live in urban environments due to food and water shortages brought on by the creation of political boundaries that limited their ability to navigate towards necessary pasture lands for livestock.
11. Urbanization has caused life style changes for Tuareg and nomads in general.
12. Nomadic lifestyle is also cultural and has deep roots in belief system and how one feels about himself and his ancestors.
13. If one can keep up one's cultural traditions, one might feel better about himself and also feel more self-empowered.
True or False?
14. If we take away cultural norms, and replace them with the norms of another culture, we are creating cultural genocide.
True or False?
15. If we replace religious, social, political, or language markers with our own, we might be showing ethnocentrism?
16. People want to fit in, so if they have to give up Berber to speak Arabic instead, that is ok?
17. People have a right to be respected no matter if you understand them or not.
True or False?
All the questions below are true or false and meant for a healthy discussion. You are not expected to have all the answers. Some of these examples are definitely false!
18. Maghrebi people who speak French are superior to Gulf Arabs who do not.
19. Berber is a nasty language that has no place in modern society.
20. Resurrection of language and culture (that are in danger of being extinct) is a national crisis for everybody, and diversity should be honored- because diversity is worth it.
True or False?
21. We all deserve the same rights to diversity and freedom to enjoy our own cultural values.
This is called decolonizing.
22. If I don't understand the tradition or ritual, I should not ask what it means because I might get embarrassed and people will probably not tell me anyhow.
23. People are probably happy to explain their traditions to an honest, curious person who asks sincerely.
True or False?
24. Intermarriage among races and traditions will cause cultural extinction. We should avoid interaction with people who are different.
25. It is possible to be bi-cultural and it is possible to successfully practice two traditions at once. Example: You are the child of:
- a Shite Muslim Irani mother and a Sunni Muslim Bahrani father.
-A Dutch Holland (Netherlands) mother and a Native America (Indian) father.
-An Arab Algerian mother and a Berber Moroccan father
26. It is normal and healthy to be curious about differences, and about the culture of others.
True or False?
All the questions below are true or false and meant for a healthy discussion. You are not expected to have all the answers. Some of these examples are definitely false!
27. Women who cover their hair are being forced into subjugation.
28. It is ok if I don't do what others are doing because my culture is different. I can still appreciate differences.
True or False?
29. It is not ok to make faces at people. Body language can be offensive.
See list of offensive gestures here
30. It is ok to wear their clothing to see how it looks and feels, even if it is not my normal clothes.
True or False?
31. Before we give someone our traditions, like Christmas trees, we should find out what they do instead. Failure to do this may result in cultural extinction and ethnocentrism.
http://www.childrenofafrica.org/en/social-sector/christmas-tree-children-abidjan
32. In some cultures, boys and girls do not mix at parties. If I am not sure, I should ask.
True or False?
33. Do not assume everybody likes wine... (or pork if that is my tradition.)
34. Berbers speak Arabic because they "prefer" it.
All the questions below are true or false and meant for a healthy discussion. You are not expected to have all the answers. Some of these examples are definitely false!
35. Tuareg are the most discriminated against North African group because of land and border disputes by governments that have alienated them.
True or False?
36. If Tuareg could access higher education and get their youth into politics, they would. They want to have a voice in society.
"The first priority for our people is education," says Fatimata Walet
Oumar, a Tuareg women's rights activist and leader singer of the group
Tartit Ensemble. "I mean for children of the poorest sections of
society. Hierarchies must change. In fact they are already changing. The
powerful clans have their history. It's there and it can't be changed.
The future is something else."
37. Now that Tuareg are living in oasis areas and are locked into apartments with cable TV and electricity, they probably prefer it over their nomadic culture.
True or False?
38. Tuareg and Berber are no longer nomadic. That was a long time ago.
39. Camels, goats, and being nomadic are still very much a part of Tuareg and Berber culture today.
True or False?
40. Vulnerable populations need help, protection, and understanding so that their culture and language can thrive and heal from damage.
41. It is ok for tourists to exploit people who are poor because locals need the money.
True or False?
42. A nomad can own a cell phone and a computer just like you, but still want his camel and goat.
43. A Berber may go to college but still choose to go back home and practice his life style. This does not mean education failed him. (So what does it mean?)
Resources
East and West major differences http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/04/88094/cultural-awareness-a-reading-from-the-other-angle-2/
Gender equity is now a "Big deal" http://www.genderresources.com/assessment-maghreb
Hshuma http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/morocco-country-profile.html
Daily Interactions https://www.adventurealternative.com/culture-tips-morocco/
Common Sense http://www.huffingtonpost.com/murali-balaji/sometimes-its-more-than-c_b_4467266.html
Classroom lessons http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/03/83296/cultural-awareness-in-efl-classrooms/
