Cross-Cultural Interaction The readings for this assignment deal mostly with racial / ethnic issues. The Mellody Hobson story (from TED), posted by Ben Lillie, explores the dynamics of color and race, pointing out that only two of Fortune 250 companies are chaired by African-American women. Hobson goes on to point out that people ought not to be just "color brave" but they should be willing to confront their demons, and should invite people of color to apply for jobs because diversity brings strength to a company.

I saw a feature on the TED movement on the wonderful CBS program, Sunday Morning, and clearly people like Mellody Hobson have a powerful impact on that stage when they reach deep into the well of progressive ideas and creative solutions. In the Obstacles to Cultural Competence, again the issue of ethnic differences was covered, and covered very well. It was fascinating to read the responses to the authors' handling of the walls that need to be broken down between minorities and Caucasians. White responses took issue with the book's narrative while Latino and African-Americans praised the author.

Right Wing Conservative versus a Progressive

Meanwhile, the assignment calls for me to reflect on an experience I had with a person from a background dissimilar to my own. I was to discuss "preconceived notions, stereotypes or beliefs" that I hold, and the verbal conflict (or discussion) can be between "any type of cultural difference." In this case I had a sharp, sometimes a bit harsh, verbal clash with a right wing conservative who supports Donald Trump for president.

Granted, the word "conservative" in politics doesn't really fit with Trump. According to the Student News Daily, a conservative believes in " ... personal responsibility,...

He says the media and President Obama are "the worst of the worst ... liars ... dishonest ... incompetent" rather than laying out what he would do specifically as president. I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper comparing the more civilized debates that Nixon and Kennedy had in the 1960 televised debates with the "hatefulness and brutally toxic personal attacks we witness on debate stages." I mentioned the "pitifully poor quality of the conversation" and the "drumbeat of slurs and insults" and how Trump comes across as a "bigoted, bullying buffoon" who has apparently no knowledge of the international political and social landscape.
A man named Hoffberg wrote a follow-up letter attacking me as a "left-wing radical who doesn't understand how the political system works." Hoffberg threatened to cancel his subscription to the paper and said I was "foolish to try and understand a man like Donald Trump, whose business sense and successes make him a perfect person to be in the White House." He also wrote an email to me attacking me as a "know-nothing, left wing lunatic, and an apologist for an ineffective president Obama."

I wrote back in an even tone, suggesting we may have things in common. I also said we should meet for coffee and see if there is common ground on the environment, for example. He agreed. We sat down after shaking hands and he launched into all the reasons Trump is qualified to be president. "People are sick and tired of the status quo in Washington," he…