Damian Cultures´ Blog

“El único sindicato al que le creo, es al Sindicato Antioqueño”

I wanted to start with that old joke; and as you continue reading my blog you could think am a little pessimist with the situation of my country Colombia, but is not true, I do believe in a better future but is important to see and keep in mind the real facts.

The most of trade unions in Colombia are just groups of people trying to defend their personal interest but no defending every worker rights as it should be done. But also they have been suffering mistreats from more bodies, that directly attack to ones who really defend the workers.

Internationally speaking they were one the creations of the Industrial Revolution, a phenomenon occurred in Europe, Germany in its capitalist side supported the workers rights. So in Europe we could expect to see a better or higher participation in trade unions. Nevertheless the situations around the world are not the best for that, Spain is facing an increase on its unemployment rates, North Korea doesn’t allow them, and I already talk a little about Colombia.

Yes!! it is very controversial for Colombians like us to say that we can trust on the financial system after suffering with some banks that charge huge interest rates for loans, and a minimal rates for the investors. Companies like DMG DRFE and more in all our country, the need of corporations like “Fogafín” and other to control the possible disappear of those entities so nobody´s pocket get hurt…

That makes me think that we still love the culture of “el vivo vive del bobo”, something that we can translate like… some people who think they are smart take advantage of ingenious people. It sure is not correct but that’s what happens in our society we need the existence of more bodies controlling the situation.

Now… have you ever think that the religion comes to the banks and tell them no to steal the money of their clients, changing their mind of having profits and becoming them more responsible with the rest.

Well that’s actually what happens in the Arab world, they are very strict with their Islamic believes being really forbidden to apply a usury rate, and I say really forbidden because in our country and our culture that’s something that’s only in the papers.

Am not saying we should adopt the Islamic religion so we can advance in the respect of the clients rights; personally I prefer not to speak about religion as the solution of problems but I do know that it leads some values that can apply in many aspects and this is one of them in the Arab world not for us, we need another source: The Law, the culture, and… “Only god knows”.

Now it’s the opportunity to talk about China; a country full of colors, a millenary culture, and a very promising future (In this post am not going to make emphasis on the “Chinese people freedom” issues). There are many actors with such expectations.

China in its diverse culture, values are showed a little different than usual, I am speaking of Western individualism, and liberal vision against an Eastern collectivist thinking, and a conservative statements.

These differences are more appreciated at the time of a conflict resolution, where their ways of negotiating and vision are more discernible.

Today China is a country with political ideologies and economic systems very controversial for its time, but they have been achieving many goals. And each time, they are increasingly more accepted as a country with high potential.

The differences bewtween their culture in the frame of an organizational environment are reflected in the follow chart.

There are sometimes that people confuse these two terms, both refers that people are moving across the boarders of nations, or maybe they just don’t know what the expatriate term means.

When we are talking of the expatriates, is just a person that is living permanently or temporally in a different country where he or she grew or was born by legal terms. This also implies that this person is affected by the culture where is leaving.

As an example of an expatriate we could imagine a company sending one of its workers to collaborate and work for a period of time, even a person who had to live the country when he was just a little child and had to travel with the family.

Meanwhile immigrants can be appreciated as people searching for the citizenship during the time spent in that country and more labor kind (people searching for best works to improve somehow their life conditions). Unfortunately, today in the present we see many examples of illegal situations of immigrants, this has created a stigma, making many people believe that whenever is speaking about this topic it has to be related with the Africans (going to Europe), Mexicans, Colombians, and more Latin American people.

Nowadays in USA is very common to hear the term “wetback” and/or "beaner", a very offensive term for Mexicans that arrive to North America searching for better opportunities.

Maybe because am friend of some Mexicans, and also because am a Colombian (catalogued as drug dealer) but I really hurt when every person is treated as an illegal.

This time i wont post any pictures, I will just let two music videos (in Spanish), who are very related with the last part of the topic... the treat received for all the people, generalizing the concepts.

Beaner - Frijolero - Molotov (from Mexico)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdPDsLRSllQ

Wetback - Mojado - Ricardo Arjona (Guatemala) and Intocable (USA)

This video comes with subtitles in english, which i really recommend to watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaKQrlLlFo8