1. You should feel as comfortable with differences
as you do with similarities, when it comes
to
horizontal feelings, like friendship or partnership.
But vertical feelings, such as superiority
or inferiority,
should not be embraced. Here I would like
to look at xenophobia. Some people feel xenophobic.
If they
see a person who looks different (from a
different country or race), they feel scared
that that
different person might hurt them. This is
a big misunderstanding and like all phobias,
it is based on an
unreasonable fear. In an extreme case someone
might hurt another simply because they thought
the
other person might hurt them. . . and all
because of their imagination or phobia. This
is the first thing
you should avoid if you want to become an
internationally-minded person. Remove xenophobia
-- or
any type of phobia -- as much as you can.
You should feel as comfortable with different
people as you
do with similar people.
Let me give you an example. Suppose in a
different country you enter an elevator and
push the
button for the 142nd floor - your destination.
However, the elevator stops at the second
floor, and a
very strange man or woman enters. You can't
tell which. The person could be a very beautiful
young
lady, a handsome young man, or a very dangerous
man or woman. But you cannot tell, because
the
person is wearing a hood and a robe. You
can't even see the person's face. Perhaps
you can barely
see the chin of the person, but you still
cannot tell the person's gender. The hood
and robe are not just
black and white, but colorfully decorated.
That person pushes the button for the 143rd
floor and it will
take about four minutes to get there. How
would you behave? If you want to feel comfortable
during
the four minutes, instead of feeling scared
or xenophobic, why not try to create a comfortable
atmosphere by communicating with the person
positively and peacefully? Just thinking
of yourself is
not good enough if you want to live comfortably
and peacefully with other people.
2.You should not measure other things or
others only by your own standards. If you
go to other
countries and want to buy clothes or shoes,
their measurements may be different. So are
value
systems. In one country a so-called "popular"
face looks "just so", but in another
country the
popular face may be very different. The definition
of beauty varies from one country to another.
Value
systems are different, too, so don't just
judge other things or other people only with
your own measurements.
3. You should be able to accept things as
they are and to describe them not only subjectively
but also
objectively. If you could analyze what a
thing is and how and why it is formed, the
world would benefit
by you. Even more, if you could predict the
future from this accurate analysis, you would
trully be
valuable. In other words, you should be able
to accept reality, and to cope with it.
4. Never impose any idea, ideology, custom,
behavior, or value system upon others, or
threaten to do
so in any form. Rather, try to understand
others.
5. Don't judge others when you know little
about them. Don't jusge solely on appearances,
either.
Prejudice is not a trait of the internationally-minded
person. It is natural to form some kind of
image of
another person. But do your best to eliminate
prejudice.
6. You should constantly strive to broaden
and deepen your knowledge towards whatever
you
encounter. During your life, you are apt
to encounter different things. If you go
to other countries, you
will likely face many things which are completely
different. Study about them. Try to broaden
and
deepen your knowledge so that you can develop
a better understanding and gain wisdom about
dealing
with something new.
7. Be sensitive, alert, and considerate towards
those you encounter, so they don't feel left
out, lonely,
or ostracized. But never try to interfere
with their personal matters -- especially
in their
decision-making and privacy -- unless you
are invited to do so. You should practice
both concepts:
"Do unto others as you would have others
do unto you" and conversely "Don't
treat others in a way
you wouldn't like to be treated yourself".
The first concept is based on a basic western
motto,
whereas the second takes a more eastern approach.
However, sometimes even if you treat others
the
way you would like to be treated, it may
still turn out to be bad for them, if their
measurements or
value systems are different. So you have
to consider beforhand what the value systems
are. Then you
can reconsider your action or behavior and
act properly. The same thinking can be applied
to the
concept of "Don't treat others in a
way you wouldn't like to be treated yourself".
Sometimes you may
think "I wouldn't want someone to do
this to me, so I shouldn't do this to others".
However, it may
turn out that you should have done it to
the particular person after all, because
in his or her culture it
is very important to behave so. So first
you must study basic value systems. Then
you can take
proper action.
8. Be creative and constructive, and constantly
try to think of ways to meet the needs of
others.
9. Never try to hurt anyone. Indeed, do your
best to persuade all human beings not to
hurt each
other. But if you or someone else hurts someone
by mistake, try to understand the reason
- why, so
that it doesn't happen again.
10. Remember that in the world there is not
just a single point of view. There is yours,
yes. But there
are also more than what you can anticipate,
and more than you can imagine. Don't think
that the world
evolves around you. Self-centered ideas are
not appreciated by others, so be considerate
also for
those who are quiet, hesitant, and reserved.
Stand in other people's shoes. Develop your
thoughts.
Develop your empathy.
Then, you will be a true internationally-minded
person. And the world will be a better place
because of
it.
１．優劣感を持たずに、快くどんな人にも接しなさい。
ここでは特に、異質人物恐怖症について述べておきたい。ある人達は、異質な人（外国人等）にあうと、恐怖心を抱く｡ それはその異質な人が自分達を傷つけたり、またその人からある種の攻撃を受け、破損を被るかもしれないと感じるからである｡ これは他の多くの恐怖症と同様に、道理に合わないもので、時にはその妄想ともいうべきものによって、先にその異質な人を傷つけてしまいかねない。国際人になるには、まずこの性質を取り除かなければならない。同質の人達と快く接しることができるのであれば、同様に異質な人達とも快く接しなさい。
ひとつ例をあげてみよう。ある国に行って、エレベーターに乗り、１４２階のある場所に行きたくて、１４２階のボタンを押したとします。ところがそのエレベーターは２階でとまり、男か女かわからない人物が入ってきました。すてきな若い女性か、ハンサムな男性か、それとも危険人物か、まったくわかりません。その人はローブを着ていて、また頭はフードで覆われていました。その人の顔は見えません。かすかに顎の部分が見える程度で、それでもやはり性別もわかりません。そのローブとフードは、白や黒の色だけでなくあらゆる色で飾られていました。そしてその人が、143階のボタンを押したとします。目的のフロアーまで行くのに4分ぐらいかかります。あなたはどうしますか？ この4分間恐怖心を抱いたまま過ごしますか？ それとも前向きに考え、その人と穏やかにコミュニケーションをとり、快い雰囲気を作ろうとしてはどうでしょうか？
２．自分の価値観のみで人やものを計っては行けません。他の国へ行って、服や靴を買おうとしたとき、その国のものさしの単位は違うかもしれません。だから価値観も違うでしょう。ある国で人気のある顔と他の国で人気のある顔は、大変異なっているかもしれません。美の定義も国々によって様々でしょう。だから自分のものさしのみで人やものを判断したてはいけません。
３．客観的にも物事を見ようと努力し、分析力を養いなさい。ある事柄が何であるか、どのようにしてまたなぜそれが形成されたか分析するっことによって、世の中に寄与できるでしょう。また正確な分析によって将来を予測できるようになれば、それは価値のあることでしょう。要は現実を受け入れ、うまくそれに対処していくことです。
４．決して考え、イデオロギー、習慣、行動や価値観を、他の人に強要させてはいけません。むしろその人達を理解しようと努めなさい。
５．少ししかしらないのに、人々を判断してはいけません。外観のみで判断してもいけません。偏見は国際人の要素とはかけはなれています。他の人々に対してなんらかのイメージを持ちがちでしょうが、偏見を取り除くように最善を尽くしなさい。
６．あなたが出会う事柄に関して知識を広めまた深めようと絶えず努力しなさい。生涯において様々なことに出くわします。特に他の国へ行くと、まるっきり違った事柄に出会います。知識を広めまた深めることによって、よりよい理解力と知恵を得るでしょう。
７．あなたが出会う人々に対して、よく気を配り、その人達がさびしく感じたり、また疎外感を受けたりしないように心がけなさい。しかしながら個人的な事柄には、触れないようにしなさい。なかでもその人の意思決定とプライバシーには招かれない限り、決して立ち入らないことです。「自分にしてもらいたいことを人にしてあげなさい」と「自分がしてもらいたくないことを人にしてはいけません」の両方のことがらを実行しなさい。前者は西洋的で、後者は東洋的な考え方のように思われますが、たとえ前者のことを実行しても、違ったものさしや価値観をもっていれば、せっかくの好意も相手に不愉快なことになることもありますし、後者のことをしても、同様に相手の期待に反したことにもなります。
ゆえに、まず相手の価値観等をよく理解することが先決です。国際人
８．想像的且つ建設的になり、人々の必要性に応じた工夫を絶えず考えなさい。
９．決して人を傷つけようとしてはいけません。人類が互いに傷つけないように説得することが大切です。もしかりにあやまって人を傷つけてしまったら、その理由を理解し、決して同じまちがいをしないことです。
１０．あなたの見解というのは、多くの人々のなかの一つにしかすぎません。宇宙には想像も出来ない見解も数々あることを覚えておきなさい。自己中心的考えというのは、感謝されません。他の人々の立場になって、考えなさい。思考力を発展させ、感情移入力も発展させなさい。
あなたが国際人になることによって、世界はよりよいところになるでしょう。
