The story Eating Christmas in the Kalahari written by Richard Borshay Lee raises the problem of social equality and cultural differences and their values. The author managed to disclose the most important human features valued by all nations, such as kindness, generosity, and openness.
The problem of intercultural differences was vividly demonstrated in the example of national customs and traditions of the Bushmen’s society.
The story highlights the attitude of the particular national society of Bushmen to the arrogance and social inequality in the modern world. The Christmas story that happened according to the traditions of the tribe closely interacts with anthropological problems existing nowadays.
The author tried to underline the complete disrespect of the Bushmen to the arrogance of the guests visiting their territory or living with them.
It may seem cruel and cynical that these people got used to mock everyone, but this very habit helps other nationalities to understand their mistakes and get rid of arrogance forever.
“…when a young man kills much meat, he comes to think of himself as a chief or a big man, and he thinks of the rest of us as his servants or inferiors. We can’t accept this.”
The author underlined the fact that people should overcome this lesson of line and become more open and frank to those who surround us, no matter what nationality they are.
The story is really thought-provoking while it teaches everyone to evaluate what they have and strive for self-improvement. Arrogance will never result in cultural friendship and mutual respect.
The example of Bushmen’s lesson showed that every person could understand his faults; it is important to establish rapport in order to realize how to change one’s world look.
“…we always speak of his meat as worthless. This way we cool his heart and make him gentle.”
Eating Christmas in the Kalaharidisclosed the contact between two different societies which have very much in common though are different in views and values. The author managed to show that the Bushmen’s society directs its morality at the improvement of human inner qualities.
They explain that all people are equal at any situation, whether you killed a big animal or not.
“We refuse one who boasts, for someday his pride will make him kill somebody.”
The story managed to show the way how people can fight such negative features as arrogance and envy; the author underlined the value of generosity and kindness in one’s attitude to others. The Bushmen tactic of humiliation appeared to be quite effective, even from the point of view of anthropology.
It showed that intercultural barrier could be broken if everyone would understand the value of social equality and openness to each other.
The problems of social interactions and national misunderstanding seem to be very popular nowadays as in the modern world, the status of the nation is measured by the wealth of the country rather than by humanity and frankness to one another.
It is important to stress that the story Eating Christmas in the Kalahari is very close to life and can be used as an example for anthropological study.
