Bill himself did not seem to find the Hmong quite as exasperating as some of his colleagues did, perhaps because of the lessons in cultural relativism he had learned during the two years he had spent with the Peace Corps in Micronesia, and perhaps because, as he pointed out to me, the Hmong acted no stranger than his next-door neighbors in Merced, a family of white fundamentalist Christians who had smashed their television set and then danced a jig around it. {The neighbors' children had then offered to smash Bill's set as well. He had politely declined.}
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Bill had a unique perspective on the Hmong culture, viewing them with more understanding than many of his colleagues. His experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Micronesia likely contributed to his appreciation for cultural differences. He recognized that the Hmong's behavior was not significantly different from that of his own neighbors, who had engaged in their own peculiar traditions, such as smashing their television and celebrating the act with a dance.

This comparison illustrates Bill's broader understanding of cultural relativism, enabling him to empathize rather than judge. His humorous anecdote about his neighbors highlights the diversity of human behaviors, suggesting that every culture has its quirks, making it essential to approach each with openness and respect.

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April 05, 2025

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