Culture Really Does Matter

Brussels- manneken dan piss
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It was a sunny day in mid-August as I strolled down a side street in Brussels. I had arrived three weeks prior to starting my course of studies and was already feeling rather lonely and far away from home. I thought that if I arrived in Belgium early I would have a chance to practice my French and get a good understanding of my new surroundings. That particular day it seemed my plan was not working out. I felt confused and stressed by my inadequate French and sudden immersion  in a different culture.

As I rounded a corner I saw a rather stoic looking building of grey stone blocks. Hanging over the top of a narrow and aged wooden door was the sign - Irish Pub. "Thank God," I thought, "People who speak my language and no doubt take pleasure in the same music." Living in New Brunswick my Dad encouraged us to be proud of our Irish roots.  St. Patrick's Day was a huge occasion. We could even break our Lenten fast that day! No better place than an Irish Pub to wash away that lonely feeling and lift my spirit. But it was not to be. I could hardly understand them in the semi-darkness of the bar and their music...well it was very unfamiliar. Finding no relief, and realizing I had nothing in common with the pub patrons, I left that drab establishment and unceremoniously abandoned the notion that I was  Irish-Canadian. I simply dropped my hyphen!

I brought my skates with me to Brussels hoping to find a rink where I could manage a little shinny or just get some good exercise. For the first few weeks I searched all over town where the guide book indicated there was a rink. After class I would toss my skates in the back of my old Lloyd, a well used British car I picked up cheap, and headed for the 'patinoire'. Inevidebly, it turned out to be a roller skating rink! Damn! Just another humble cultural shock.

It is astonishing how acculturated we become over time. This is not only true of our country, but true of the groups to which we belong, the clubs where we are members, the places where we work and  our own homes where we live. For culture is not simply Art, Music and Literature. It is the human behaviour patterns we learn as a member of a group which ties us together...or should! For people who work in unhealthy culture where authority is top down, coffee breaks are bitching sessions and openness is a closed door. The members refer to their position as "it's just a job!"

Peter Thiel a technology entrepreneur and investor was once asked by the president of an International Company what was the most important piece of advice he had for them. He replied,"Don't fuck up the culture."  When the culture is strong, people can be expected to do the right thing. Google tries to maintain a culture where everyone is a hands-on contributor and feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. A good culture creates a good attitude and makes it possible for people to share a common experience. Even more important, since everyone knows what is expected of them, there is less need for social control and rules.

'Blue Bloods' - Extended Sunday Dinner

I must confess that a part of my routine is watching Power & Politics with Evan Solomon (CBC) while  we prepare dinner and later enjoying the eight-o'clock re-runs of Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck. Blue Bloods has its usual bit of violence, seemingly necessary in American Society, but the Selleck clan has a great culture. Yes, they have their squabbles and their challenges, but somehow they manage to find wonderful human ways to settle their differences, usually during Sunday dinner, and preserve their strong family union.

Perhaps there is an important lesson here for all of us.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week