Principle #3
The author describes the sense of generosity in We cultures.
The Latino saying, “Mi Casa es su Casa,” reflects a sprawling sense of inclusiveness and generosity. It encapsulates a joy in sharing and implies “What I have is also yours.”…
From a We perspective, because the self emerges from the collective, generosity toward others is actually giving to oneself. Cyclical reciprocity means people are continually giving to one another. This is beautifully captured in the saying of the South African Pedi tribe, “Giving is to dish out for oneself.” 1 Generosity is the glue that holds We cultures together. The community fiber would be torn if some were to take more than their share or to accumulate great wealth at the expense of others.
Bordas, Juana (2012-03-26). Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age (p. 60). Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Kindle Edition.
As I read this, what starts out sounding like unlimited generosity is actually nothing of the sort. Obviously I will be describing this from an I vs. We perspective, but Jesus in Luke 6:32-34 said:
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Based on this assessment of Jesus, the generosity of individualists, who exist in a culture where they would expect nothing in return, is actually a greater example of generosity. Now, whether it is true generosity or not, probably doesn’t really make a difference on how the generosity affects the social binding of We cultures.
The concept of Latino hospitality is appealing. The openness, everyone bringing something, everyone helping to pay for the special items of the event. The concept of the Giveaways , throws and potlatches, sharing in a way that spreads community and keeps everyone more or less equal.
But it can have a negative economic impact on the community. What is better? Everyone being equal in poverty, or everyone being unequal in prosperity? In order for a lot of the economic advancements of our time to occur, it requires the pooling of a lot of investment. We cultures discourage this pooling. Yet when this investment is pooled, it isn’t the person who owns it who benefits: it is the hundreds and thousands of people who are employed in new and better paying jobs, and the thousands of people who benefit by the goods produced from the investment.
But it takes a lot of people trying, and failing, to find people who try and succeed to create this overall benefit. The group of the We culture takes a lot of convincing to try anything. The changes and advancements come slow, if at all.
(P.S. – I do believe we can learn a lot from these cultures. The We cultures. I just don’t think they are as pervasive as the book makes them.)
At The Rainbow 