Chinese Opera

Monkey King in a Beijing Opera, Beijing, China

Music is special, especially if you are not used to it. My ears were not used to the singing in a Beijing Opera. So I very much liked the scenery, but my ears did not like the singing. Since my first and last visit to a Beijing opera I often when I have to visit a cultural event: ‘It is wonderful, but I hope they do not start singing’.

Many things we are confronted with are nice, but with restrictions. We often do not understand cultural expressions from other cultures. In a multi cultural society that becomes more and more a problem. Multi cultural is enriching and it asks the openness to have oneself confronted with unknown cultural expressions. We cannot live n One World together as long as we keep saying that our cultural expressions are of a higher value than theirs.

I try to be open and accept that other cultures around me show other expressions. This is sometimes difficult. I had my problems with the Beijing opera because my ears were not accustomed to this kind of music. I choose not to go back to the opera in Beijing. In the place where I live I do not have that choice. Unusual cultural expressions are everywhere around me. I get used to it, but sometimes the old feeling come up: ‘It is wonderful as long as they do not start singing’.

Well, they will start singing and I will have to get used to it. That is integration. Accepting that other people are other people and that they are enrichment for our culture, not a thread, like right wing politicians like to stress. The interchange between cultures enriches both sides, as long as both sides are ready to accept that. I am! Are you?

Have a nice day!