Editor's Note, May 2003

Karen Heise
M.A. Student, University of Northern Colorado
E-mail: Kheise2000@Yahoo.com

This month, we examine a variety of cultural perspectives. Acculturation is likely not far from anyone's mind since the beginning (and end?) of the "major battles" in the war with Iraq. There were and still are ample opportunities for the world, and Americans in particular, to get dose after dose of Iraqi culture. Those opportunities will not abate much in the near future. American service personnel went into Iraq with a set of culturally defined beliefs, all based on their own experiences as Americans. The resistance of the Republican Guard, the never-realized mass surrenders, the "harassment" of troops by small bands of fighters--all were unplanned for in the "cultural" scheme of things. It is also worth noting how Iraqi citizens perceive the roles of American service personnel: we are seen largely as a brute nation, intent on conquering the country. Are we a conquering nation? Time will tell.

Jungok Bae's insightful article on culture shock and navigating the tricky paths of cultural understanding sets the tone for this issue. She shows how cultural assumptions are formed, reinforced, and played out among any two sides whose values cause conflicting interpretations of actions. Bae also offers a kind of roadmap to moving beyond culture shock.

"Cyberculture" was a new word not so long ago, but now we accept it and all its trappings as household language. Along with that familiarity comes the challenge of managing information. Robert Diotalevi's article on copyright and its changing nature will give you a grounded education into the ways the Internet is radically altering our notion of who owns what, and who can use what when.

The culture of discipline is on Ron Rubin's mind as he muses on the difference between possessing discipline and being disciplined. Rubin shares his personal experience with his parents, both artists, who showed him the difference early between the two concepts.

Be sure to check out Lynne Fukuda's "Silence as My Teacher," where she explores the young life she and her cousins lived in a culture that thrived on silence. We also bring you a first-hand account of Glen Milan's backpacking trip across Sarajevo. He experienced the culture gap in a country that still bears the scars of war but treated him with kindness.

In our Grist for the Mill column, we toss out various ways of looking at cultures, both cyber and international. I hope you find this issue as thought-provoking in the reading as we did in the assembling.

Best to you,
Karen Heise, Editor-in-Chief

Academic Exchange Extra invites reader responses to any writings in this issue--especially articles advancing the scholarly debate of issues raised.

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