«Общение – путь к взаимопониманию». "Does sharing cultures promote understanding?"

                           Does sharing cultures promote understanding?

   There is no doubt that “today we are faced with the preeminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationship… the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world, at peace.”(Franklin D. Roosevelt).  It goes without saying that we cannot live alone at peace, that our well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations living faraway.  But how can we cultivate good relationship?  We can do it only sharing culture, customs and traditions, getting to know each other better.  There are various facts that support this opinion.   Recently I’ve heard a phrase that impressed me very much “To know a person is to know his coordinates: latitude of the soul and longitude of the mind”. There are several reasons for linking this opinion to the idea of sharing culture. "American seasons in Russia" is a great example proving the fact. Art is able to show the soul and mind of nations no matter how far they are.

    To begin with I’d like to mention that Russia and America are indeed very far from each other. But being separated by many kilometers, having different ways of life, sometimes viewing the same things differently, we come to accept and even appreciate the unique ways in which people see and interpret the world. It seems to me I know why. Both Russians and Americans have common human values.  They are accumulated by simple things: what is good and important and what is not. Moral and ethical principles, knowledge and wisdom, creativity and faith, beauty and art… all these values are the basis of our cultures.  By the way, American song “The Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates and Russian song “Широка страна моя родная” (“How wide my native land is!”) by Dunaevsky and Lebedev-Kumach are about awesome views of mountains and forests, rolling hills and plains, the bounty and richness of the environments and grateful people who are proud of their native land.  Both Russia and America are countries of great natural beauty. Breathtaking views delight the eye in every region of our countries. As rich and varied as our lands are so too is the population of the United States and Russia. Yet we come from different backgrounds, we are, for example, united by our belief in freedom and justice for all.

    Secondly, culture itself. The famous Romanian writer Nocolae Iorga wrote that "without a culture banner a people is not an army but a band". In other words it is culture that defines us as an entity, unites and inspires us to progress and ideal. It was so pleasant for me to get to know that popular American songs like “God Bless America”, “Easter Parade” and “White Christmas” were written by a Russian Jewish immigrant named Israel Baline, better known as Irving Berling. “American Seasons in Russia”… I know for sure it’s a great impact into our relationship. It helps to share our values and cultures. Generally speaking this exchange may not bring financial benefits, but it gives something more – a sense of joy and mutual understanding.  In fact, people may give something that is important and valuable for them and get similar values from the others thus providing the necessary feedback. I believe it is very important. After all, these "gifts" have a soul, which could be sensed by people even when they don’t share common language.

   Thirdly, sometimes the politicians can’t do the things ordinary people do. They often disagree on many important international issues and only cooperation in humanitarian sphere can get people closer. That is why the festival establishes good relations and favors the dialogue. Definitely, not only such mutual relations do help get to know the variety and uniqueness of American culture, but they also contribute to mutual understanding. Thus, we can solve many other problems, both political and economical. When Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Understanding is a two-way street”, I think she had in mind the ability to carry on a dialogue, to acquire a knack of hearing and having a wish to be heard. It happens in communion with other people who have their own unique and distinctive cultural values. The isolation and stereotypes go away, freeing up space for mutual understanding and desire to learn more and more. “The history of U.S.-Russia bilateral engagement shows that managing the relationship successfully requires sound institutions to advance the interests of both sides and to sustain global peace and security” (Matthew Rojansky).

   Furthermore a year-long American Arts and Culture Festival in Russia may be called a continuation of the tradition. The Russian people are especially proud of the fact that this tradition was begun by our countryman Sergei Diaghilev at the beginning of the last century. Diaghilev’s “Russian Seasons” aimed to show Europe the best of Russian culture. According to John Beyrle, the purpose of the US “American Season” is also to show “the widest possible range of the best of American culture to the Russian public.” It is impossible to find someone who would equally love and accept all kinds of arts. "The American Seasons" is a vivid variety of styles and genres. They include dancing, hip-hop/salsa fusion, an exhibit of photography, and performances of new American plays by the famous symphony orchestra. The breadth of styles shows not only the diversity of American culture, but also allows bringing it to the people of different preferences. Most recently, I had a chance to watch a movie “Musical Odyssey in St. Petersburg" with the American opera star Renee Fleming and the Russian singer Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Actually, their voices blend with each other. How beautiful it was! This kind of” dialogue” is a good example of real sharing culture.

   Besides, not long ago I read the book “Soul to Soul” written by Elena Khanga, our TV celebrity and “a black Russian Jewish woman searching for her roots”. I really think it is an important message for readers of any nationality or race. It helps to understand wherever you live, whatever skin color you have you are always a human. “ 

   To sum it up, “American Seasons in Russia” have a great input to intercultural understanding and appreciation of diversity.  If we understand the role of mutual understanding and become more tolerant, if we find our natural kindness in our hearts, if we become closer to each other, if we learn to understand and appreciate our values (I mean Russians and Americans), we’ll become more successful, more patient and more confident, we’ll create an absolute harmony ourselves and without no doubt we will help humanity to survive.