Members of our sister list on Transcultural nursing have been engaged over
the Christmas and New Year season in a debate over whether it is appropriate
to send 'culturally and religious' specific greetings to members of the
list. One member felt that they were offended by being wished well in
religious terms - others felt that this was the essence of multiucultural
tolerance and competence, to accept wishes in the spirit they were sent, and
not to feel threatened by others faiths.  In the end, and when the matter
seemed to have become personalised, the offended party publically resigned
from the list.

I do not endorse any position - but append below, the response of Prof
Papadopoulos, the Moderator of that List, for your information.  I hope that
we as a community will not feel threatened by this sort of development but
will be able to deal with similar situations in a  mature fashion. Please do
not feel that we need to recommence that debate on these pages!

But hopefully, you will also agree with the concluding comment by another
member of that list.....


To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:04 PM
Subject: RE: leaving the list


>
> Dear Rena,
>
> Please continue to promote dialogues and exchanges via the list. I find
> this forum extremely valuable and thought provoking. Someone told me
> that there is still space for grace and humility in a minefield of
> disagreement. You are absolutely right to categorically state there is
> no space for personal attacks (that are damaging to the body, mind and
> spirit). .....

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rena Papadopoulos [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 12 January 2010 10:28
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: leaving the list
>
> Dear all,
> Happy New Year!
> I have been following the exchanges regarding the issue of Xmas
> greetings and I am sad to see that these have resulted in one valued
> member wishing to leave the list.
> As the list owner I believe in freedom of expression and speech. My
> motivation in starting this discussion list back in 1997 was to
> encourage the expression of diverse views and opinions about
> transcultural health and care. At the time I was quite fed up of being
> fed with the Leininger's version of what is and isn't  transcultural
> care and who is or isn't a transcultural care practitioner, teacher,
> researcher. I remember being put down by Dr Leininger during one of her
> master classes for daring to say something which did not quite fit into
> her scheme of things. I promised myself then that I will do my best to
> encourage diversity of views and most of all tolerance in the views of
> others. However I do not prescribe to the notion that anything no matter
> how obscene, offensive or dangerously extreme must be tolerated, but I
> know, as you do, that there is a thin line between what is and isn't
> obscene or offensive etc, this often depending on individual standpoints
> and values. Difficult balancing act.
>
> I have never blocked any contribution from being published and will not
> start now as I believe the best form of control for our community is
> that which comes naturally ie self regulation. Our community is made up
> of individuals who hold strong views and opinions which they are
> prepared to express. There is no point in having a discussion list if we
> all agreed on everything. Disagreement, difference, scepticism, pushing
> boundaries, experimentation etc helps to expand our understanding in a
> fastly changing world.
>
> I don't want to go on and on (believe me I could...). To summarise:
> - please continue to be yourselves
> - continue to contribute your thoughts no matter how different
> - avoid personal attacks
> - PRACTICE TOLERANCE
> - we are all valued members of this list
>
> I do hope that you will all stay with the list as I am sure 2010 will
> bring lots of issues for discussion.
>
> Wishing you an exciting year ahead,
> Rena Papadopoulos
> List owner. - Transcultural-eunet-1
>
>