Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Korean Pilots and Priests

In the book, "Outliers" a study was done on why Korean pilots were having so many plane crashes some years ago.  The study found out that is was culture.  The captain is the boss and you never contradict the boss.  He no like it either.  The whole culture has a hierarchy of deference.  So the co-pilot and engineer can make subtle suggestions as the plane is heading to disaster.  But they don't get in the face of the captain the way a new Yorker would.  So the plane crashes.  Now I understand the problem we had with many Korean priest in our USA culture.  They thought that their title gave them respect.  "Father" meant that you treated them with deference.  Women would be somewhat low on their hierarchy of importance.  In our culture, you earn respect.  It does not come with a title.  Women are equals.  Korean priests come to this country so years ago had a hard time of it, and so did the non-Korean people they pastored.  We are doing a better job of inculturation now, based upon the past.  Again, we tend to do round pegs in square holes.  We are learning.  

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