What do traders and NGO’S do for these cultures?

Traders intentions are usually just one thing, to make money to do whatever they have to do to make it and not worry about others around them. They are usually ahead on the times and have good equipment for their business and to make themselves look better and make people want to do business with them. When it comes to farming that was up to the tribe people they were in charge of who would farm where, on what piece of land, and how they were going to go about doing it. Then the traders come in and take over pretty much ruining all that they had been working for and pretty much turning them into slaves making them work for the traders profit which devastated a lot of the small farmers profits.
When it comes to the Sawi people and traders entering their lands, I think the traders wouldn’t have a clue as to what they were entering into and not do much to the Sawi tribe because they would just do what they always do. Fatten them and then eat them, become good friends and betray them without any questions. They would treat the trades just like the do everyone else and the traders wouldn’t know what was going on they probably think that they are out witting the Sawi people because they are giving them food and being friendly to them. I could be totally off with this thought they might outsmart the Sawi tribe and end up doing the same thing they do to most tribes.

What should society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?
“Uncivilized culture” to me isn’t the right way to label the Sawi tribe, because when they look at our culture they might think our culture is “uncivilized.” but that’s beyond the point of this question. In some ways I believe that society should leave cultures that are still practicing the same traditions for many years and keeping that part of their life alive. Not let something that has been able to carry on for many generations just be totally demolished and changed completely.
But then when you think about it this culture was going to have to change no matter what because it was causing problems with the other cultures around them and they just couldn’t fit in anymore. So I believe that the society should not totally change the way these people are, but help to fix a few things for the better. Not just totally change their way of live but just enough to help them survive in to days modern world. Show them that there are better ways of going about doing things that don’t involve harm to the people around them. If society could help out the Sawi people in this way I believe both parties would be happy, the Sawi could still be them and the groups around them wouldn’t have to live in fear that the government wouldn’t try to totally abolish their tribe.
Most people think getting rid of something fixes it but you really have to deal head on with the problem not just a quick fix. When you stop to think about it a quick fix doesn’t satisfy everyone that’s involved.

How different is your modern culture from the Sawi tenants?

To be perfectly honest I think in ways our modern culture and the Sawi tenants aren’t that different. They hunt and kill their food, even though sometimes the food they are hunting is human meat, we do the same. There are a lot of people that hunt and kill to get food but in our modern world we hunt animals. We stand by our upbringings and they religion our parents showed us as children. The Sawi do the exact same, they have their roles in society, their culture, and their believes and they practice it from an early age till death.
But then you can look at it from a different point of view and notice that what they considered normal and just an everyday thing, is not only morally wrong but its also against the last. Like being head hunters, or cannibals, or the belief in treachery. All those things are so far from our modern cultures its hard to believe.
Even though this seems so far off it is very possible that somewhere out there, there is a small group, or maybe even a large group of people that still hold these beliefs to this day and have no problems morally with it. For example the Korowai tribe, the live in Indonesian New Guinea. They are one of the last people on earth to practice cannibalism.
So in many ways we can see how those cultures are “not normal” or “wrong” but when you think about it, if those cultures came and looked at the way our culture is. They probably will say the same thing about us. Its all a matter of where you grew up and how you live your life.

Does everyone have a specific culture? Define culture?

Some people may believe that everyone has a specific culture they belong to. But in actuality nobody has a set culture. Times are always changing people are always adapting to new things. More and more people are starting to move to different places. Not just different countries but different states or towns. Even though moving to a different state or a different town is a small move compared to moving to a different country but even those small little moves count. There are different cultures even in the same town. After living with many different cultures you tend to take a little piece of it and mix it in with the culture you started out with to create your own.
The word culture holds such strong importance, and if you ask around everyone will have their own definition for it. Even in the dictionary there are many different meanings, for example, according to dictionary.com

1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.


2. that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.


3. a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.


4. development or improvement of the mind by education or training.


5. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.


6. Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.


So, for everyone you ask nobody will give the exact same answer but a mixture of many different one.

How would uncivilized cultures react upon receiving technology beyond their comprehension?

If uncivilized cultures got technology beyond their comprehension I believe they would use it in ways we would of never thought, like if a cave man go a tooth brush he would maybe try to use it to scratch is body, or something of that nature.
There is this show back in the states I don’t know if they have it in Korea but its called “Phil of the Future” its about this boy who is from the future and took a time machine around the years in the past and when he gets to 2008 his time machine breaks and him and his family are stuck there until his father can fix it. He goes around using all kinds of things in odd ways and everyone finds him completely weird. Also while he was traveling through time he picked up a cave man so there are two opposites in the show someone from the far future and someone from the past trying to survive in the future and trying to hide from others the fact that they aren’t from this time period. And it made it really funny and really realistic because Phills best friend would have to turn things like right side up or turn it around because he was holding it wrong and using it in a way that really doesn’t make sense to us.
But with a little instruction and setting examples they will adapt to these new things just like Phil did. Nothing comes instantly but with practice and persistence it will all come to together like a 5,000 piece puzzle.

What do mission organizations do for these people?

Most like Don Richardson, the author of The Peace Child, believe that they are helping they are bringing the word of God to these people. He believes that the way he is going about bringing the word of God is better then the other groups would of done it. That he isn’t pushing his ideas or beliefs on them he is just showing them new ways that they might actually like better then their own. He is a strong believer in what he is doing as a missionary.
I find that this article makes him seem extremely bias. Even though it does show other points, for the most part Richardson is putting down the other side and favoring the side he believes in. He is not really just stating facts about the topic, he is more so in a way trying to make the reader lean to what he believes in.
I believe that missionaries yes in most cases help out cultures that haven’t been exposed to the word of God as much as we have, but I also believe that we are trying to change their culture or make them conform by going into THEIR homes and telling them their believes even though for the most part they are not pushing it on them, I feel like they are. The reason for this is the people survived as long as they did on their customs and believes, why do we need to go in there and change it or even give the idea of a change.

What does Jesus want us to do for the Sawi?

For most people that answer would be, “Jesus wants us to bring religion to the Sawi people, show them who God is and lead them down the right path.” or, “ Jesus would want us to bring them the teachings of the bible and to help them repent from their sins.”
But for me, I believe that Jesus would want us to not change our believes to theirs and do what they do but accept them for the way they live. Not try to change them. I believe he would want us to keep a very open mind and not just try to change them the first time we see something wrong with them. To realize that they are people, they have their own believes just like us. Even though they don’t think the same way as us doesn’t mean we have to try to “save” them.
So all in all I think that Jesus would want every one to stay the same and for us to just accept the Sawi people for who they are not what they do or who/ what they believe in. Jesus didn’t judge anybody, he accepted them as his brothers and sisters, even when we sinned against him, why would he want us to do anything different from that?

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

For me this question is a total no brain er. I grew up facing this dilemma, but sadly enough i grew up on the less fortunate side and got the bad feedback rather then acceptance and kind hearts. I was always the social outcast in the new cultures i was put in and had to work really hard to fit in and show people that I was a good person even though I was from a very different place.
I believe that people should keep a very open mind when something new faces them. Keeping in an open mind frame helps you in most of your life experiences to come. If you except different cultures and learn from their teachings then you grow so much as a person. I found that now sense I have been around so many different cultures in my life I am more mature for my age. Also the fact that your so willing to adapt to different cultures shows your maturity level in itself.
When someone around you is from a different culture it is important to not treat them like they are from a different culture, the reason for this is because they already know they are an outsider and have been put in a situation that they don't like and then treating them like they are an outsider could cause the person a lot of pain and depression because you are make it more then obvious that they don't belong.
So all in all, I say embrace different cultures, take advantage of the new experience and teachings. Who knows it might come in handy some day =]

Reaching almost adulthood I still haven’t truly figured out where I stand with my beliefs. With all the different cultures and customs I grew up around and also the HUGE barriers in my life that I have had to get over has left me confused and in want of answers.
I was born in a small little Roman Catholic hick town where everyone knows everyone and everything. Everyone shared the same views and if you went against it you were wrong there was no listening to your side. So for my first seven years of life I stayed in my small little town in southern Maine and stayed in the same small little shell of close mindedness.
I moved to Spain after this and it was the same religion, Roman Catholic, but it was brought to another extreme for me. I found as a kid that it was more of a bother then a blessing. More times then not I would say to my parents “Do I really have to go today?” or “Why do I have to go?” Even though yes it brought me closer to God and finding out who God was it pushed it on me which made me put up a shield and close off to all their teachings.
After living in Spain I moved to a couple different states in American. First New Jersey where I was still in a Roman Catholic environment, this time it wasn’t really pushed on me. So I found that I grew a lot closer to God and I wanted to go to church every weekend I wanted to pray I wanted to do things right. But then after a year or so problems struck, one of my family members turned abusive towards me in every way. Verbally, sexually, physically, and emotionally. I thought if God loved me and I was the apple of his eye, why would he let this happen to me? WHY? Then after 3 years I moved to Louisiana and was put in a Catholic private school. The way they acted to me, so judgmental, looking down on me all the time because of the little mistakes I would made. But I still practiced my religion and was strongly into my faith. After being in Louisiana for just eight months I up and moved to Mississippi, but before I moved there I had to live in Alabama for a month or two while I waited to start school and find a place to live. I thought I would never leave the hotel I was living in it seemed like forever. I finally got to Mississippi and I was so close with God because I felt like he was really looking out for me. I made friends really quick in the new school, my new house was amazing, me and my families relationship was amazing, I finally felt like I really had a hand on my shoulder someone that was there looking after me in every way. Just when everything was so right Hurricane Katrina hit, not even a month into living in Mississippi, my house was totally devastated, all my positions from all the different places I had been, ALL my clothes there was nothing to be kept. I moved to Virginia for a month while my parents rebuilt the house because the conditions were so bad down there we didn’t even know when the next time we would find water was, this tore me way from God in every single way. My past relationship with him was thrown out the window I believed nothing would ever be the same. I had no faith in the lord at all anymore. After a month school started back so I went back to Mississippi but my house still wasn’t fixed so for about three months I had to live in my front yard. Scared, cold, and alone. God definitely was not on my side. None of the friends I had made before were even still living there because of the massive amount of devastation we had in out town. At that point my believes in God were in the past God no longer was or would ever be my friend.
After this I found out I was moving to South Korea with this epic news I was just like “wow God what happened to our relationship? What did I do to you?” so that summer I lived with my grandparents up in Maine in a different town then where I was born while waiting to move to South Korea that was probably the best time of my life. I got to do the things I wanted to do and the things I loved like go to all kinds of hardcore shows and hang out with the people who felt the same way as me. Religion was the last thing on my mind, I got into a lot of trouble and did a lot of bad things because I was so hurt and had no connection spiritually at all. This behavior was carried over to South Korea with me. After that whole incident I stopped going to church and praying and once I got to Korea it was even worse I had no clue who I was or who the lord was.
After nine months of living in South Korea I moved to yet another part of Maine, this time it was a town in the northern part of Maine that was full of bad influences with all kinds of different drugs and parties that didn’t end up well and at the start that was were I was a confused little girl doing anything to get some attention or help. That’s when my mother and I became really close. She helped me find who I was again and helped me get back on the right track. After this point, I stopped all my bad habits and opened myself up a little bit again to my family I started trying to get back into my faith. The main reason was because at least when I had my faith, I knew I had a friend and someone that was always protecting me and leading me in the right direction.
And that leads us to now, I am back in South Korea. Now 17 years old and still not sure of who I am, where I belong. But now one thing is still the same, I am a Roman Catholic, and still with many questions left unanswered.