I’ve got a Master’s degree and a few years of post-graduate work in mathematics. I understand how scary differential equations can be, but delaying a plane by 2 hours because someone doesn’t understand what the person sitting next to them is writing is ridiculous.
I’ve read a lot this past week about the American Airlines flight that was delayed because of mathematics, and I’m fascinated that this is what the world has come to. Some say that this incident happened because security has been deferred to individuals. Every time we’re in an airport, we hear constant messages to “report suspicious behavior,” but defining “suspicious behavior” has been left open to interpretation. As a result, “suspicious behavior” has as many interpretations as there are people in the world, and it is subject to our personal biases and fears.
While I agree with this assessment, there’s more to it than security. This situation stems from a lack of cross-cultural competence.
At the root of this incident is the assumption that other people are “just like us.” That they think like us. That they behave like us. That they share the exact same norms as us. If we work from this set of assumptions, then “different behavior” suddenly becomes “suspicious behavior.”
When we are culturally competent, we understand our own perspectives and biases. We recognize that not everyone is just like us, and that there are normal ranges of behaviors – not just one right way. We understand different patterns of communication, and that not everyone wants to chit chat with strangers. We know that if we like small talk and our neighbor doesn’t, that doesn’t automatically make them suspicious. We consider that maybe they want some quiet time. Maybe they’re engrossed in their work or book or music. Maybe they just don’t want to talk to me.
Cultural competence requires that we have knowledge and experience with different cultures. When we do, we know the difference between an Italian and an Arabic accent. We know the difference between the Arabic language and Greek mathematical symbols. We understand enough to know that “different” doesn’t necessarily equate to “security threat.”
The best way out of our suspicious, accusing, climate of fear is to educate ourselves. Get to know our neighbors. Understand different values, beliefs, and behaviors. Put ourselves in new situations where we can learn. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
And, maybe, take an advanced math course.
