Spot Those Turns!: Cultural Acceptance of Dependency

Interesting observations by DavidDamberger during his travel time in Zambia, Africa:

"It is culturally acceptable here to be highly dependent on other people and expect to be taken care of by them and therefore what is often talked about here is that there is a culture of dependence. . . .

In practical terms, this culture of dependence has far reaching ramifications.
On a large scale, there is talk about how Africa is becoming completely dependent on aid money from other countries for its survival instead of figuring things out for themselves.
On a more micro-level, anybody who is seen as doing well, all of a sudden gets bombarded by other people needing them to take care of them.
When I first arrived here, I thought that the reason I was constantly being asked for money was only because I have white skin and these people were so used to white people giving things to them that it just was a natural thing to do. But being here longer, I’ve seen that it isn’t even so much the white skin as it is just being someone who is better off. My Zambian co-worker, Joshua, is asked for money way more often then I even am just because he has a good job that pays well."

This article creates very interesting questions in respect to our own culture:

What are some of the best ways to help others? (Give @ least 5 examples)
When is "helping" actually creating dependence? (Give @ least 2 examples)

Now turn the perspective around and ask yourself:

How are we (as a culture) dependent on others?
How am I dependent on others? Will that change with time or education?
What kinds of independence do I want and am I willing to take FULL responsibility for?

Now narrow the focus . . .

What are some thngs that I am dependent on? Which of those things might be a luxury to someone else but is a "necessity" to me? (Name @ least 20)
Are those dependencies good or bad for me?
Do any of them hurt others?
Is it fair that I have them and others do not?

sources: http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/blog-28920.html
You can read all of David's post at the URL above.

Details David gives readers of his travel blog:
In Southern Province of Zambia, the majority of the people here are of a certain tribe called the Tongans (there are 72 other tribes in Zambia). Tongan is a culture that I have immersed myself in, a language I have learnt to speak and a people of whom I have become so attached. Culture is a very deep concept and it would take hundreds of pages to just scratch the surface of it, but I’ve written a few things that I’ve observed about that culture that I thought would be of some interest. Of course, these are only my perceptions of the culture and only being here for less then a year, I have definitely haven’t understood things entirely the way they probably actually are.