<p>Prompt: Is it sometimes important to question authorities on their ideas/views?</p>
<p>–>We respect authorities because they have worked hard and experienced enough to earn their ranks in society. However, they are human beings after all and are not guaranteed to be right about everything. therefore, it is important to question the ideas and decisions of authorities when appropriate, as it will not only benefit them but also lead to better communication among different ranks.
–>When I immigrated to the United States from China, I had to point out parts of my culture that my American teachers did not know as well as I did. It was not that I didn’t respect my teacher, Ms. Abby, but for her to go on and on about incorrect information about my project could lead her to embarrassment one day. therefore, the time when she told the class, “All Chinese people speak Mandarin,” I informed her that in China, there are actually 50+ dialects and Mandarin was only one of them. She appreciated my “heads up” and was glad that the students wouldn’t leave the class with incorrect information.
—>Within Chinese culture, one of the main customs is respect for the elderly, with the reasoning that the older one was, the wiser he/she was. However, this leads to the pattern of looking backwards, and the old may be closed off to all the new findings that the younger generations were coming up with. In the past, Chinese doctors relied on their seniors on the correct herbs and massages in order to cure diseases. They didn’t see a point to questioning these age-old beliefs. However, more and more Chinese doctors are beginning to open up to the research findings by younger generations, who have more exposure to modern medical techniques. In this way, they are enriching their own medicinal knowledge, and so it is important for the young to inform their elderly, without the fear of disrespect.
---->It is therefore important to question authorities when they are misinformed or incorrect. It is not an act of disrespect, but in fact a sign of thoughtfulness and active communication.</p>