| I don't know about the programme so I can't comment on that.
It occurs to me that this is presented as if only the aliens have cultural responses in the situation. However the human response (to remain optimistic, perhaps to the point of stupidity, in the face of death; to continue to search for a solution and to believe that is in itself worthwhile) is also culturally determined. As I see it the alien has a very strong view of how to behave and it is incredibly offensive to him for this to be denied. In that culture the consequences of not performing the rituals may be far reaching. At the same time the human finds the "surrender" to the situation outrageous. Neither of these is a rational response. I agree that we have to respect other cultures. In the situation as described it is easy to see how the humans could have accommodated the aliens. How would the aliens have been equally respectful ? |