Page 106 - Cultures and Organizations

88 DIMENSIONS OF NATIONAL CULTURES

pendence, and inter dependence under the influence of a presumed cultural
melting-pot process is still very far away, if it will ever happen.
In December 1988 the following news item appeared in the press:

Stockholm, December 23. The Swedish King Carl Gustav this week expe-
rienced considerable delay while shopping for Christmas presents for his
children, when he wanted to pay by check but could not show his check
card. The salesperson refused to accept the check without identifi cation.
Only when helpful bystanders dug in their pockets for one-crown pieces
showing the face of the king to prove his identity did the salesperson decide
to accept the check, not, however, without testing the check thoroughly for
authenticity and noting name and address of the holder. 38

This Bernadotte (a direct descendant of the French general) still met with
the same equality norm as his ancestor. How much time will have to pass
before the citizens of the United States, Russia, or Zimbabwe will treat
their presidents in this way? Or before Swedes start to venerate their king
in the same way as the Thai do theirs?