One Unique Culture

 

What is Culture? Culture is the entire way of life of a group of people, including both material and symbolic elements that act as a lens through which one views the world. Our culture shapes and defines who we are such as what we believe is right and wrong, good and bad.

Often we can be arrogant of our own culture and therefore only perceive and evaluate another group or individual using what we think is normal and abnormal. In America, we are a more diverse group which allows us to see things in a variety of ways and possibly understanding other cultures on our own terms rather than judging or evaluating according to one's own culture. However, when we look at the cultures revolving us outside of the United States, we tend to only see things from our perspective and not coming to consent about what’s right and wrong. For example, the controversy issue of the Mohammad video that angered Muslims. The Islamic culture believes that freedom of speech should be limited and that religion should be respected. While on the other hand, the U.S. values the right of freedom of speech. For this reason, Google and YouTube aren't doing anything to remove this video because they are only seeing things from an American perspective and not how this affects and hurts the Islamic population. What may seem right to us may be seen as wrong by others.

Values are ideas about what is desirable or contemptible and right or wrong in a particular group. Our values articulate the essence of everything that a cultural group cherishes or honors. Growing up with a Hispanic family, my norms are very different from the average American norms. I remember going to my first play date and realizing that not everyone greets the same way; I arrived to my friend's house and when I was welcomed in, I extended my arm towards her mom and right when I was about to lean for a smooch on the cheek I realized that she didn't lean towards me when we shook hands. I was a little confused but learned to accept the fact that not everyone had the same values as me. Going to school really impacts the way I perceive things, not from what I learn by the teachers, but what I learn by just being around my peers and seeing how different they act. This is the advantage of growing up a place that is so diverse, I am able to see the values of others and try to view things how they see it.