America: Culturally Constipated?

America: Culturally Constipated?

“Man oh man do I need some Culture-Lax I’m clogged up! Too much culture…can’t comprehend….” As American’s we seem “culturally constipated,” to have many cultural differences yet we do not know how to face them. A cross cultural bridge has to be firmly rooted on both sides, and strong enough to support those who need to cross over. This bridge needs to be built from scratch, by teaching our youth, that this equally true of bridges that have to span across the injustice of ethnic, cultural, economic and political oppression, we must better develop relationships with other cultures.

The great melting and land of opportunities is unfortunately not perfect, big shocker. Trying to unify different cultures and diverse views are not easy tasks, especially when deep hatreds trigger violence. Achieving groups and individuals across the United States attempt to deal with diversity issues that crop up daily in schools, neighborhoods, families, at work, courts and many other institutions and situations.

Cultural pluralism or cultural diversity replaces the melting pot image with what is frequently described as a “mosaic” or almost a “tossed salad.” As Christine Bennett stated “each part retains some of its uniqueness while contributing to the beauty and strength of the whole composition.” The United States still has failed to become part of the tossed salad idea we don’t diversify with other cultures, why?

Prejudice and racism is a root problem for cultural barriers within the borders of the United States. Racism is usually continued through generation after generation and passes prejudicial attitudes. Most often times children learn very quickly how to judge people and especially in a racist environ...

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...teens, are doing their part to reduce hate and improve the way people of diverse backgrounds relate to one another. Improving racism and cross cultural barriers needs to start with teens. Teenagers have plenty of opinions about whether people of diverse cultural backgrounds can respect one another in spite of different skin color, beliefs, and customs. Having different cultures is a good thing. One of the most challenging issues is understanding differences.

Young people of every language and culture a high and exhilarating task awaits for them; that of becoming men and women capable of solidarity, peace and love of life, with respect for everyone. Teens need to become craftsmen of a new humanity, where brothers and sisters, members all of the same family, are able to live in peace. This is a possible goal if teens are willing and wanting to make a change.