Unalienable in a Pluralistic Society
Celebrating Cultures as described within the textbook Our Voices: Essays in Culture, Ethnicity, and Communication explores the idea of cultural identities and celebration of cultures with a focus on Hispanic, Cantonese, and Asian heritages. While these amongst other heritages make up the pluralistic society that the United States lives today. However, with several different heritages there are different viewpoints of the benefits or drawbacks of the celebration of heritage celebrations in a pluralistic society. In a society that is pluralistic we see the outcome of cultural celebrations has for culture, communication, and identity of each of these heritages and the country as a whole. While Celebrating
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As stated in Hispanic Heritage Month: Not for Members Only “we should talk some about how those margins get constructed, how they are sustained, and who benefits from the social marginalization of others in our communities.” (González & Rivera, 167)
Most recently we have heard stories of cultural appropriations and that is when celebration of cultures does more harm than good since people are getting an exploited perspective of another culture, not their own. In an article by National Public Radio (NPR) it gives a definition from a writer Maisha Z. Johnson that cultural appropriation is “power dynamic in which memes of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who systematically oppressed by that dominant group.” (Bradford) Writer Hegde states that celebration of ethnic context involves the re-creation of the the original event.( Hegde,
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(Hegde, 179) Writer Fong emphasizes and example of cultural heritage through the tradition of Chinese New Year, and what some would consider superstition she describes as a part of her cultural. (Fong, 174) Through the observation and celebration of the heritage one can observe the difficulties and most cherished traditions of a group. There is the belief that in the United States there is “a pluralistic society in which all our contributions count and where all our cultural understandings coexist.” (González & Rivera, 172) Heritage celebrations allows exhibition of the parts of their tradition that connect them. This is where the positives of different heritage celebrations play a key role. In a society where we have learned to be a melting pot, we have been taught throughout history that assimilation is the key to success. That in the United States that “individuals of all nations would be melted into a new race of [people]” (Thornton) ignoring the background and heritage of each. In a world united by our democracy and not our traditions we see that as a nation we are more similar to a salad bowl in a place we coexist in separate identities, not melted into
“Honoring our heritage. Building our culture.” What can you picture in your head while reading this? Do feel honored? Maybe special? Probably phenomenal? Well, this year's Hispanic Heritage month’s theme has brought to us a meaningful, and inspiring perspective on how Latinos are becoming more honored. Not only honored by their country, and other Spanish countries, but also being honored by the United States. Hispanics have impacted our nation through their solid responsibility to family, confidence, and diligent work. They have put in the effort and time to represent their Latino/a background. They have improved and formed our national character by looking back at what their ancestors would do. These hispanics deserve the right to be honored
America is defined as one country, culturally that statement is false, but geologically it is true. Some situations can involve us all, yet there is a mass amount of days where it is individual. But the structure is still there. All laws should pertain to each citizen. The article, The Bill of Rights, can prove these statements with ease. On the other hand, though, America is also fluctuating. Views never really stay the same, and the articles, Andrew Jackson’s Speech to Congress on “Indian Removal” and “Cultural Common Ground Gets Harder To Come By” can prove this. These articles both show a contrast between the views of American citizens. Finally, the whole daily life of an American can be vastly different depending on whose shoes you step into. Articles like, “What Is An American”, “Cultural Common Ground Gets Harder to Come By”, and a speech by Franklin
Traditions, heritage and culture are three of the most important aspects of Chinese culture. Passed down from mother to daughter, these traditions are expected to carry on for years to come. In Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, daughters Waverly, Lena, Rose and June thoughts about their culture are congested by Americanization while on their quests towards self-actualization. Each daughter struggles to find balance between Chinese heritage and American values through marriage and professional careers.
Uwujaren talks about how there are many people who see everything as cultural appropriation since the difference between them is not much. One important thing that Uwujaren points out in the article is that there is a thin line between cultural appropriation and exchange, the main important thing is respect. Many people do not know the difference due to the big number of people who think everything is cultural appropriation. However, when a person who is interested in being part of another culture is allowed to be part of the culture by being invited only otherwise if the person tries to be part of the culture without being invited is seen as disrespectful. As Uwujaren clearly stated in her article “engaging with a culture as a respectful and humble guest, invitation only.” Another example of cultural exchange is when Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo when it is a Mexican celebration but it is only a holiday in America. The reason we celebrate this holiday is because, “Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army 's unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla”( Lee, Special for USA TODAY, Jolie. "Why Do We Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?") In fact, it is the Latinos who celebrate this day because they are proud of their roots but they also celebrate with others who are not Latinos. It is a form of, showing others part of their cultures for example they celebrate with Mexican food like tacos, tamales, tostadas etc. Also they wear Mexican clothing, mustaches, drink hard liquor and watch the popular Mexican dance called folklorico. This is called Cultural Exchange due to Latinos sharing their pride of their roots and culture sharing it with their American friends. Since America is a free country were Latinos can
Lindo Jong provides the reader with a summary of her difficulty in passing along the Chinese culture to her daughter: “I wanted my children to have the best combination: American circumstances and Chinese character. How could I know these two things do not mix? I taught her how American circumstances work. If you are born poor here, it's no lasting shame . . . You do not have to sit like a Buddha under a tree letting pigeons drop their dirty business on your head . . . In America, nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you. . . . but I couldn't teach her about Chinese character . . . How to know your own worth and polish it, never flashing it around like a cheap ring. Why Chinese thinking is best”(Tan 289).
Each holiday serves to strengthen pride in their own histories and cultures. As people continue these celebrations, they are reminded of who they are, where they came from, and their society’s beliefs and values. Along with this, cultural awareness is also promoted. People from countries all around the world are beginning to celebrate Halloween, and more and more are becoming increasingly aware of Day of the Dead.
Indeed, in all their schools from elementary to secondary schools, they already adopted curricula that will foster cultural diversity. Through this program, students from different levels had the chance to be exposed to different traditions and customs of various ethnic and racial groups. Even the government sectors in the United States are advocating tolerance for diversity, like how they commemorate Asian American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander Heritage weeks (Margai, 2010). Even in their postage, they developed stamps highlighting some prominent Americans along with their diverse backgrounds. Despite all these efforts, sometimes the issue concerning multiculturalism causes significant political and societal conflicts. Right now, United States is widely known as the greatest melting pot where people from different countries and with different cultures could be united as one. However, people have divided views with regards to the issue whether the immigrants should adopt America’s culture, or they should be given the freedom to keep their own culture. The majority of the Americans believed that one must learn first how to speak English before permitting to have an American citizenship. In support of the notion of melting pot, many Americans still insist that their Creed should endure, and their nation is destined to be a prime model to
I conducted an interview with Barbara Schauland, MS, Rehabilitation Counselor, Branch Office Manager, regarding her experiences working with culturally diverse clients in the field of vocational rehabilitation. Ms. Schauland has been employed with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services for five and a half years. During her time with the agency she has worked as a general field counselor serving adult population, as a specialized counselor working with the deaf and hard of hearing, and now is a branch office manager. Ms. Schauland supervises ten Rehabilitation Counselors, three Rehabilitation Service Associates (para-professionals) and one Office Assistant. During the interview Ms. Schauland was
The focus of our group project is on Chinese Americans. We studied various aspects of their lives and the preservation of their culture in America. The Chinese American population is continually growing. In fact, in 1990, they were the largest group of Asians in the United States (Min 58). But living in America and adjusting to a new way of life is not easy. Many Chinese Americans have faced and continue to face much conflict between their Chinese and American identities. But many times, as they adapt to this new life, they are also able to preserve their Chinese culture and identity through various ways. We studied these things through the viewing of a movie called Joy Luck Club, conducting interviews with Chinese Americans, and doing outside research.
“Cultural appropriation refers to picking and choosing elements of a culture by a member of another culture without permission” (O’Reilly). For example, white people steal certain parts of African American culture. They exploit it, misuse it, and whitewash it. “Exploiting a culture deprives the culture of the credit they rightfully
One of these holidays was Eid. On Eid, we would gather with family, friends, and strangers who I had never met before but felt I already knew. Although Eid was a big part of my culture, it was also a big part of many cultures who shared the same religion of Islam. Growing up in Canada and going to the mosque on Eid I'd find myself greeting and meeting people from all around the world. Being around other cultures allowed me to become familiar with other people’s food, culture, and language, something I may not have been able to do had I grown up where my parents did. Another example of this is how celebrating the month of Ramadan in Canada; I would often find myself breaking my fast with friends at places that serve food that I had never seen at home or around gathering of people of the same culture. Growing up around other cultures also led me to accept and learn about other holidays as well such as Christmas. Being around varieties of cultures allows me to incorporate aspects from them into the holidays I celebrate that I was familiarized to by my
Cultural Appropriation: “Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by members of a different cultural group, especially if the adoption is of an oppressed people's cultural elements by members of the dominant culture” - Eden Caceda[1]
One of the valuable experiences that I learned is that difference employees from the diver's origin, race and ethnicity can build a strong, diverse organization that can help the public with different languages, races, and ethnicity. The LAPD deals with the public that has diverse culture and languages. Divers employees can assist non-English speakers, understand them better since they are familiar with their culture and country origin. For an example, a couple of days ago when I walked to the station, it was a lady in the Southeast division lobby that she was very frustrated and talked only in the Spanish language. Two officers were assigned at the front desk did not speak English and there was no way they could communicate with a lady. They
In class, we would always explore how other countries celebrated their holidays such as Cinco De Mayo and Hanukkah, We also had the opportunity to take foreign language,s and the foreign language classes you took also taught about the countries that speak these languages. The information we learned about other cultures was reinforced by our peers who were from these respective cultures through discussion. As much as what the teachers did to integrate diversity in the classrooms, much of our multicultural experiences was done outside the classroom. It sort of felt like a shadow you didn’t really notice until for some reason or another you looked right at it. The multicultural experiences took place everywhere. It took place in the lunchroom, when we were debating what culture had the best food (which is still debated to this day, I’m sure). It took place suiting up in the locker room for a football game, reminiscing about what it was like to celebrate the holiday season the year before. It took place in our hearts, when someone was sharing their pain regardless of what culture we affiliated ourselves with because human culture is
The greatest example of multiculturalism today is the world of electronic dance music festivals, and music festivals in general. These large festivals attract crowds well over 100,000 attendees, many of which are from all different types of backgrounds. For example, Electronic Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada which is held annually every June, attracts hundreds of thousands of individuals all coming together to celebrate their love of dance music. At Electronic Daisy Carnival or EDC as it is known, no judgments are passed on people for any reason such as race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or age. Everyone that attends is treated with love and respect. Many people who attend these festivals have a motto that they base their actions on known as P.L.U.R. which stands for peace, love, unity, and respect. You treat others with love kindness and respect in order to have unity, not many other places or events can boast that this type of interaction amongst individuals can be achieved. At EDC everyone is treated as equals, no one group who feels that they are better than another group for any reason. Unfortunately, in other aspects of our society there is an emphasis on seeing the differences in one another, which divides people instead of bringing them closer to help achieve a multicultural world. The unfortunate