Different Cultures of the World Must Live Together

Culture builds up and shapes how people view the world and the people in it. It determines how we judge and view the way others act, look, and even how they think. In the texts “Where worlds collide”, “An Indian Father’s Plea”, and “Two Kinds”, it is shown that a person’s views of others and the world are solely determined by their culture.

The Indian tribes of America created cultures that still exist in America today. The Mayas and Aztecs of Central America established empires that supported agriculture and long-distance trade. The Mayas created a calendar in silver, copper, gold and pearls. Then Mayas then founded the city of Tenochtitlan and built roads that encompassed about 5 million people. The natives of North America were nomadic, the Adena-Hopwell, Mississippian and Anasazi cultures emerged. There were approximately 240 different tribes speaking in different languages and they were primarily fishers and hunters. The Anasazi established trading centers that were sustained by comprehensive agriculture. The Chibchas and Incas created an empire similar to the Aztecs but on a smaller scale in the south. The Incas created a huge empire with as many as 12 million people and had a vast realm that stretched over 2,500 miles along the Andes Mountains. They had fertile farms, interconnected network of roads, and enduring buildings.

Imagine believing a fantasy only to be faced with a harsh reality. In Pico Iyer’s Essay, Where World Collide, Iyer depicts multiple bustling scenes he witnesses at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Through his interactions, his observations of travelers at the airport, and his own perceptions based on his viewpoint as an immigrant traveling to a land often fantasized about, Iyer makes several assertions about Los Angeles. Through diction, juxtapositions, humor, and anecdotes in his essay, Iyer demonstrates that Los Angeles is not some wonderful fantasy that many believe it to be; but that it is instead representative of the cultural melting pot that is the world.

Every culture consists of different things and every person within the culture is influenced by them. While many people tend to change themselves due to other cultures, other people believe that nothing is wrong with their culture and they wont change themselves due to others beliefs. One thing that is acceptable in one culture might not be acceptable in another, hence the need to conform to other cultures. However, someone from a certain culture might believe so strongly in their traditions and beliefs that they wont want to change as displayed in “An Indian Father’s Plea” by Robert Lake. This story suggest that just because someone is different it doesn’t mean that they are wrong, which is expressed the father when he says “He is not culturally disadvantaged, but he is culturally different” (Lake 91). Every culture consists of many different aspects, where the views they place on others is one of them. Some people wont change due to the views placed on them, but many people will so that they wont be viewed as different. No one wants to stand out in a bad way so that is why they conform to the views other people have. Culture is responsible for these views and the affect they have on

Balancing two different cultures is a thing that most people from immigrant and/or strong culturally, traditionally rooted families have come accustom to. Over the years they have learned about things that they should or should not do when dealing with a certain culture. For instance, someone who comes from a very conservative family doesn’t wear revealing clothes, unless they are out with their friends and know that their family won’t see them. On contrast people, who don’t have more than one culture might not understand why you cover up so much in front of your parents.

How one’s culture affect the way we view the world and others are in many different ways, for example Heritage, Family structure, Symbolism,and Judgment are just a few out of many ways culture affect our point of view of the world and others. Furthermore what culture is, is a huge mix of parts that make up someone and who they are. In the Novel “ Two Kinds,” from The Joy Luck Club, by Hayden Herrera, the Short Story “ Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker, the Personal Essay “ Two Ways to Belong in America,” by Bharati Mukherjee, and in the Essay “An Indian Father’s Plea,” by Robert Lake conveys how this is true.

Every immigrant or a biracial person has the two native countries’ cultures, histories, and some beliefs in him/her. The person decides what parts of him/her to overtly display and what parts to leave hidden. In “Days of Obligation,” Rodriguez writes about his conflicting views between Mexico’s and California’s theologies, values, and ideologies. Rodriguez uses varied sentence structure to convey the deeper message, that people always search for some place else that might make them happy, but realize that there are disadvantages in both sides (CA and Mexico). Rodriguez uses varied sentence structure to portray his message, of people’s desires to go to a “happier” land, but their realization that both sides have goods and bads.

Many different cultures have helped impact the world today. Culture affects other people’s experiences and how one views the world. This is demonstrated in “Two Kinds”, “Kaffir Boy”, and “An Indian Father’s Plea.” In “An Indian Father’s Plea” a Robert Lake personal essay, culture affects other people’s experiences and how one views the world.

The world is full of cultural collisions. Every day people meet other with different worldviews. This concept of cultural collision, is shown perfectly though Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. In the story it is the cultural collision, of the introduction of Western Ideas into the ibo society, that causes Achebe’s characters to grow and change. One character in particular is forced to reevaluate his sense of identity because of the cultural collision. This is the character of Okonkwo. The collision challenges Okonkwo’s sense of self, as a religious leader or an Egwugwu, as a leader of his people, and as a man. It is Okonkwo’s response to these challenges, that shapes the meaning of the book of that as your world changes so must you or you

Canada is a diverse country with people from different cultures living harmoniously together. Unlike nations such as America where people consider themselves as Americans first, almost a third of Canadians identify with another culture or ethnic group, in addition to being Canadian. Internationally, Canada is praised for its progressive, antiracist laws that support multiculturalism. While multiculturalism is something that is gaining currency in most countries around the world as a strategy for including the minorities, Canada was the first country to develop comprehensive multiculturalism policies. Canada also supports international efforts to protect human rights. Despite the international credentials of Canada as a bastion of freedom and equality, there are problems regarding the historical treatment of first nations. Even now, the standard of livings for members of first nations is significantly lower than that of the average for Canada. Aboriginal life expectancy is lower and, has fewer high school graduates, and other quality of life outcomes are poor compared to the rest of the population. What is apparent is race determines success, with euro, Canadian outperforming the rest. Inequity in socio-economic conditions between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals is the result of a history of colonialism and institutional racism (Bryant, 2015, January 22).

Many people argue that culture is the absolute factor of how one views the world. While culture plays a part of forming a view, it is not the defining factor. In an Indian Father's Plea, the reader can see a shift in the viewpoint by the Indian child. The child originally has a viewpoint that is traditional of his culture, however, as he becomes assimilates to the world outside of his culture, his viewpoint shifts and he begins to call from memories and experiences to form his perception of the world.

Mahatma Gandhi once stated, “A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” In this quote, Gandhi is stating how culture is important to a nation and its people. A person’s culture consistently influences the way they view the world as seen in Every Day Use by Alice Walker, By Any Other Name by Santha Rama Rau, and When Worlds Collide by Pico Iyer.

The movie Fools Rush In is a great example of how gender as well as cultural differences can hinder communication in a multicultural society. Fools Rush In is about two people, Alex and Isabel, who come from two different cultural backgrounds who after a one night stand become pregnant and decide to get married. However, along with the marriage come compromises that include cultural traditions and personal sacrifices. The movie is a comedy but can also be viewed as romantic and shows how two people who love each other can resolve the issues of cultural and gender differences.

In the world we live in today, culture always is affecting how people view the world and other people. Culture has become more evident and effective in today’s society, in how we view others and the world. Robert Lake’s short story, “An Indian Father’s Plea,” displays the extent to which culture shapes a person. In the culture of

The word “culture” can often be mistaken as geographical ways of living such as food, clothing, etc. However, culture is not only ways of living in different places, it is valuable practices that are passed on for years and years in a civilization. Language, government, morals, knowledge, religion, and food are all different components of one’s culture. Different cultures can be found in places ranging from large communities, to families, to the inner self of a person. In One World: A Global Anthology of Short Stories, many of the short stories, including “Among Strangers”, “Growing My Hair Again” and “The Third and Final Continent” exemplify the importance of culture.