Think CUlture Do not affect you ?

Different People in different culture has different point of views(POV). Why is it so? This is because culture is an invisible control mechanism operating in our thoughts,and also our "templates for living". Below is an article which trigger you thinking how does your culture affects you.

Gay Marriage
( from http://pewforum.org/ )


In recent years, the debate over same-sex marriage has grown from an issue that occasionally arose in a few states to a nationwide controversy. Indeed, in the last five years, the debate over gay marriage has been heard in the halls of the U.S. Congress, at the White House, in dozens of state legislatures and courtrooms, and in the rhetoric of election campaigns at both the national and state levels. Moreover, the battle over whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to wed shows no signs of abating. In the last year alone, three states have banned same-sex marriage and four states have legalized the practice. As the debate rages on, the American religious community remains deeply divided over the issue.

As I Mentioned early that culture is something like a mechanism that controls you, telling you the "do's" and "Do not's" . This mechanism not only restricted our actions and behaviors, it also conformed our thoughts.

Many different religious groups or people from different social groups may have very different POV on this.

For instance, or you are from an Asian heritage such as traditional Chinese, or Malays, you might think that such marriage are unspeakable! why? This is simply because that the society and the culture you are in . They are generally conservative and do not approve such so-call unnatural relationship. The social guidelines are :
- If you fall for someone of the gender, you are not okay and mentally well!
- Either you have sinned or your parents have sinned that is why you are having such "abnormal" appeal to the same gender.
-You should go repent, hide yourself, keep it a secret.
-You should force yourself to marry a lady ( if you are a man) and have children like all the normal man.

BUT! If you have been in a very open environment , that is very receptive to human rights issue maybe you might think another way. You might think that it is perfectly okay. everyone has the right to choose the person you like, and who you should be marrying. It is your right to do whatever you want to yourself.

Although this issue is very debatable, you get my point right? Your POV of things are very affected by the culture you are in . This is because in all culture, you ar force to follow a set of rules that are seen as the norms to most people in your society.

Another typical example is that you are to dress appropriately in public ( in Islamic countries). If you are a lady, and you only wear a sleeveless top and a pair of hot pants with no other attempt to cover yourself, you might be grope by any male on the street. this is because, the guys are viewng you as a prostitute and there is no way you can sue that guy. WHY!? Because that is their culture, their view on ladies dressing skimpily; however, if in Singapore, that guy would most properly be caught and waiting for his sentence of molesting you. WHY? Because that is viewed as sexually harassment in our nation.

Now, think again, what are actions or beliefs do you have that is shaped by the culture you are in ? ;)