Is culture a hedge/barrier toward unity among the people in the world?
By bessyjanmayi
@bessyjanmayi (278)
Philippines
April 15, 2012 10:02pm CST
Culture as a way of life. In my place, in my country there are many foreigners that come here from different places in the world. Often, they came here for vacation because there are many beautiful beaches here. Also some of the foreigners will come here to study English because there are many English Schools or academy here. Also the goods and services are very affordable to the foreigners in comparison to their own native land. Every foreigner that came here had different culture. Sometimes we misunderstood them. We judge them through their culture. How good or bad they were. Often times we forgot that they were just human brought up in a different culture and traditions. Their personality is particularly based on their culture. I will givwe you one example, I met an american. Their culture is tha when they eat they will not call you to eat with them. They said that the food they prepared are just for them. It's really contrary to our cultur here because even the food is very small, if we have visitors we really invite them to eat with us. We are like that. We are very hospital unlike other. Before I don't understand them I said, they are too selfish, but later on I understand and I felt sorry for myself for not knowing their culture first. My question is, how can be understand the people when we are so different? Do you think unity is possible even there is a language barrier?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
I believe it's the language as the great barrier.
We can easily understand other's culture and tradition if we speak one language.
This language barrier matters most in bridging gaps between races around the globe.
@cyndidaki2871 (83)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
Definitely I agree since everyone inherits one culture from a generation that has passed certainly that is why every entity in this world behaves differently from one another because of the said inherit traits but perhaps ones endurance on a certain place depends one one's ability to adapt or to adhere oneself to an adapted community or society that are new to us right.It is said that in order for you to be in, it is important for you to understand the people around you respecting their beliefs and values notwithstanding our affluent characteristics.Yes we misunderstood people because we failed to dig in their real identity that is why we judge them unintentionally with that perspective but nevertheless what is important is to give due credit to every entity and courtesy to attain tranquility in ones society.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Apr 12
Each and every place will have some form of culture that will be thiers alone,so for anyone to be able to change to or even understand a new one is almost impossible.
The one thing that I find that will always cause problems,is when a visiter or even immigrant comes to a new area with different cultural beliefs,and tell the new countries people you must respect and change to our culture as it is a religious custom you must allow.
this is a sore point to many,and will only cause deep problems.
If I were to travel to another place with a different culture,I would be expected to folloow thiers,and this I agree with,but if I were to try to tell them that my religious beliefs said I had to have them change to mine,I know where I would be told to go.
I hope you understand my meaning,I do not wish to harm anyone.
Thank you for the discussion.
mac
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 12
I think that communication is very important. Experiencing things with them. See how they react to different things. Food is a good way to see differences. If you have a genuine yearning to learn about them you can find different ways to do so. Learning about others helps us to understand ourselves better.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
16 Apr 12
Americans will invite people to eat with them, but it is planned in advance. They then make enough food for everyone. Americans might share their lunch with a friend on occasion if their friend forgot their lunch. Each person is expected to bring their own food. If they were to share lunches every day, they would have to make more food. How much? Then if it isn't all eaten it would go to waste. Americans bring exactly what they need to eat for lunches.
We do have a concept of pot luck 
. Everyone brings a dish, usually enough for 4-6 people and everyone shares. It's a party thing. It's planned in advance as to who will bring what type of dish. I like to bring deserts or salads.
. Everyone brings a dish, usually enough for 4-6 people and everyone shares. It's a party thing. It's planned in advance as to who will bring what type of dish. I like to bring deserts or salads. 
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
16 Apr 12
That does really seem to be a huge barrier. To get one hundred percent of the people get along without any trouble, would mean that one hundred percent of the people in the world would have to be the same without any big differences. And to say that would be boring beyond belief would be a very huge understatement. Yet t hat is what is going to happen.
There are times where there are just things about other cultures that we do not understand. Perhaps that is the case that it is the exact opposite of our own or perhaps we do not really try to understand it at all. It is something that is going to be hard to overcome. And sadly people tend to be rather intolerant about things that they do not understand more often than not.
