In our Culture Unit, we have been studying the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are passed down from generation to generation, and the occasional conflict that occurs when there are shifts or differences in ways of thinking. These sorts of conflicts are often our most challenging, because by their nature, they challenge our identity. What do I mean by that? The word tradition comes from a root word which means "to deliver": traditions are, then, those beliefs and customs that have been passed down to us, and which consequently shape who we are. We inherit these things, these traditions, from our parents, and from our parents parents, and help establish our membership in our family's continuity; they help identify us in a particular tradition. This speaks to our heritage, and it is what we will pass on to our children; it is the first, and in many ways, one of the most powerful shapers of our personality. On the other hand, tradition can be one of the wackiest, most bizarre aspects of our cultural identity.
Think, for example, about what you did with your family over Christmas break. Many of you participated in some sort of gift-giving tradition, had some sort of food-related traditions, and maybe some church-related traditions. Or think about any recent birthdays you celebrated; many of you had cake to celebrate that birthday. Why is that? What about that particular food item makes it especially appropriate for someone's birthday? Why aren't birthday pies or birthday soups more popular? Well, that's just the way things have been for our families, so that's what we will continue to do--and, that's why we'll continue to do it. Because "that's just what we do," and that's was helps define us as a culture.
When I returned to San Jose from visiting my family this Christmas, one of the first things I did was go to the grocery story and buy black-eyed peas for New Years--and, I might add, I was lucky to nab the last bag of them, for they had nearly sold out. This is something that my family has done for as long as I can remember. My mother's side of the family is from the South, and it is a family tradition among them to eat black-eyed peas on New Years, for good luck. So, I purchased (and soaked) the beans on New Year's Eve, and cooked and ate them with my housemates on New Year's Day. I called my parents to inform them that the deed had been done, and then sent them text-message photo proof that I had, in fact, cooked them myself (rather than buying them in a can!). What makes black-eyed peas lucky on New Years? The same thing that makes cake appropriate on birthdays, and presents appropriate for Christmas. The same reason why it's (usually) turkey on Thanksgiving, and candy on Halloween. It is a part of a long-standing tradition that helps define who we are, because that is what we do. Some traditions have more meaning and history than others, but that does not diminish their power.
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You may respond to this blog as part of the extra credit assignment; please check the directions blog below for important notes regarding your extra-credit opportunities!
QUESTION TO CONSIDER:
Think of a tradition that is unique to your family; interview an older family member and find out where or how the tradition started, and share that story. Also reflect on how that particular tradition "fits" your family--in other words, how does that tradition help others understand your family's personality or heritage?
This article focuses on gender roles. Children who are as young as 6 months old, were tested to see if they had any preference when it came to toys. They were placed in front of a stage and shown a truck and a doll. Researchers followed their gazes and noted which object they looked at longer. The males looked at both of the toys equally, while the females looked at the doll significantly longer. People are arguing about whether the babies were really “focusing” on the toys, or just looking in that general direction. On the other hand, some researchers found it interesting that the girl babies who do not have the motor skills to distinguish male toys from female toys, looked at the female toys longer. I found this interesting because it is going against what most people think. A lot of people believe that the way children act is influenced by their surroundings growing up, but this goes against it.
ReplyDeletehttp://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2009/06/six-month-olds_prefer_differen.php?
Tech Talk
ReplyDeleteI found an article from the San Jose Mercury Newspaper discussing the increased used of “tech talk” by students in all levels of school. The article focused primarily on college students who use text acronyms and abbreviations in their work. Professors are becoming increasingly agitated by this kind of writing, not because it is showing up in formal writing but because of the way students address their teachers in e-mails. By using laid back language students are forgetting where the student teacher line is drawn and the level of profession feel as they grow older is plummeting. I found this extremely interesting because I know that I am guilty of insane amounts of text messages and I have begun to realize how it has affected my everyday writing. In emails I find it very hard to properly address a teacher, and a simple response to a teacher can take a ridiculous amount of time because I will have to think about how to phrase everything. I no have started trying to type everything out in texts, which I have learned is a challenge because it takes a little bit longer. But I think this is the reason texting language is so popular. In our world everything is at a fast pace and using “u” instead of “you” is much fast and makes us feel we can move on to bigger and more important tasks in our lives. The constant business of our lives is causing us to lose sight of being professional and respecting the ones who are not of our age.
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14856449
Recently an anonymous person posted a death threat to the prime Minister of Serbia. On this death threat it said, “Tadic, a bulletproof Mercedez won’t help you.” A similar threat was posted in a opposition newspaper about the first pro-democracy prime minister, Zoran Djindjic, who was assassinated in 2003. The Serbian Justice Ministry notified the U.S. Justice Department asking for help to determine the I.P. address from which the comment was posted. I find it odd how a person would post a hate crime on a prime minister, and expect to get away with it.I just find it interesting how facebook and technology in general has become so apart of peoples lives. When facebook was created I don’t think anyone thought it would be used to post hate crimes.
ReplyDeletehttp://find.galegroup.com.proxy.mitty.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=IPS&docId=CJ219512813&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=mittys1&version=1.0
ReplyDeleteWith India now coming into more people trying to base marriages off of love rather than having marriages arranged by their parents, more private detectives are being hired to find out the truth about families. Parents have also been trying to set up arranged-love marriages and so many families hire private detectives to find the scoop on spouses instead of parents finding the information themselves to save trouble. It is stated that, “The age of nosy parents has given way to the age of nosy detectives.” I believe that the new modern India still has much more freedom than they once had and that not too many parents try to hire private detectives. All people should have the right to a marriage based on love and not related to job stability and wealth. People must be chosen because they are liked by their spouse and accept them for all their flaws and if the flaws cannot be accepted then the spouses should be able to decide that without parental interference.