What defines who we are? Is it our experiences? Is the environment that we are in? Peer pressure? Societal conditioning? Our own principles?
How about culture? Does that partly also shape who we are?
In my opinion, culture provides us with a sense of identity and belonging. Different pockets of societies can be shaped and governed by a set of cultural rules. These are not so much rules that guide us in the way of life. Rather, they are rules that one should perform as expected for that culture. In most cases, they are related to festivities, rituals and celebrations of some sort.
Different societies have distinct cultural identities. The Indians carry a heavy item on their shoulders and walk for a few hours to reach their destination. They bodies are pierced with a paraphernalia of sharp instruments in a show of great self control. In chinese culture, a whole science is devoted to the teachings of feng shui. Joss sticks are used frequently in their prayers.
Most of the time, culture is handed down via word of mouth - from one generation to another. It is fervently hoped that the next generation is able to receive them and to hand it down to the following generation, even if they do not practice them. This would ensure that at least some form of identity can be maintained and passed on.
It has become more and more common that culture has been largely disregarded. For whatever reason, the values and knowledge dwindles as one generation moves on to another. And as this happen, the society loses more and more of its identity.
So, my question is this: Do you see culture as important in a society? Do you think we need to preserve some form of culture so that the identity of the society can be maintained?
