There are so many cultures in the world today. Both
cultures we are familiar with and probably cultures we have never even heard
of. There’s cultures that come from nations all over the world, cultures that
are formed within specific groups and cultures that we form within our
families. It is typically through cultures the way we distinguish or separate
ourselves from others. We define ourselves by our culture, by what group we
belong to. Take a moment to think about the culture you’ve embraced in your own
life. What traditions have you incorporated into your life? Do these traditions
and your culture define you? Where did these traditions come from? Do you
believe your culture is better than others? Is it more valid than other
cultures?
What exactly makes a culture valid and who should it
be valid to? I think an important question to ask ourselves is, “Are my
traditions and what I believe based in truth?” What I mean by that is based in
true principles that teaches us to be good and to do good, not just to those
within our culture, but to those outside it as well? Does it strengthen the
family system? Does it bring us closer as people? If so, then it is good. I
believe that all cultures have something to teach us, that no one is more
important than another as we are all different. Our differences isn’t a bad
thing, it is a blessing to have multiple perspectives on how to live life so
that we learn from each other. I do also believe that while all cultures have
some truth, not all of it is true. I’ve seen both good and bad in a variety of
cultures and I feel it is important to take the good from them all and leave
the bad behind. I consider myself a multicultural person because I don’t
categorize myself with one particular culture, my goal is to be close with all
people.
In our society, when we are labeled or placed in a
specific ethnic group, there is an expectation that we are to act as such, a
stereotype if you will. My whole life being I was told that because I was an “African
American” I had to act a certain way, I had to be a certain way and that if I
wasn’t I was acting “white.” My mom always told me that it’s important to learn
about my culture, to understand what “our” people went through. But it never
felt like “my” culture and they weren’t “my” people. I found a scripture in the
Book of Mormon that helped through this struggle, it’s found in 2 Nephi 26:33
and it says,
“For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he
doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save
it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto
him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto
him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he
remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”
I turn your attention to where it says that “all are
alike unto God.” We are all the same to Him, there is no race or color, we are
all His children and we are all equal. I tell myself and I tell others that
before I was labeled “black” I was a child of God. My culture is His and I identify
myself through Him.
For many of you out here, you probably have traditions
you have inherited from your families that you will take to your own future
family and your kids will do the same. Things that you grew up with, things you
just know to do since that is the way you were taught. I realize that for me,
it will be important that when I have my own family to start from scratch. I
want to create my own patterns and traditions and I want to base them in truth,
the truth of the Gospel which I live. I hope to start a new trend if someone
doesn’t beat me to it.
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