So often we hear of people attributing their ideas, habits, practices, and routines to their culture. Likewise, we often hear those who live a certain way being called cultured. What does this really mean?
Wikipedia states:
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate")[1] is a term that has various meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.[2] However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:
-Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
-An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
-The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group
When I look at these definitions, and take time to reflect on them, I think of the culture that I try to adopt and maintain. I want to live in a culture of positivity, tolerance, and love. I want to eat what I like, dress as I like, and worship as I choose. I also want the same for others. For me, there is beauty in diversity. I regularly rock a pair of jeans with espadrilles, paired with a colorful kurti and flowing hijab. My culture is multicultural. I see that we can pull from many directions to become beauty-full, we just need a positive attitude and balanced perspective.
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