Tolerant Of Other Cultures example essay topic

Interracial marriages. What is my opinion on interracial marriages? This question tends to open up discussions on social values, differences in culture and adaptability. Yet interracial marriages have occurred over the centuries. People are social beings and over the whole world generally prefer to live in groups. They breed among their own kind and view suspiciously all others that appear different from themselves.

Immigration across this wide world is changing this picture slowly. Initially migrants found few of their kind in the new lands and being social beings, eventually learned to unify in with the new traditions and culture, basically like animals when they adapt to new environment! Now, there are many multi-racial countries in the world, where there are different cultures combination, each adapting and tolerating each others' cultures. I think that tolerance should be shown to people who are not harming anyone else and who are merely living their own lifestyle. In countries where there are large numbers of migrants, these culturally diverse groups use their variety of living and culture on the host nation and the host nation in turn accepts and learns to appreciate the diversity they introduce. However, fights and clashes are known to have broken out whenever people have overstepped boundaries and the limits of tolerance are reached.

When two different people meet they will have to learn about the other's values and expectations; which may be very different from what they are used to. Often there are language and religious barriers which need to be overcome and the couple will have to work out between themselves their role in the family. Sometimes even the issue of food may be a conflict as diets and taste can vary. When for examples interracial couples go out for dinner they may have different expectations and may expect the to join in with unfamiliar cultural traditions and festivities.

Here again language may be a barrier in developing a good relationship with them. Usually the husband or wife has a big role to play in explaining to the family and spouse of their roles. However these difficult barriers may be for the couple, love may go beyond all barriers. However, their offspring's too may also be subjected to similar barriers and difficulties in society. Which culture or religion will the child be brought up in? Which language should be adopted?

Some children may find themselves "the odd one out" in school, if society is not mature enough to accept these children of mixed parentage. Despite the additional stress the children face from society, children of mixed parentage are often the most lovely of children, as the mixing of genes tend to bring out the best features of the two. Showing the kids with love and affection, and simply explaining to them why others may view them differently will go a long way in helping these children accept and benefit from the two cultures. We should not forget that it was not too long ago when interracial marriages were viewed by many people as disgusting and revolting. Such things have not become a thing of the past. Such discrimination is alive today, whether the media or we ourselves admit it or not.

For many years, we have assumed that persons of different races think differently about important issues. However, current research has thrown this assumption into doubt. More likely, when people live in the same neighborhoods, attend the same schools, and worship in the same religious societies, they think similarly, regardless of their race. This suggests to me that treating race as vastly more important than other relationship differences is a fundamentally wrong. But any judgment about whether an interracial marriage is wise must come within the situation of the whole relationship. If we find significant dissimilarities, we should remember that they will almost always be challenging to solve.

While interracial relationships do not necessarily mean there will be dissimilarities, we should not forget that in any relationship every difference will require an enormous amount of hard work to manage, and this may well subtract from the energy needed to keep a marriage successful. Today in modern society it has become more accepting and tolerant of other cultures. However, it is still the beginning of many years of integration, understanding and acceptance before mankind will be united as one.