Every location has a different cultural perspective influenced by politics, religion, morals, and customs. This paper will be exploring cultural similarities and differences between the United States of America and Tibet. The United States of America expresses freedoms not as strongly seen in Tibetan culture. Tibet receives a lot of influence from the Chinese Communist Party, because of its location within China (Zwisler). Economic state and locations also influences the customs that shape the cultural structure. Religion plays a factor on the moral standards upheld by the citizens. Education differs greatly due to economic support differences (Zwisler). The United States of America heavily focuses on higher education while Tibet is supportive …show more content…
Moral obligations are expressed by three principles: nonviolence, truth, and genuine democracy (Shonu). Politically, Tibet is governed by the Chinese Communist Party where a president is the elected official. In other parts of Tibet centered in Dharamsala (Mathou), India deputies, ministers, and a chairman like a Prime Minister are chosen as a counsel to be the authoritative figures. This is due to not all the country recognizing and legitimizing China’s rule. Most of Tibet lies in an area recognized now as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) (Mathou). In TAR, China specifically said that “the Tibet Autonomous region is part of the territory or the People’s Republic of China and reiterates that it does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities…”. This quote is an example of the Tibetans lack of political power (Mathou). Both countries strive to have peace and harmony within their citizen populations by having high moral standards. The government funds up to eight years of schooling. Very basic subjects, like math and science, are taught with most students dropping out before intermediate courses begin. Unlike the United States of America, trade skills are more heavily encouraged. (Shonu) For those who follow Buddhist traditions there is no specific stigma towards homosexual relations. Homosexual relations appear to no be an issue in areas in Tibet with less Chinese influence. Intolerance to …show more content…
There is no official language in the United States of America although the most commonly spoken language is English. Christianity is the most expressed religion within the nation although, just like language, there is no declared religion within the United States of America. Clothing style is a tricky subject to describe. Clothing type and style is varied due to climate, occupation, and social status. Choices in clothing is highly influenced by media and celebrities with fashion changing constantly (Zimmermann). American food is also recognized by other nations. Foods from America include hamburgers, hotdogs, potato chips, apple pie, meat loaf, macaroni and cheese and various comfort food including fried chicken, chili and corn bread. The United States of America is also famous for creating “Americanized” versions of foods from other countries. Mexican-American foods like tacos, burritos, and nachos, for example, are categorized in this group. A vegetable that has become very familiar in American dishes is the potato
In order to understand the political factors that influence both of these book; you need to get a background information on why China and Tibet have such animosity against each other. Tibet considers itself a free nation without any ties to China. It states that “Tibet declared itself an independent republic in 1912.Although its status did not receive widespread recognition, Tibet functioned as an independent government until China sent troops to Tibet in 1950” (BBC News). The Tibetans feel as though their freedom is being retained and they are being dictated by China which they did not approve of. China claims that Tibet proposers better with them leadin...
For 48 years, China has occupied Tibet. In Tibet's history, there has been over 17 percent of the Tibetan people killed, and 6,000 monasteries ruined. For starters, Tibet was never part of China. During the first few years when China was in control of Tibet, the Chinese declared that Tibet should be part of China, because an Emperor of Tibet once married a Chinese princess. Years later, the Chinese said that Tibet was part of China because of the warrior Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan and the Mongolians were in control of Tibet, but they never made Tibet belong to China. Secondly, the Tibetan people and the Chinese are totally different, culturally and socially speaking. Both peoples have their own culture, way of life, and religion. Of course the language is very diverse, too. Tibet had their own government before the Chinese took over. It was led by His Royal Highness, the Dalai Lama. Before the Chinese came in and took over Tibet, Tibet had nothing to do with China. The Chinese invaded Tibet in July of 1949. They caused many disasters and much sadness to the Tibetan people. Today Tibet is nothing but a prison. The Chinese continually spy on the Tibetan people. Seventeen percent of the Tibetan population was killed. Many Chinese forcibly removed Tibetans out of their homes at any time, day or night, and sometimes these people were thrown into prison. These people also were often killed for no reason. Ever since the Chinese have taken over the Tibetan people, there have been over 1 millon people killed. There were 6 million Tibetans living in Tibet before the Chinese came and took over the country. In the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, the natives of Tibet are being rid of by the Chinese; the Chinese are filling up Lhasa with Chinese people and the Chinese want to make Tibet throughly Chinese. Today, the Tibetan people are a minority in their own country! All the better jobs go to the Chinese people living in Tibet. The Tibetan people cannot find jobs for themselves, the best job sometimes they can get is to become a truck driver.
The United States is an immense country, with many residents and citizens descending from immigrants who have influenced many customs, traditions, behaviors and ways of life. Unlike many old world nations, the United States does not have a homogenous population or a traditional homeland. However, American culture can be interpreted as being largely based in Western Europe with influences from the Native Indians, Africans, Asians, and elsewhere.
A potpourri of cultural influences from around the world has helped create Southern food what it's nowadays. At its core, Southern food is frozen in local and imported ingredients, necessity and frugality. Given the United States' large size it's various regional variations. The United States' regional cooking are characterized by its extreme diversity and elegance with every region having its own distinctive cuisine.
The Chinese have repeatedly tortured, imprisoned, and murdered Tibetans all for what they claim is national unity. While the oppression of the Tibetan people began in the 1950’s with the invasion of China, it continues just as strongly today. From religious oppression and unfair trials to the torture of nuns and monks, the Chinese abuse even the most reverent aspects of Tibetan culture. Political prisoners, whether they are monks, nuns or lay people, are tortured with utter disregard for human rights. Chinese laws have also been established to eradicate the Tibetan people entirely. Women often must endure forced abortions and sterilization due to Chinese birth policies. Through all of these crimes against humanity, China repeatedly commits acts of genocide as established by the United Nations.
What could be said to be more American than apple pie, more American than baseball? Well baseball and apple pie are certainly the first things that come to mind when asked what you think of when you think of America but what if I asked what would be an all-American music. I believe the first thing that should come to mind would be bluegrass music. Bluegrass music; mainly played with acoustic and stringed musical instruments and vocal harmonies has a few variances and cultural roots from other countries, but remains as American as apple pie.
Harvey, Blatt. America’s Food: What You Don’t Know About What You Eat. 1st ed. Cambridge:
When I visit Pennsylvania or other states around New York, one of the things I see outside restaurants is corn, in this case, dry corn. When I eat around urban areas at small, typical, American restaurants, one of the only vegetables that are being served in the restaurants in great amounts is corn. In other words, corn is like the United States national vegetable. What is interesting is that many nations in the world can be recognized by a vegetable, a fruit or a product...
The other aspect of the Americanization of different cultures’ foods is lessening the spiciness of certain foods. For instance, foods from Thailand usually have a significant amount of heat and spice based on the Thai food culture that largely incorporates vegetables. In this case, Americans lessen the spiciness through changing a major ingredient of the ethnic cuisine in order to prepare an Americanized Thai cuisine. Therefore, Americans have primarily Americanized different cultures’ foods through salting, adding sugar, or frying and lessening changing major ingredients of the native cuisine.
Americans are often stereotyped as living a fast paced working environment in which they eat fast food and drive fast cars. Some of the aspects of American culture which are typical are: pizza, jeans, sunglasses, baseball hats, name brand clothing, tattoos, cellular phones, bagels, and bottled water. The Popular culture that has developed in America has had a major influence on cultures in countries all over the world. Cell phones have become popular in Europe; name brand clothing has taken off in Asia, and McDonald’s restaurants exist all over the globe.
Americans are eating too much cheese, sugar, starch, and red meat. Their most popular meals are pizza, burritos, nachos, quesadilas, and pasta which sounds healthy but as they develop, they are not as healthy as they were before with all the ‘extra ingredients’ they put in. Americans are taking in way too many calories per day if that’s what they eat, which suggest that they are definitely overheating. (Filipovic) Americans are taking approximately twice the amount of salt needed, around 70 pounds of sugar per year, and 11 percent of calories from saturated fats which can cause heart disease.(Berger) Besides that, they are not eating enough fruit and vegetables to balance the meal. (Filipovic) Americans eat 632 pounds of dairy, 31.4 pounds of that is cheese. 415.4 pounds of vegetables, most of it is potatoes and corn, and 29 pounds of that is french fries. They eat 273 fruits which usually means apples o...
Comparison of American and Chinese Cultures Cultural differences are apparent from one group of people to another. Culture is based on many things that are passed on from one generation to the next. Most of the time, people take for granted their language, beliefs, and values. When it comes to the cultural differences of people, there is no right or wrong. People should be aware of others culture and respect the differences that exist between them.
American food has fewer spices than Indian food like ginger, garlic, black paper, etc. Mostly food is processed and frozen which is unhealthy. There is all kind of meat available in America which is good for people who eat meat on the regular basis. Similarly, there is a different kind of clothing style in America than India. Women wear dresses or blouses and skirts for special occasions.
(27) Canada Tibet Committee. “World Tibet Network News.” 1 Jan 2003. www.tibet.ca/wtnarchive/2003/1/1_3.html (6 March 2003).
In Tibet one might use the words “religion” and “culture” almost as synonyms, especially for the arts—literature, drama, painting, and sculpture. Not only were they inspired by religion, but religion was their very raison d’être (Pal 18).