Synthesizing Paper

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." This quote was stated by the preeminent leader, Mahatma Gandhi. Every culture that exists are unique and significant because of their vast traditions and beliefs. The extent of one's culture informs the way one views others and the world. Throughout the stories, "Where World's Collide", "An Indian Father's Plea", and the "Willie Lynch letter" each culture presented was controlled by another culture. Each character was expected to adapt themselves to a whole new culture, leaving their traditions hidden. It was portrayed in the story that the dominating culture wanted to remain dominant as they adapt others to their traditions and principles. The authors of these stories were able to express themselves through imagery as they painted a picture for the readers to relate to, appealing to their human senses.

In the story, "Where World's Collide", Pico Iyer guides us through the various cultures in LAX as "they [came] out, dazed, disoriented, heads still partly in the clouds, bodies still several time zones--away, [as] they step into the Promised Land." From the perspective of an Indian origin immigrant visiting the United States, Pico Iyer witnessed signs of discrimination, stereotypes, and cultural indifference. "They have already, perhaps, visited the restroom where someone has written "Yes on Proposition 187. Mexicans go home." Through observing evidence of racial discrimination in the restroom, Pico Iyer was given a mere taste of how some from the American culture felt about new cultures coming into their country. Judgemental theories and views seemed to have influenced the way society view other cultures. Discriminating one's culture can have a negative impact on them mentally...

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...iew another culture through discrimination. Each given story implies discrimination, as each of them expressed it in significant ways. In the story, "Where World's Collide" discrimination was shown in an environment in the purpose of existance in Los Angeles. In the "Willie Lynch Letter" discrimination was revealed as it expressed culture dominance against another culture whose been strategically studied for their weaknesses. This strategy kept the weaker culture in a permanent corruption state. In an "A Father's Plea" discrimination upon race was in effect as one person viewed another from a different culture as an "outsider." They beared a lack of knowledge of one's traditions as it, in their eyes, became the wrong fit for their given standards. If a culture could remain strong and empowering many of their negative perspectives could change into a positive ones.