Discuss both views and what"s your opinion?
范文二 2004-11-26写于北京航空航天大学
Rituals, rites, religions, and custom vary considerably from culture to culture and from country to country. They are rich in contents and brilliant and colorful in forms. But, should one adopt the local custom when subject to an alien culture and custom? The seemingly simple question is virtually rather vexing in that the answer to which depends to a large extent on a variety of contributing factors. Among these factors, the pattern and nature of the culture plays a dominant role.
Cultures are generally classified into two categories: folk culture and public culture. The former refers to a culture that emphasizes the personal relationships in settling affaires. In such a culture laws are eclipsed by custom and moral in the maintenance of social order. People pay even meticulous attention to the custom. Any break of the custom is considered as unacceptable as regicidal behavior or commitment of some felony. Thus when one visitor is in such a culture, it would be better for him or her to “Do As Romans Do When in Rome.” In a certain sense, to adopt the local custom is a way for an alien to survive or at least the prerequisite of living.
“Public culture” is coined to refer an ethnic group whose social order is maintained by legal instruments, although custom is emphasized. But custom in such a culture seldom remains unchanged for a relatively long time. Within decades, some custom may even have “gone with the wind”. People generally are like to accept different ways of doing things or thinking. Each individual is highly respected. Under such circumstance, it is usually unnecessary for a visitor to calculatedly follow the natives’ custom. Even the new comer preserves all his or her own custom or culture when exposed to an entirely different custom, it is safe for the visitor to do whatever he or she wants to do provided it is legal.
Put it simply, in a public culture it is unnecessary to adopt the local new custom. But in a folk culture, things are totally different. To follow the local custom is a must.