American Culture vs Lebanese Culture Essay

autobiography and Geography argon the most important factors that bring into being a given societys culture In Lebanon, trusts ar of owing(p) limit on the adopted value and assumptions well-nigh lead be discussed in the avocation to withdraw the point just about how juveniles report and geography take interfered to shape the Lebanese society as such, and then a similarity with the American value and their historical backgrounds will follow-Family being at the life of the Arab world, w hither(predicate) Christianity and Islam were born and spread later to the entire world, Lebanese slew practice their religious believes in their different aspects, including those related to the family bounds and relations. Lebanese families slang strong tights the Respect to the Older, the extended kinship net achievements, the colony of the Weak on the Strong (when youngsters depend on their p bents until they become satisfactory to take responsibility of themselves, and then the dependence of the parents on their sons and girls- when they become over-the-hill and in need for their assistance) any(prenominal) these are the normal Lebanese expectations and values regarding the family. History Lebanese multitude give prodigious importance to their account and they keep it in mind to learn from the mistakes of the past that cost them hundreds of thousands of souls in Lebanon the term we paid prodigal for this cause is widely utilize.The Lebanese fretfulnessen has deuce red bands at its cover and bottom sides, to symbolize for the blood that has been shed for the sake of the farming and all those martyrs who sacrificed their exserts throughout the history. Lebanese history is precise rich and full of invasions and struggles to independence time after time, and this has left over(p)-hand(a) pride in Lebanese tribe of their past and determination to underwrite the same path in moralities and values regarding the country and their freedom. Food conservation of Food that the Lebanese used to prepare each summer for the overwinter (called Mo angiotensin-converting enzymeh), has its origins both from the cold winters where no food would be avail fitting, and from the famous WWIs famine that stroke Lebanon, where plainly rich people and close to distantmers were open to survive since they had some food stored in their ware categorys.In addition, meat has to be Halal that is the animal has to be slaughtered according to the Moslem counsel, yet for Lebanese Christians who consider Halal meat healthier and more hygienic. In the Islamic regions of Lebanon, its not acceptable to request inebriant or to crapulence or be drunk when visiting a Muslim, as alcohol is forbidden in Islam. As it is offensive to request for food or to eat, drink or smoke in public during the day in Ramadan, where Muslims will be fasting by that time. temporary hookup in the American context, history has also shaped the values of the America n people, but apparently in different direction as the historical events and circumstances was far different from those go acrossd in Lebanon. Taking the above tackled examples, in the following is an analysis of these in the American context as compared to the Lebanese one. Family the fond tissue of the American society is made up of immigrants from different part of the world, and according to their origin, families acquire different values and social practices. Accordingly, families donjon in Michigan are similar in their family bounds and values to the Lebanese, as in that location is a big Lebanese Diaspora living in this state. While in early(a) regions where most of the immigrants originate from nary(prenominal)th-Western Europe, families dont halt as strong bounds as the oriental people, and young adults dependence on their parents is considered as a shame and regarded to as immaturity. History in spite of the short history of the United States as compared to other countries here to Lebanon- history has had great deal with shaping the American culture and its peoples values, and Americans as the Lebanese are proud of their history and signal great wonder for those who contributed to the nowadays constitutional laws and values. For instance, the famous war betwixt the North and the South had its important footprints on the American values regarding the racial discrimination and the respect to the individual regardless his color or race.On the other hand, the interventions of President Roosevelt during the Great Economical Depression in roam to create job opportunities and boost the economy, is being nowadays highly appreciated and appraised by the Americans. Food the American culinary culture put onms to stool no relation with that build in the Lebanese food. Americans depend mostly on Fast Food, with little time needed to prepare this capacity have its origins the shortage in time when women and men had both to seduce during th e industrial revolution at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition, no religious restrictions regarding the meat or alcohol, but rather a respect to some nutritional preferences equal vegetarian and vegan food for some.Although each society has its take peculiarities, values and cultural distinction, globalization is now invading most societies in the world and shaping them into a new, more homogeneous society having comely practically the same Global Culture the nature of that culture will be that of the most powerful societies who invade the weak ones culturally and turn tail over them alone the strongest values will persist and this is another gradation of struggle.The most aspect of the American values Ive adopted is freedom as a wo earthly concern coming from a Lebanese family. Although I was born and raised here, technically I am American my family likes to sound off otherwise. My family is into the Lebanese culture genuinely a lot. My go came to America whe n he was truly young, maybe in his early 20s. He would visit Lebanon just about every summer and in 1983 he married my grow who was his neighbor. in short after that my parents had my older brother, than my twin brother and I. My mother came to this country at the age of 22 (I deal) and she started to need over my uncles and grandmother. So, basically all of my family was here on my mothers side except two of her siss and one brother. We are very family oriented and I was the only girl so everyone was basically looking after me because they thought if I was to take the American way of things I would be wild and do whatever it is I wanted.Thats not how it works in the old country. The sister or daughter of the family is supposed to stay home, take care of the house, clean, cook, and cater to the arrest and/or brothers of her family. Since we lived in America and grew up here, I kind of had it the lucky way, for a little while. I got away with almost everything. I was sodas li ttle girl, whatever I wanted, I got. I think it was because I was the only girl, for the most part. My draw would get me any and everything I wanted. If my brothers were bothering me and I wanted to get them away from me, all I would do is scream daddy, theyre hurting me he would come running and they were the ones in trouble not me. Most of the time I would start the fight, so it was supposed to be my fault that we ended up fighting, but my become never knew that. He never wanted to see me cry or get hurt by my brothers who were rough and incessantly play fighting. My biologic father died when I was 7 years old of a total attack and so my mother was left as a iodine parent fetching care of two 7 year olds and a 12 year old.It was devastating, heart breaking nil has been the same since of course. My florists chrysanthemum was extremely strict on us after the passing of my father, that was the only way she knew how to protect us from this evil and cruel world she would put forward us. My mom had her mother and three brothers here my fathers sister lived on the second floor of our house, so she wasnt alone taking care of us. Of course mothers have their protest way of taking care of their kids and she didnt want anyone to change the way she was raising us or taking care of us. She made our lives very difficult at multiplication because most of the kids we went to school with or lived around were forever and a day outside on the street playing but we werent allowed outside of the driveway because she evermore wanted her eye on us or person always had to watch us. There was never a time where we were alone, especially me since Im the girl of the family. My brothers had more privileges than I did because of course they were boys and I wasnt.In 2001 thats when things got a dance band easier for my mother and us. She got remarried to a Lebanese man who was from the same city in Lebanon where we were from. She was apt and of course we were happy fo r her and as a family in general. A lot more freedom and emancipation came upon us. He is a very open-minded individual. He wasnt living in America when my mother met him. He was visiting and ended up staying because him and my mom fell in love and got married. He sort of undetermined my mothers mind up A LOT, for me. My brothers always had their freedom for the most part. My mom started letting me go to the park with my girlfriends, she let me go to birthday parties at friends houses. The option of sleeping over someones house was never there. I was very happy and thankful that matinee idol brought this man into our family.I am very close to him he is my step-father, of course. My father will never be replaced but a part of me always sits and thinks maybe my father brought this man into our lives maybe he picked him out for my mom. He and my father are very similar people. When I was going into my secondary year of high school my parents thought of this brilliant idea to t ake to the woods out of the city. It wasnt so brilliant for us. We were living in Hyde Park. We left our childhood home, street, friends, parks, etc. It was a very sad thing to do. Our new home was in Attleboro, Ma. A very suburb area as oppose to Hyde Park. Thats where most of my independence and freedom took part. Im thinking my mom was more lenient to letting me do things and go places because we were now living in the suburbs. I would go to my friends house, sometimes stay there until really late at night. When I turned 17 I learned how to drive, I got my permit and in short after my license.The most freedom a teenager has is when theyre able to drive themselves around and not depend on other people or their parents for a ride anywhere. My freedom and independence began here. It was the most tremendous time of my life. I would drive from Attleboro to Boston almost every other day. My mom knew where I would be going, to my best friends house in Boston or to visit my grandmother and uncles who still live in Hyde Park. The fact that my mother was letting me or allowing me to do all of these things defines where I have adopted the American teenage lifestyle in that point of my life. My religion is very important to my family and to me as well. I grew up in the Orthodox Christian perform. I will always have this value from my native culture. I dont think Ill ever forget my religion or where my beliefs come from. I went to church every Sunday every since I was a little girl. As for now, I dont go to church so much anymore.I live a busy life, like most Americans and especially Bostonians. I always have time for religion, theres nothing wrong with prayer at home or wherever you are. My brothers and I went to a church camp out in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania called Antiochian Village. The thrill of the Antiochian Village is to present to young people a living experience of the Holy Orthodox Faith, in their relationship with God and other campers in an uncluttered, na tural environment. We were there for two weeks every summer. It was probably the best two weeks out of the whole year. I started going there when I was 12 years old until I was 17. I learned a lot about my religion, met life-long friends who I call family now, and learned how to live without electronics attached to me every second of the day. It was a big challenge for me because I was so used to watching TV every day and using the phone to disgorge to friends, and playing video games. Our trips to the Village have taught self-awareness. Its a big aspect of my life. I think to accomplish the mission of the Village was to bring young people * Awareness of self and fellow man* A broadening of their Orthodox life* A greater awareness of their religion* Good sportsmanship* Growth in personal relationships and personal responsibility * An reach of nature and a concern for the environment In Lebanon I see that religion is very powerful. When I go there for the summer there are alway s feasts and Saints days. There are huge celebrations for these feasts and Saints days. The whole townsfolk/city/village is a part of these celebrations. The churches are decorated with lights and candles and flowers. Its beautiful. When I see these churches decorated like this, it makes me realize that there is a God. Without God there would be nothing. I wear jewelry to be that I am religious like a cross on my neck or sometimes prayer beads around my wrist. I make it very clear to people that Im a big part of Christianity. Lebanese people can tell correctly away what religion you are. There are different crosses for the Catholic and Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox cross has a slightly different look than the Catholic one.For me melting pot/salad bowl its about a country of immigrants becoming stronger by both embracing the diversity of its cultures but also all feeling they do belong to one nation as well. Im more of a melting pot. Im more ethnic but have been combined wit h the American culture. I live my life more of the American lifestyle in some ways more than others apposes to the Lebanese lifestyle. Im big into the compare of opportunity whereas in Lebanon the man is in charge of the household, most women are stay at home wives who take care of the household, cooking and cleaning. Im more independent that the cousins I have in Lebanon. The only women in my family who work are the ones who have gone to University and have found approximate jobs that are actually worth it. In America even if one doesnt have a college degree there is a high possibility that they can be successful.It could be from knowing someone in a certain type of job or handicraft where they can receive break privileges and get promoted easily with higher gainful jobs and not even having to step foot in a college direct course. Those are the perks of living in America and having opportunity. In Lebanon there are not many options. Middle class or very plastered familie s put their children in college or universities. around of the people in my family were very fortunate to go to college because their parents had to give up their dreams or sell a piece of land that was handed down to them from their fathers or grandfathers in set to pay for their college tuitions. As I said before independence is my lean one turnover from the Lebanese culture to the American culture. Only the bravest women in my culture stand up to their families or husbands and choose to be independent. I have that opportunity without a doubt or without anyone having to tell me No. Of course I still have my values that come from my culture. These values are what make me who I am and best represent me as independent.In Lebanon the people are always giving a help hand, Americans are the same way. I take that value very much inconsideration because I always try to help the less fortunate. I have so much to be thankful and grateful by the help of my parents and God that I try and give out a back up hand even if its a dollar. There are millions of charities to help the less fortunate in Lebanon and there are a million charities that I have contributed my money, clothes, shoes, jackets, etc. to. It gives me great pleasure to do so, its very frowned upon if you know someone who is less fortunate and doesnt help them out with whatever it is possible that you can give in Lebanon and Im sure in America as well. Some Americans are greedy or cheap and dont like to give their belongings or money away to homeless or less fortunate people but for the most part I see a very large amount of contributors to these people.Happiness is a great value that Ive inherited from both cultures Lebanese and American. My mother always tells me it is better to be poor and happy than to be pie-eyed and unhappy, meaning no matter how big or deep your  release it is, it will not give you happiness. I always surround myself with the things that make me the most happy. It is of cours e my family, my best friends, etc. When I finish school, I plan on opening my own business it may or may not be successful either way that is my ending. It is whats going to make me happy.Whether I become very wealthy or very poor that is what will make me the most happiest. The thought of my goal and dream to be my own boss will give me great pleasure in saying to someone I am my own boss, finally. I hope to be as successful as some of the people in my family are. Some own their own business, some have very high paying jobs at very well cognize corporations/businesses. Even if I become a manager at a business or corporation it will still make me very happy to say that Ive effectuate my dreams in becoming wealthy, because that is how I define wealthy rising from the very bottom to the very top in my life. I want to show my parents that I have accomplished my dreams because I have more opportunities than my mother and father did from when they first arrived in this country. It wil l make me happy just seeing my mother happy. Its a great thing to be, happy. Lebanese people are happy whether they are very poor, middle-class, and wealthy sometimes. Americans dont see the economic status the same as us Lebanese, but I have seen a number of people say the same who are Americans.Having good health is the number one priority in a Lebanese family. My mother also has always said without health you have nothing. If my father wasnt healthy he may be still alive. I know my fathers side of the family has a history of heart disease and he was also under a lot of tense at the time. But he wasnt healthy at all. If a person isnt healthy, there would be no way a person can go to school to get an education, go to work to earn their money, not even get up out of their beds. health is a big issue in Lebanon and in America. Obesity is increment and growing in America every day. Im concerned for myself and family. But with the help of God and us there is no way being unhealthy is an option in my book.In conclusion, independence, a helping hand, and health have best described my melting pot and shape me to be the person I am today. There is no better way to explaining myself in any other way than I already have. Thank you.