So whilst wading through another thread I found a topic that I thought might bring on a good discussion. The question is how important is a person's Cultural Identity? I mean we all have are own personal beliefs but what about those that we derive from our culture? Are those beliefs as or more important than our personal ones?

Well, one of my Anthropology Professors once said that you see the world through your culture's eyes, so I guess cultural identity is a very important part of you and your beliefs.

Of course, you can look through history and see great religious shifts that happened when a small group of people set themselves apart from the culture of the day...

The reason I asked the question is that it often seems that people see each other's cultures in a less than positive light. I know that I have been guilty of this myself in the past and I have to make an effort to avoid doing so when I hear stories that involve cultural practices that differ from what is the norm where I live. What I really am wondering is why human beings so often find themselves wanting to make changes to others whose traditions differ from their own? Why do we tend to have this superiority complex?

People have a tendency to like others to be like them... whether it's the folks in the next country, the next city, or just next door.

I have a mixed background, and my family has always had friends from all four corners of the world, so I tend to think of myself as being International and belonging to the human race rather than simply being a UK citizen. I have no desire to impose my culture onto people from distant lands... the differences make the world a wonderful and exciting place. All cultures go through high and low points, but there's something to be learned from each and every one of them.

My thoughts on this subject, are that I feel it's harder to embrace who you are, then to pretend that's who you're not. I'm a bit guilty of not fully accepting my cultural background when it comes to the French side. I'm a bit more proud of the Scotish heritage. I'm planning on one day moving out of the States, but I never want my children to forget where they came from, and who they are. I do feel that when certain things that one is ashamed of about their cultural differences isn't discussed, or remembered, it's like losing part of yourself, and who you are.

From a personal pov, I have tried to move beyond my 'cultural identity' to assume a personal identity that's freer of cultural bias. I was discussing this with my better half as I found the topic quite interesting, she is from a different culture (not vastly different, but different enough) and background than myself and much of our discussion - and certainly disagreement - revolves around our differences about how we perceive behaviours according to our culture.

So, cultural identity can be important, especially when relating experiences or opinions, but I think your social identity is also quite important - up to a point in that social identity can be more fluid.

world would be boring without the many Mexican cultures, African cultures, American cultures, Australian cultures, etc...

I like that there's an element of "that's not how we do things here" around the world.

Down to the family and tribal level even.
Up to the national level on fewer elements.
One problem is lack of mutual respect and entitlement mentalities.

I think in some aspects cultural identity can save your life. I am a student of Native American studies and I do know that the diet that a lot of Southwestern Native Americans was drastically altered by the US government. They were given subsidies that included cheese, sugar, high fat, high carb type of foodstuffs and its had a terrible outcome. The instances of diabetes among SW tribes has skyrocketed. An attempt is now being made by the state Universities to come up with a more culturally accurate diet in the hopes that if the diabetic among the tribe go back to this more culturally based diet it will alleviate the disease. It is having some good results. As a culture the SW tribes lived subsistance farming but didn't have access to many fats, so their bodies adapted by storing at a much higher rate than other populations fat. The effect of this is that when they take in fat they keep it, and if they eat even what is normal fat to most people they become rapidly obese and the onset of diabetes begins. So yes I would have to say in some areas that cultural identity is vital to some people.