Culture Clash

The inherent culture within many intentional communities today repels many people, and a disproportionate number of these people are people of color. The stereotype of intentional communities that many people have (that is very often true for some communities) is that of a "hippie" commune where people frolic naked and filthy in the country with tofu in one hand and a peace sign in the other. For the most part, white people dominate the "hippie" culture because very few people of color share many radical "hippie" values. Less and less intentional communities that are being formed today resemble this stereotypical "hippie" commune. Many intentional communities are being formed in urban areas that are not so markedly different than the mainstream. Thus the "hippie" commune stereotype hurts those communities who want to attract people of color and may not have such radical values. Since the stereotypical "hippie" commune is the image that most people have of intentional communities, it is worthwhile to examine why this type of community repels people of color so disproportionately. First of all, people of color tend to be more conservative in their values than white liberals. White liberals that live on intentional communities tend to be much more permissive about public nudity and slovenliness, for example, than most people of color. On the other hand, people of color tend to be more public about their impressions and feelings than white people. White people are usually more private about personal and interpersonal conflict. The cultural differences in communication between white people and people of color will be explored in greater depth in the "Internal Dynamics" section. Second of all, the tofu-heavy vegetarian diet emphasized by most "hippies" does not jive with most people of color. People of color tend to take greater pride in their heritage than white people do and prefer to retain their cultural way of eating that may not exclude meat or incorporate strange health foods. A health-conscious diet also relates to education and income in a way that gives white people more access to health foods. White people who tend to have greater educational attainment and income than people of color have more of an opportunity to be educated about nutrition and can afford to purchase healthier food. Third of all, due to the oppression that most people of color have experienced historically, many people of color do not seek peace in the world through the same means that "hippie" communitarians do. Many hippie communitarians who have not struggled all their lives to obtain what they have tend to favor cooperation and the sharing of resources as the way towards peace and justice. Many people of color, on the other hand, have experienced and recognize the struggle for justice and fight for equal opportunities for all people. Therefore, the sharing of resources that prevails in intentional communities contradicts the common belief of many people of color in the struggle towards justice and the tendency for people of color to desire their own personal resources. As one of the members of the Koinonia community in Americus, Georgia explains about their communally owned property, "One of the first houses we sold went to a Black couple. The husband was very impressed with our mission, and wanted to join.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

Traditions and customs from all over the world Every individual or community has its own hopes, fears, beliefs and taboos. The way we express them is very complex and often has its roots hidden somewhere far, far in the past. Some beliefs have its root in the way some words sound. Let's take for example China, Japan and Korea. In all of these languages the word used for four sounds very similar to the one for death. That is why number 4, but also numbers including digit 4 are being avoided whenever possible. In buildings like hotels, offices, apartments or hospitals for example floor numbers including 4 do not exist. If you go to the wedding dinner or any other social occasion you won't find table number 4, 14, 24 etc. Traditions existing in certain society follow all stages in human life birth, growing up, marriage, death etc. Bride in Moroccan wedding is being decorated with traditional Henna tattoo. Substance used in this kind of tattoo is extracted from the Henna plant (Lawsonia inermis). The substance is applied on skin through the hollow tip of a syringe. Religions themselves have numerous traditions. Spain is famous for its processions. They are organized all over the country during Catholic festivities. Especially spectacular are those held in the Holy Week or Santa Semana. Some participants in these processions are the nazarenos. They wear a tunic and conical shaped hood called "capriote". The essential part of the procession is "trono" or throne. It is a platform on which paintings or sculptures with scenes from the Passion are carried. The trono is heavy and is being carried by groups of people from local communities. Many of the traditional events organized are actually sport competitions held between city quarters for centuries. People of beautiful Italian city of Florence have its Calcio Storico or Calcio Fiorentino. What is it? It is a game of medieval origin. It is a combination of football and rugby. Two teams wearing medieval clothes are fighting to score a caccia or a goal. It is a rough and very passionate game. There are customs which, when look through the eyes of the outsider, seem to be bizarre, even crazy. People want to have fun. I could go on and on naming them here. Just as an example let's mention the Festival of San Fermin (Fiesta de San Fermin). It is organized in city of Pamplona. Yes, you are right it is in Spain. The event is know el encierro or running of the bulls. During the encierro hundreds of participants run in front of six bulls and six steers down an 825 meters long stretch of narrow streets of old part of Pamplona. Unfortunately under influence of big corporate business and politics who is always behind it new set of values, new "culture" is being created. Its "values" are simple more money. To achieve it every individual or in the eyes of big business "cash making

machine" has to be stripped off all of her or his values, traditions. New ones have to be created, all in purpose to spend more and more money on products and services they really do not need. Critics of traditions say that those observing them all old fashioned, lack tolerance for others. I think that it is partly wrong. Traditions make our world richer, more colourful, more exciting. What would the world look like in one colour, in one sound. I would not like to live in such world. And you? On the other side it true that there are communities who in some of their customs express hatred towards other cultures, religions. Such customs are wrong and certainly should not exist. From my point of view, future world should be created with actions in two directions. We should preserve our traditions. They make the world so much richer. We should also try to listen to others. And maybe become better persons ourselves.

ENGLISH SCHOOL SYSTEM