Attitudes and values are two of the most expressive elements that form the bundle of beliefs in most cultures. Together, they represent the sensory motor that fuels our perception and guide our actions toward cultural likenesses and differences. They can divide and organize different groups within a culture. They can give birth prejudices and “isms” that lead to all sorts of bias and unfair treatments. Our values are often embedded in our beliefs and carried out by our attitudes. Sometimes they hold us hostage to our own ignorance, but other times serve as catalysts to change.
When meet with unfamiliar beliefs, values, and attitudes, our first reaction is usually a negative one. With respect to other cultures, we are psychologically trained to uphold these particular components of ours. They show who we really are until we experience multicultural awareness and consciousness. Even then, they, intrinsically, form our perception to behavior a certain way toward other people and sometimes nature. Recently, while watching an episode of “Sex and the City”, Alexandre asked Carrie, his girlfriend, to move to Paris with him to live. Carrie was excited about going to Paris but skeptical about the idea of leaving New York. So, she invited some of her friends to dinner at Alexandre’s place in New York. At the dinner table, a slight discussion erupted when Steve who is one of Carrie’s best friends, Miranda’s husband, started to brag about New York being the ideal city in the world. Alexandre who is from France tenaciously replied and said, “there is no place like Paris”. They went on and on advocating for Paris or New York for about ten minutes. Then, they both claimed that they have lost their appetite. All of sudden, Paris and New York were not just two cities they represented who the two men were. Ironically, I felt like I was living a moment of truth about how quick we are to defend our beliefs. Frankly, that moment proves the significance and meaning of all that I have read about beliefs, values, and attitudes. More than anything, these essays have opened my eyes to a world of many unknowns and expectations. I have become more aware of my so- called beliefs, which I still now hold to be truths with willingness to fundamentally test or measure their premise. Most importantly, I have learned that even though people are products of different cultures, their beliefs, values, and attitudes, which they usually hold dear, can change. And what seems real today may not even be tomorrow.
When meet with unfamiliar beliefs, values, and attitudes, our first reaction is usually a negative one. With respect to other cultures, we are psychologically trained to uphold these particular components of ours. They show who we really are until we experience multicultural awareness and consciousness. Even then, they, intrinsically, form our perception to behavior a certain way toward other people and sometimes nature. Recently, while watching an episode of “Sex and the City”, Alexandre asked Carrie, his girlfriend, to move to Paris with him to live. Carrie was excited about going to Paris but skeptical about the idea of leaving New York. So, she invited some of her friends to dinner at Alexandre’s place in New York. At the dinner table, a slight discussion erupted when Steve who is one of Carrie’s best friends, Miranda’s husband, started to brag about New York being the ideal city in the world. Alexandre who is from France tenaciously replied and said, “there is no place like Paris”. They went on and on advocating for Paris or New York for about ten minutes. Then, they both claimed that they have lost their appetite. All of sudden, Paris and New York were not just two cities they represented who the two men were. Ironically, I felt like I was living a moment of truth about how quick we are to defend our beliefs. Frankly, that moment proves the significance and meaning of all that I have read about beliefs, values, and attitudes. More than anything, these essays have opened my eyes to a world of many unknowns and expectations. I have become more aware of my so- called beliefs, which I still now hold to be truths with willingness to fundamentally test or measure their premise. Most importantly, I have learned that even though people are products of different cultures, their beliefs, values, and attitudes, which they usually hold dear, can change. And what seems real today may not even be tomorrow.
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