Cultural Chauvinism, Degradation, and Pride

Ethnocentrism plays a major role in the way most people perceive and represent their cultures. It reflects different individualistic cultural views and identities. Three of the most common forms of cultural representations are chauvinism, degradation, and pride. Even though the basic elements of any culture can be interchangeable or shared, fundamentally, some cultures are said to be pure and homogenous. In other words, if you are not deeply rooted from a particular culture such as that of France, you can not become a true member. You could be granted a legal status or perhaps a citizenship to live and receive the benefits of that culture as you desire, but you are never considered indigenous. That is cultural chauvinism. One of the positive aspects of cultural chauvinism is that is not viewed as superior or inferior than any other cultures. There may be some individual biases, but the idea is not to portrait it in such a way. On the other hand, in cultural degradation one or more groups or sub- groups are mistreated, discriminated against, segregated from, and sometimes exterminated on the basic of their race, color, religions, gender, etc. It is also known as ethnic cleansing and genocide. The latest one had recently occurred in Bosnia/Kosovo in the 1990’s. One might find it very hard to conceive such behaviors, but these acts are still subject to happen in some parts of world. And to some extent, I believe that cultural degradation of some kind is happening today in unthinkable places. In the United States, New Orleans, Louisiana is probably the only city that gives a good sense of cultural pride with their customary mardi gras. In places like Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and in Haiti, carnival really represents pride. People would travel from all over the world to go back to their homeland for a few days to celebrate unity, heritage, and culture. Personally, I think saying that “I am an American” does not show cultural pride. It simply means that I am pride to be a citizen of the United States of America. However, since we are more of a pluralistic society, some credits should be given for the efforts we have made so far. Culture pride in its entirety requires much more. We would need to unite as a nation, eliminate or at least reduce prejudices and/or racism, and desegregate ourselves to embrace such pride.