What is My Culture?

By Meagen Turner
Ranger Reporter

Students Lauren New, Meghan Godwin, and Michael Mitchell studying outside the Washington Campus College Union Building. By Frank Eva.

Technology, diversity and wealth are some of the words that have been used to describe our culture. According to dictionary.com, culture is the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc., or a particular form or stage of civilization.

First-time Amarillo College student and pre-physical therapy major Mark Sternadel said he believes the military is a major part of our culture. “I look at the news and almost always see some sort of violence, riots or killing taking place in other parts of the world, and I’m happy to say that doesn’t happen where I live,” he said. “The fact that we have a very advanced, bold, brave and courageous military allows us to live in freedom.

“Traditional American culture is a mixture of cultures from people who have assimilated into America. It constantly evolves as we adopt other cultures and share ours,” Sternadel said.

Radiology major Franceny Marrufo said she agrees and also believes freedom is a huge defining aspect of the American culture.

“We have more freedom than the rest of the world,” Marrufo said. “I love how we have a loyalty to the law and that the men and women in our culture are, for the most part, treated equally. Women have more rights than in the past, and I can actually work and vote.”

Graphic design major Lauryn Stewart said she also appreciates freedom, but she warned against the complacent attitude that seems to accompany it.

“I think we’re kind of spoiled. We’re so money focused, and most people seem to focus on their own needs,” Stewart said. “We’re more well off than other countries moneywise, and I think if we learned to give more, it would benefit us as a nation.”

Business major Paden Tillery agreed and said Americans have an insatiable need for satisfaction that drives them as a nation.

“Our culture is all about the American dream; we have an immediate need for satisfaction,” Tillery said. “We take pride in everything we do and are so greedy. We don’t want to help others around us, because we are always ‘too busy.’”

Despite the common feeling of doing too little, there also is a brighter side to the culture.

“The arts really stand out to me in our culture,” Stewart said. “Music, photography and art are all important to us. There are so many different varieties and genres, and people are always experimenting to find something new. Technology is also big. It pretty much governs everything we do nowadays.”

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