A tradition implies belief or custom, passed on to us by our ancestors. Much of what we do today has its roots in the past. Modernism is in total contras with the ideas or methods of the traditional ones. Old, it is said, is gold and should be preserved carefully. But it is also an unavoidable fact that old is to be given up for good to enter the New Era.
There is a lot in our ancient customs, still practiced today, that is not only meaningless, but even evidently harmful the modern society. Take for example, the practice of dowry.
In the modern context, dowry is an evil that forces ambitious girls, whose parents are poor, to remain unwed. The practice needs to be done away with entirely. Another evil practice of the same magnitude is the child marriage.
Traditions need to be known to us. And what is good in them be retained. Quite often, even some good traditional practices are discarded in the name of modernity and change. India is famous for its hospitality and the treatment of guests. But today no one has the time to offer a visitor even a glass of water. He is rather considered a burden. To get even a cup of tea in someone’s home has become difficult these days.
We need to face tradition squarely, remove from it what is unwanted and retain what is good in it. Then alone will we be able to preserve and revive our old virtues that made the country great and famous all over the world in the past.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Modernism, through theology and philosophy, attempts the same objective. However, instead of just writers, scholars and church officials attempt to reinterpret Christian doctrine to fit the scientific thought of the 19th century. Ideas and ideals were used to promote social re-engineering within the law and government so as to tackle such issues as gender, race inequality, corruption, injustice, marriage and state affairs, all of which were anti-traditional. To fully understand what Modernism is, is to accept one word, Modern. To be modern is to be anti-traditional. It is to have belief in the progress of mankind through science and technology. It is to be anti-faith, because faith here means to have belief in something unverified by science. It is to believe that reason is the only tool at the disposal of man and to have belief that truth is knowledge.…
- 526 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Authenticity does not mean to stay in the same town, with the same beliefs and practices, for an entire lifetime. Because despite efforts to fight of the changes brought on by globalization, change is inevitable. The fact that Western markets dump cheap clothes making the purchase of traditional silk completely unaffordable is an example that everything changes. Those who wish to preserve the authenticity of cultures view the changes brought by globalization as evil but what we know as tradition began as an innovation, “societies without change aren’t authentic; they’re just dead” (Par…
- 591 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
What does it mean to have a cultural tradition? A cultural tradition is the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. In Kevin Kling's "Hook, Line, and Television," Kling was someone who kept to the tradition that happened in the cold weather and when the lakes were safe. His tradition is to go ice fishing every year in Minnesota when they decide the ice is safe. My cultural tradition is that my family and I make tamales for Christmas. This is a tradition that happens in Mexico and since my parents are from there we follow the tradition of the Hispanic culture. Not only do people consider it a tradition, but it is also part of their ethnic background. As we continue this tradition, we also expand on the people we end up sharing this tradition with others that celebrate it with my family.…
- 758 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Tradition is an important part of everyone's life. Some people follow traditions so deeply rooted in their everyday life that they don't even recognize them as such. Why do you cook rice a certain way? Well, that's the way Grandma always did it. Others hold tradition above anything else. They feel that it is very important to follow these established customs and cannot even imagine rebelling against them although they may be hurtful in some ways. They may not even remember the reason for these customs in the first place. In the short stories "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker, and "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson, the authors both express their attitudes towards tradition.…
- 511 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The movement to change from tradition comes in many forms, but includes complex and often hostile results. The change may be subtle and seem to lack a negative results; however, breaking away from the deep roots of tradition will cause an effect overflowing with strong emotions. This overflowing of emotions will carry over into unseen areas of peoples life’s and culture. This idea remains true when the broader society experiences tension from an individual changing from the society’s traditional values to the individuals values. Authors Barbara Mellix, Nancy Scheper-Hughes, and Robert Scholes wrote essays attempting to explain the struggle individuals and society face when trying to follow the traditional path instead of their own path to achieve success. As a result, too much tradition limits and controls people’s gifts and talents. Therefore, an individual and the broader society needs to learn from the tradition taught to them and strive to travel their own path to display the power within an individual.…
- 1400 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Traditions are beliefs that are kept around for centuries, and are passed on from generation to generation. There are all sorts of traditions around the world. Traditions are made up by one person, and no matter how stupid the tradition is it is still followed. Traditions are supposed to be memories, and who would want to remember such a gruesome tradition. The murder of Tessie hutchinson was one that never would be forgotten.…
- 378 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Appeal to tradition has occurred in society since the birth of mankind. The claims made by…
- 857 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Traditional conservatives place an emphasis on tradition as they believe, according to Edmund Burke that traditional customs and practices in society is 'God given'. Burke thus believed that society should was shaped by the 'law of the Creator', or what he called the 'natural law'. If human beings tamper the world they are challenging the will of God. Burke further described tradition as a partnership between 'those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born'. Tradition is also revered as it could be argued to proven to work as it has been 'tested by time', and therefore be preserved for the benefit of the living and for generations to come. Tradition reflects a Darwinian belief that those institutions and customs that have survived have only done so because they have worked and been found to be of value. They have been endorsed by a process of 'natural selection' and demonstrated their fitness to survive. Conservatives also respect tradition because it generates, for both society and the individual, a sense of identity. Established customs and practices are ones that individuals can recognize; they are familiar and reassuring. Tradition also generates social cohesion by linking people from the past and providing them with a collective sense of who they are. Change, is unknown and therefore it creates uncertainty and insecurity, and so endangers our happiness. Tradition, therefore, consists of rather more than political institutions that have stood the test of time.…
- 1284 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
“A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past”. It is the existing knowledge that we got from our parents; and parents got it from their parents, and so on. Tradition represents culture. These two words are inter-connected. Without tradition, there is no culture and vice-versa. These words bring us the meanings for our life and make us who we are. We behave based on how we were raised and taught by our parents, their parents, and so one. We…
- 847 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Tradition is the backbone of every established country in the world. Family, community, and even country wide traditions are extremely common. Though popular culture may change, traditions always stay the same. Why is tradition followed so closely? Many are for religious or family reasons, but how many traditions are followed blindly? What deems a tradition, or anything the crowd does, as morally acceptable? The themes of each story, Young Goodman Brown and The Lottery, deal with flaws in following the crowd.…
- 890 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Modern society often teaches “newer is better.” What happened to the value of history and tradition? In Dead Men’s Path, by Chinua Achebe, readers find out what happens when one disregards and disrespects the tradition of another. Achebe uses symbolism, character, and irony to show how important it is to respect others’ beliefs even if one does not understand or agree with them.…
- 774 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
However, if one compares our culture with that of a hundred years ago, then the things that determines and surround our lives…
- 2000 Words
- 8 Pages
Best Essays -
I can see how traditions can hinder progress:if you subscribe to past ideals it can deter from advancement.…
- 282 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
With changing times people have adapted themselves to the changing trends and given off old traditions. Instead of reacting to the sudden cultural shocks, they have embraced foreign culture with poise. Freedom has taken forefront. Rituals have acquired backseat. Rules are supposed to be broken and exceptions are present for every single rule. Break-free is the idea. “Live life, King size” is the motto.…
- 438 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Traditions are a serious issue in every African society even till this modern day and age. From marriage ceremonies up till the way we greet and interact with people in our society. Every society has different traditions in which they believe in, some most times similar with those of the other community or society. Tradition is something that has existed for quite a while now and I believe even with the help of a higher authority, some traditions can never be abolished or go unrecognized.…
- 1181 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays