This week one of the most interesting things we discussed was family cultures and how they relate to and influence the culture of society. As we know, governments are made up of communities and communities are made up of families. So it should come as no surprise that one government or country would behave differently than another. Since geographical regions usually separate countries by distance or some other boundary, the families that inhabit those regions would naturally evolve differently than their neighbors due to a lack of communication and regular interaction. This is evident in not only within the United States but also within other countries as well. It can be even be seen with two different countries that share a same border. For example how the United States and Mexico share a border but still have vastly different cultures, though we have shared and adopted different aspects of one another's culture over the years. Families tend to influence other families and as similarities within these families grow they can be shared with other families and when good ideas or generally accepted beliefs start to take shape they tend to be adopted more and more into other families as well. Different forms of media help to spread these influences and they all have different impacts on families. All of which can be good sources of how and why people believe the things they do. But I think that even though we have our culture, I think that it is critical that we continue to adopt and adapt our culture as we are exposed to the cultures of other countries. After all, diversity can have huge impacts on civilizations. Impacts that can propel a civilization into the future or impacts that can see the civilization laid to waste. A major positive cultural exchange can be seen in countries that have adopted an the free market into their economic policies. These countries have been able to lift themselves out of poverty per the average citizen verses countries that have not adopted the free market system. An example of a negative cultural exchange can be seen between two or more countries that decide to fight each other instead of working together. You don't often see a country fight against its self. Usually when cultural differences are encountered, it typically ends in some type of conflict. The biggest one that comes to mind would be the conflict that ended in the annihilation of nearly all of the Native American Indian tribes in North America. Cultural differences that were too difficult to overcome, cost the lives of hundreds of millions of people and 100 of billions if you consider the lives that were denied due to the initial loss of life. For some reason we humans tend to find it easier to fight with each other instead of just getting along. If we were to really embrace diversity, we will see it for what it is, a benefit and not the hindrance it is believed. When we can see the why people believe and feel the way they do, we can be exposed to their truths. And since truth is universal we will then be able to improve our own understanding. A good example would be the understanding of medicine. Some cultures tend to gravitate towards natural remedies and others tend to gravitate towards refined medicines. Both have their uses and functions and benefits and both have draw backs. We can see how the diets of some cultures tend to leads to a healthier life style while the western diet tends to see over nourishment in those who practice it. Diversity can lead us to a happier medium if we let it. But always have been our own worst enemy so why change now right?!