Chinese Culture Vs American Culture Essay

Living in a world that is dynamic, ever-changing and continuously advancing in all fields, a reflection on how man has evolved and stretched to a point of living amongst 4,200 religions with people speaking up to 6,909 languages is necessary (Rourke, 2018). In this essay, the main aspects of culture will be studied and examined, in relation to certain countries in the West and Middle East. In social sciences, it’s said that there are seven to eight components to culture, in which from these, religion, food, class, greetings, and language will be studied (Ocs.cnyric.org, 2018). Upon hearing the words, the “West,” many would think of countries like the United States of America or the United Kingdom, thus in this essay the United States of America

A country with Phoenician roots, it is known to be the most multicultural and multi-religious country in the Middle East (Guide.culturecrossing.net, 2017.) Lebanon differs significantly when it comes to culture in comparison to Bahrain and America; although it may hold a few similarities. There are 2 prominent religions in Lebanon, Islam and Christianity, each with a significant number in different sects. In total, Lebanon recognizes 17 religious sects. Like Bahrain, the official language in Lebanon is Arabic. Along with that, either English or French are commonly spoken as a second language. The government of Lebanon is a “democratic republic” with power distributed amongst religions. This is to guarantee that all religious sects are represented and no conflict occurs in the government or country. For example, the Prime Minister is always a Christian and the Speaker of the House is Muslim. Within the Lebanese communities, a person’s last name represents status, class, and reputation. This will also be seen to be like Bahrain. This is taken very seriously amongst the community; thus, family members are specified to an obligation of upholding the character and pride of their last name. When it comes to greeting, the Lebanese culture differs completely from that of America and Bahrain. Lebanese typically greet their friends with a handshake and three kisses on the cheek, no matter the gender. In common with the two

Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Culture and Information, has stated in 2009 that “Bahrain is to spend more than $100 million in a bid to position itself as the culture capital of the Gulf.” This has included boasting about its pearl-diving culture, remarkable mosques, and forts (Abraham, S., 2009.) When it comes to greetings, men usually welcome others by a handshake with the right hand and saying “salamu alaikum,” which translates to “peace be upon you,” in English. Women greet each other the same, with a kiss on each cheek. When men greet women, they will only shake her hand if she extends it, otherwise they will just utter the same words (Guide.culturecrossing.net, 2017.) With this example, it can be seen why it is important to respect and learn about other cultures as sometimes, it could be deemed disrespectful. Amongst Bahrainis, loyalty to the family is always the highest priority. Within large, extended families, most live under the same roof or village. This is not seen in the American or Lebanese culture often, and many people could find it odd before understanding that in their society, it is customary. Women in Bahrain also have a great amount of freedom, and are very socially active compared to other Gulf countries (Commisceo-global.com, 2017.) They also obtain a strong literary tradition, like Lebanon, in which most of the work produced is in the traditional Arabic style.