A summarized definition of culture is the specialized behavioral patterns, understandings, adaptions, and social systems that make up a group of peoples way of life. Culture is learned, not biological. The level of learning is affected by age, sex, status, or occupation. We are all born into certain, already defined cultures based on learned behaviors ranging from the language spoken to the tools used or games played. We, as the human race, have historically seen the possibilities of improving or utilizing the natural landscape that is our environment to make the quality of our lives easier to manage.
Our ancestors in the Paleolithic ages struggled to survive using basic skills as hunters and gatherers, and then advanced to the Mesolithic ages transitioning to a culture that produced many of their own sources of food by domesticating plants and animals making better use of their natural resources. Our ancestors were progressive and formed the viewpoint that they as people, not the environment, were the forces to bring cultural development. This brought about the innovative period known as the Neolithic ages. With the use of new innovations to make daily survival less difficult they were afforded more leisure time to accelerate the development of culture.
Over thousands of years we have had a desire to improve the quality of our lives. By making these improvements, we have had to communicate with and learn from others. We have found or designed shelter to protect us from the natural elements of our local environment. We have buried our loved ones either above or below ground as our environment would allow. To be successful and coexist, we have learned for the most part to understand and respect the diversity of people within our society. I have always felt that we must be aware that we are citizens of the world as well as the communities in which we live. We must learn to take care of our natural resources and be mindful that there are limits to the carrying capacity of our environment. We require food sources and safe drinking water to meet our most basic needs. For success in the advancement of our world, we must be mindful to use our moral compass as well as a mechanical compass for proper direction in our world development.
As there have been generations before us, there are sure to be many generations to follow. We must accept as our responsibility the need to protect our planet earth and to preserve all that is valuable as a necessity for the survival of mankind and all of its diversity.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
"All the Single Mothers"
As I was once a very young single mother, I completely understand the limits faced by any single parent. We have a responsibility to offer improved opportunities benefiting the children of single parent homes. Our society should provide better and more affordable childcare for those with the greatest need. Nearly everyone wants to be self-sufficient and offer the best opportunity for success to their children. It isn’t always a case of having a lack of ambition; in many circumstances it is a lack of opportunity with far too many obstacles in our way.
According to the most recent U.S. census data, working women under the age of thirty are out-earning their male counterparts. The caveat is that most of these women are childless. These statistics create or perhaps confirm a new form of inequality, not so much regarding sex but familial status. The responsibility to be the sole provider of the basic necessities of life requires a much higher than average income for a single person. If a person is also a single parent, on top of the additional financial responsibilities, he or she has the added emotional and physical pressure of all daily decisions and task that will impact their family. Many times these decisions and task have to be managed with fewer and less desirable options.
Although I am frustrated when I see discrimination and biases against single mothers, I do understand the hardships that having a single mother on staff can present. There tends to be a higher absence rate, which can disrupt the productivity schedules within most companies. Many metropolitan cities offer numerous options for public transportation to their citizens; and more companies currently offer on-site childcare programs making life easier for their employees, both allow for greater possibilities to a single mother. A highly determined single mother would benefit by improved laws in place offering greater opportunities for success rather than by simply adding entitlements.
As a society, we oftentimes fail our children by overlooking their basic needs. I feel that the absent parent should be held accountable both fiscally as well as emotionally to support their children. Our country is facing a crisis caused by the high number of fathers that walk away from their families. When a father fails to live up to his responsibilities, first his children, then our entire society suffers. My hope for the future is that educational opportunities are made available and presented to young women creating a greater awareness of the difficulties faced by single mothers. Being fully responsible for our own lives is a serious matter; the added responsibility of an innocent child is beyond compare. Our future depends on the decisions of our youth. It is our responsibility to offer the best opportunities giving the children of our country every tool available to ensure a stronger, more prosperous, and secure nation. This is our moral responsibility.
According to the most recent U.S. census data, working women under the age of thirty are out-earning their male counterparts. The caveat is that most of these women are childless. These statistics create or perhaps confirm a new form of inequality, not so much regarding sex but familial status. The responsibility to be the sole provider of the basic necessities of life requires a much higher than average income for a single person. If a person is also a single parent, on top of the additional financial responsibilities, he or she has the added emotional and physical pressure of all daily decisions and task that will impact their family. Many times these decisions and task have to be managed with fewer and less desirable options.
Although I am frustrated when I see discrimination and biases against single mothers, I do understand the hardships that having a single mother on staff can present. There tends to be a higher absence rate, which can disrupt the productivity schedules within most companies. Many metropolitan cities offer numerous options for public transportation to their citizens; and more companies currently offer on-site childcare programs making life easier for their employees, both allow for greater possibilities to a single mother. A highly determined single mother would benefit by improved laws in place offering greater opportunities for success rather than by simply adding entitlements.
As a society, we oftentimes fail our children by overlooking their basic needs. I feel that the absent parent should be held accountable both fiscally as well as emotionally to support their children. Our country is facing a crisis caused by the high number of fathers that walk away from their families. When a father fails to live up to his responsibilities, first his children, then our entire society suffers. My hope for the future is that educational opportunities are made available and presented to young women creating a greater awareness of the difficulties faced by single mothers. Being fully responsible for our own lives is a serious matter; the added responsibility of an innocent child is beyond compare. Our future depends on the decisions of our youth. It is our responsibility to offer the best opportunities giving the children of our country every tool available to ensure a stronger, more prosperous, and secure nation. This is our moral responsibility.
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