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  • Essay / The effect of tradition on a person's thoughts and actions

    Tradition shapes individuals and represents a critical aspect in how society responds to certain goals. Many people tend to be so deeply entrenched in the traditions they believe in that they are unable to tell right from wrong. In "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, it is mentioned that the story of a family's choice of one of the members to be stoned has been so significant over many generations that great despair would arise if it were stopped , even if it was false. “Those Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin, the child in the closet who suffers for the rest even when he is bad. Beliefs and traditions can be so strong that they overwhelm the mind, to the point where it is unable to make decisions based on its true opinion to differentiate right from wrong. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayTraditions and cultures should not have such a big effect on the way a person thinks and reacts, but should serve as a guide to be able to determine life, its function and the different aspects it attacks. The subconscious part of the brain functions without conscious awareness or active control. The part of the brain that is removed functions with what was; that is, the beliefs, thoughts and actions already implanted from the waking part of the brain. Cultural heritage is embedded in the mind, resulting in an individual's automatic thought and decision-making system being tied to one's beliefs. The subconscious plays a powerful role beneath the mind and tends to feel safe in familiar times and places. “Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure, it is in decadence.” –Jiddu Krishnamurti. In the “Lottery,” people tended to act on the beliefs they already knew and depended on. With the decision to unconsciously choose between what is right and what is wrong with beliefs, out of fear, the brain reacts with a flight or fight response. It was shown in the "Lottery" that one of the characters, Tessie Hutchinson, believed the lottery was good and stood behind it. The subconscious, out of fear of dying, made him react by fleeing or fighting, only to realize that this certain tradition was false. Tradition can have great effects on the mind, but when it comes to survival, in most cases it's about risking everything. Culture can have strong holds and it takes a lot of strength and spirit to break away from it. A person should be allowed to decide what they want to choose to retain from certain traditions. In "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas", the individuals who chose to walk away decided that instead of staying in a place where the tradition is false, they went to a place they believe to be the right one. better and which is not supposed to be a suffering for everyone. In a scenario where most people are raised in Christianity, many people tend to not believe in God, which is their choice. Being a Christian means choosing to live your life and making decisions based on that, knowing that this certain tradition does not harm another being to make that happen. Breaking with traditions that are false does not mean that cultural humility does not exist, but choosing to believe that it is in line with what certain individuals will stand for. Tradition should only serve as a guide and not a pressure on what people choose to believe. The purpose of tradition was established centuries ago to help determine and educate people about the background from which they come. There.