1/ In this age of globalisation, it is quite natural for people to get influenced by other cultures and adopt them.

There are many examples of how Western culture has seeped into our own and influenced us.

2/ While there is nothing wrong in adapting other cultural traits, it is human tendency to easily get attracted to the negatives more than the positives. This is reflected in the way we talk, we dress, we behave & much more.

3/ Unlike ours, Western culture is 'open' and it is evident how much impact it has had on our society.

Many films & web series these days are full of graphic content such as too much violence, nudity & bold scenes in the name of 'demand of the story'.

4/ Such content is definitely going to have an impact on the easily impressionable young minds.

Use of expletives or slangs is another example. The use of words such as 'fuck', 'shit' and 'crap' is no longer considered bad or unusual even among teens.

5/ Dressing up provocatively, having more than one GF/BF, sex before marriage, teen pregnancy, extra-marital affairs - these are fast becoming common due to the bad influence of the Western culture. This is nowhere near Indian culture.

6/ If we want to ape the West, why not inculcate the positives? Let me share some of them.

People in the West are honest, disciplined and hardworking. They give respect to others irrespective of their profession or job.

7/ For example, in Spain if you hire a taxi or board a bus you are supposed to greet the driver else it is considered rude.

If I start greeting a bus driver here in India, people might think that I have gone crazy or that I am being too 'friendly'.

8/ People in developed countries do not discriminate between a girl or a boy. Parents teach both of them all kinds of household chores and they have the freedom to choose their own careers and life partners.

9/ By late teenage, youngsters begin earning & do not depend on their parents. They pay for rent, tuition and other expenses by working part-time jobs along with their studies.

But in India, people rely on their parents till they themselves get old.

10/ I am not against joint family system. But I despise the fact that certain people keep their parents until they inherit their parents' properties and wealth and then kick them out of their lives forever. Better to live alone than depend on such children.

11/ While we focus on giving the best education to our kids, they also teach their kids essential life skills.

For example carpentry, electrical, plumbing - many of the people have knowledge of these skills and they pass it on to their kids.

12/ Their education system is a healthy mix of theory and practical. They encourage experiments and application of knowledge gained in the classroom.

While our education system is mostly based on theory & stress is given on passing exams instead of learning.

13/ These are just a few examples to highlight that there is so much to learn from the West.

Instead of mindlessly copying their vices, we should focus on learning their virtues and good values. Let us enrich our culture with the best, not the worst.
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