It is primarily in cities that a nation’s cultural traditions are generated and preserved.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

It is commonly believed that a majority of a country’s traditional views are kept alive in large cities, but this can be both true and untrue. In many countries, such as China, India, and the Philippines, the beliefs of rural folk are passed down through generations to younger generations, while in others, such as Mexico, the population is spread so thin that there is little room for similar beliefs to flourish. While each country is different, there are some commonalities that hold true globally

First, it is important to realize that the term ‘tradition’ is not synonymous with ‘culture’. While culture is a multi-faceted term that includes language, art, music, religion, and society, tradition refers to facts about the past that hold strong to a community. For example, it may be said that the way people dress in America is part of their tradition, but it is not necessarily true that the tradition is to preserve the way they dress. In Mexico, people dress differently every day, and tradition dictates that one is supposed to dress in the traditional garb of the region one was born in. Despite this, it is generally accepted that North Americans dress more comfortably than Mexicans. However, while Mexico has a tradition of dressing in traditional clothing, it does not have a tradition of the wearing of jewelry or make-up. Therefore, traditions and culture are not synonymous, and it is possible to have a culture that revolves around tradition as well as one that revolves around culture

Second, cultures evolve in cycles. In many places, it is not possible to bring food to towns that may have no roads or telephones, so food must usually be bought in a larger town. This necessitates that the population be spread out so that food can be purchased in bulk. After the food is purchased, it is brought back to the town where it will be distributed. In this way, the townspeople are surrounded by food, but they are still far from the nearest grocery store. This isolation tends to foster a greater sense of community and a closer knit bond between the townspeople. However, in more populated areas, people are more likely to be surrounded by food, and this tends to lead to a more individualistic lifestyle, whereas in more rural areas, food is scarcer, so people tend to stick together. Therefore, it isn’t necessarily true that local cultures are more relevant in large cities than in smaller ones

Third, tradition is important in places where people’s livelihoods are tied to the land. Farmers comprise a large portion of the population in Mexico, and it is not uncommon for a single farmer to farm hundreds of acres of land. Since farmers live off the land, it is in their interest to keep it healthy and to produce as much food as possible. In Mexico, the belief is that those farmers who work the land well will be rewarded with an abundance of crops and livestock. Therefore, maintaining the land is of prime importance, and traditions developed over generations tend to hold strong. In large cities, however, it is rare for entire families to be dependent on one income source, so maintaining tradition is less of an issue. Therefore, while tradition is an integral component of local culture, it is not as prevalent in large cities.

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