My Anthropological View on Society

People have always discriminated a group people because differences in beliefs and practices. But the fact of the matter is, what is taboo to some is actually the norm to others. 


Native filipinos were never afraid when the spanish colonials told them that if they don't worship their "god" that they would burn in eternal fire underneath the earth. Why? Well the native belief at that time was that when someone would die, especially a baby, the soul/spirit would return to the earth where a local goddess/deity with many breasts would nurture the soul and prepare it for the next life. And fire was important to the natives. It provided warm, protection, it cooked their food and it gave them light when the darkness of night would come. So who in their right mind would fear fire back then.?


Some people consider the fact that because voodoo uses blood sacrifices, that it is evil and a practice that is dark and demonic. The reason for the blood sacrifices is the fact that in voodoo, blood is sacred. It is a powerful medium wherein one can commune with the spirits of the earth and connect to the source of all things.


In a more mundane sense, in chinese culture there are instances that dog and cat meat are eaten. People will be shocked and sickened just by the thought of it. But the fact is, there was never an instance that dogs and cats are kept as pets. The dog and cat being a pet is a purely western practice that was brought to Asian and China when the west started trading with the east. The hardworking oxen was more important in chinese past, that a dog and cat.


In India, the cow is considered a sacred creature which should not be harmed or eaten. To the west this might seem as some form of animal worship. But the fact of the matter is, is that the cow provides everything for them. It provides milk, which will never let them go hungry of thirsty. The cow also helps with farming and agriculture. Everything that the cow gives is important. Even to its dung. the cow's dung is used in building a traditional indian house. to the west this would be the most disgusting thing, but to them it is the most natural thing.


Because of the modern era and technology, people have lost their connection to the old ways. Everything that is not modern is taboo. And everything that doesn't correspond to the main belief system of society is deemed as bad and evil.


I believe that each person, no matter who and what they believe in deserves the same respect we want. To each is own really.


But because of how society is today people have closed their minds to mostly everything. Even the ones who say they are open minded still express disgust and discomfort to the practices of others, which are not familiar to them.


The fact of the matter is, what may be normal to us may be taboo to others. Why not think of it that way, instead of judging before understanding what is it.