Who wouldn’t want to live in a perfect world where everyone is accepted, agreeable, and happy? The real question is ? will we ever get there? To the future of this generation, you are doing great. Keep doing what you’re doing. You do you and I will do me. And at times when it’s necessary, let’s work together and cooperate.

Any ideology is flawed once it’s taken to extremes. For instance, Korea is known for its strong collectivistic culture. Koreans identify themselves as groups and emphasize the significance of groups before individuals. Sometimes, they use “collectivism” as an excuse to treat people and situations wrongly. Here’s something that I would like to point out. Honestly though, can we really blame people’s ignorance and selfishness on a country’s collectivistic or individualistic nature?

It’s definitely normal to ask someone to respect another culture and adapt to it. However, forcing it upon them, without reciprocating the respect they deserve, is purely rude and selfish. This also applies when an individual blatantly refuses to accept a group of people’s opinions while asking them to respect his or her values and rights. Mutual understanding and negotiation is the key to growth and development as an assembly.

Allow me to put things in perspective. There is only one race in this world ? the human race. The only difference is how we are raised. Shouldn’t we then collectively respect how individual stories are told and cooperate with each other to finish the big picture?

Joanne Yang
For The Teen Times
(ttt@timescore.co.kr)