Cultural
Heritage
and Modern Man
As modern man probes
into outer space,
explores deep sea beds and
floors,
climbs world’s highest
mountains,
searches through world
forests, and
visits all deserts;
everywhere he goes,
he carries his heritage,
way of life passed on to
him
by preceding generation,
ritual he will soon
perform on
succeeding generation.
He goes with his language-
verbal and written forms-
he records all observables,
documents everything seen,
draws every desirable item
and
tells everyone who care to
listen.
Language-the cord of life-
letters in a written form,
words in sound by
speech making,
a major culture addictive
and
preservative common only
among humankind;
language the everlasting
chain
between yesterday and today,
bridge that connects
the present to the future.
By means of language-
culture is created,
by means of written words
culture is preserved, and
through spoken words
culture is passed on
generation after
generation.
Language a priceless
resource
for social integration and
individual development;
language-foundation-
upon which social
institutions
are built,
vehicle-to transmit knowledge.
Language-the ladder or
up-and-down step to
promote, preserve, and
protect
culture,
tangible and intangible;
pathway of life
from sunrise to sunset.
Oh! How inspiring to learn
modern man builds his
world
from culture passed on to
him,
from customs and practices
come standards and social
norms
he creates ethics;
from conscience nurtured
values,
he promulgates laws
to guide inter-human
behavior.
Patterns of behavior
man develops from
traditions and customs,
behavioral pattern-
he glorifies and elevates
into a culture-
the way of life.
Continuously, the culture
he re-creates through a
cycle of rebirth, re-generation,
growth, and development.
Religion-the urge to
worship-
something supernatural
or someone supreme,
mankind had developed;
even though, devotion,
reverence,
and worship are intrinsic,
right or wrong, good or
bad,
religion, mankind elevates
to
a multi-purpose highway-
highway traverse by
different
travelers-
for different reasons and
purposes.
Culture promoters,
politicians
moralists, intellectuals,
big business see religion-
differently;
still religion they turn
to
because of its appealing
value
and influence it wields on
mankind.
Do you have a home to call
your own?
Even as it provides
shelter,
security, comfort, and
safety
for haves and have nots;
homes, architectural
make up, and composition
define humankind differently,
by geography, status,
climate
interest, and desire.
Our homes-wooden, or
concrete, small or big,
hut or
high rise apartment,
longhouses,
pit houses, cottage,
mansion
are rooted in our culture,
essential part of human heritage
that speaks volume about
individual personality.
Do you see your
immediate environment and
resources in it-flora,
fauna,
organic and in-organic
materials-
as a mere wealth creation?
Or part of a global home,
caring for a particular
section
within a “global village”
or
neighborhood?
Wonder why people of
different climates and
regions
survive till this day?
Eskimos in arctic,
Siberians in
arctic circle,
Berbers and Tuaregs in
Sahara Desert,
Himalayans, and those
living
close to seas?
Our natural heritage-
a significant part of
earth’s
biodiversity has continued
to
shape people of
differently;
from oriental to
occidental
culture may vary, heritage
differs,
values, traditions,
customs,
conventions may not be same.
Regardless of where people
may live,
which culture they
practice,
just as people remember that
culture and heritage are
their molder,
neither must people forget
that
humans all over have same
needs;
physiological, safety,
love/belonging,
esteem, and self-actualization,
five essential needs of
every
living human that are rooted
confine.
[SILAS ABAYOMI]
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