Reaction to Habits

I agree with the ideas that SL presented in his post on different customs of different religions throughout the world. Horwitz accepting the different culture and trying to fit in is a great example of what many do not do in our society. We are afraid of the unknown. I feel as though many Americans are almost ignorant to differnet cultures and that is the main source of conflict we face with other countries. Coming from a country like America where there are so many different races living in unison it is interesting to think about how we reject certain aspects of different cultures. Especially with the Middle East, we have permanently indented in our minds that Muslims are terroists. We immediatly assume this because many Muslims are willing to die for their religion and yes, we have a reason to believe that Middle Eastern customs may be radical because of the inevitable terroism that exists but it is right to immediatly judge every Muslim in the Middle East. The United States is not only at fault for constat stereotypes, the Middle East is also openly opposed to certain customs that our country possess.
"Is it true that men and women in America live together without marriage?'
'Yes, that's true.'
'How is it then that they are still virgins when they marry? Please explain.'
'They aren't."
(pg.64)
For example, the rights of women is only one aspect of our society and Middle Eastern society that greatly differs. Today, it is not reasonable to believe that different cultures of the world will always agree, but I feel we do not try to even understand, whether we agree or disagree. Our country has over come slavery and race is no longer a restriction so why is it that we cannot stop rejecting the culture of the Middle East? We are fighting a war to try and protect our country from future terroism, but forcing Western customs on a society that is completely different from ours is arrogant. Just as we reject the customs of the Middle East, the Middle East is going to rejct our different customs. This war could be avoided if society stopped rejecting the unknown.