Part of the debate about culture revolves around issues of perspective and ownership. Within a nation such{{U}} (1) {{/U}} the United States—a nation whose cultural heritage includes elements from every corner of the world{{U}} (2) {{/U}}are a great many perspectives coexisting and intertwining in the cultural fabriC．When we all ask{{U}} (3) {{/U}}as individuals, "what belongs to me, to my culture?" we are rewarded with a spectacular variety of{{U}} (4) {{/U}}; in this way, different perspectives and ownership of different cultural traditions enriches everyone. But when we ask " {{U}}(5) {{/U}}belongs to us, to our culture?" we ask a much harder question. Do the people of the{{U}} (6) {{/U}}States, or of any culturally complex human society, necessarily share common cultural elements? If so, who gets{{U}} (7) {{/U}}decide what those elements are?
This debate is a crucial one in many cultures throughout the world{{U}} (8) {{/U}}. In the US, the debate promises to impact the way we educate our children—that is,{{U}} (9) {{/U}}manner and shape in which culture reproduces itself—and the way we write our laws. In{{U}} (10) {{/U}} countries, equally crucial issues are at stake.
For many people, what is at stake is the character{{U}} (11) {{/U}} US national identity. Hirsch argues that this identity needs to become less culturally fragmented; others, like Walker, {{U}}(12) {{/U}} that the national character gets its strength from cultural diversity, from the freedom (at home and in{{U}} (13) {{/U}}) to celebrate, honor, and reproduce different cultural traditions. Those who take this latter view follow the reasoning{{U}} (14) {{/U}} Shweder, arguing that we need to accept that there are multiple valid cultural perspectives and that two{{U}} (15) {{/U}} perspectives can both be valid even though they might contradict one another.
Recognize that the position you{{U}} (16) {{/U}} in this debate about culture—whatever position you take—is a political one with implications{{U}} (17) {{/U}} what we should value, what we should praise, what we should accept, what we should teach. When{{U}} (18) {{/U}} reflect on this debate, when you contribute your own voice to the discussion, try to be{{U}} (19) {{/U}} of the implications that follow from your position. When you listen to the voices of others, try to {{U}}(20) {{/U}} with awareness, deciding for yourself what is at stake and how their positions relate to your own.