Obscure Objectives

"I came into this world to find a reason to live"

         --The Afters, "Forty-Two"

Some Americans go to far lengths for their appearance. Whether it's brushing teeth after every meal, having to apply lip gloss before leaving the house, or wearing clothing that brings you happiness, everyone has their own daily "rituals".  The descriptions of the "Nacirema" in the cold-read are written in language that would be found in a museum display, sounding foreign. It took a while for me to recognize my own culture! This reveals that strangers immersed in American culture are foreign to each other because we don't know the "rituals" of others immediately. 

Our culture worships physical appearance. Many modern appliances act as a "shrine", promoting self-absorption. Mirrors, for instance, are located "one or more" times in each household, "devoted to" the purpose of making sure we look presentable. Cell phones are an even greater modern tool for this "activity", allowing us to quickly use our front camera, post it on social media, and make sure we look better than our peers. Miner states this process is a "ceremony", an ironic term for something that is not worthy of glorification. This obsessive "activity" sadly becomes "the focus" of our life, and it "looms as a dominant concern" on our days. Our American culture is backwards, just like the term  "Nacirema".

Although our culture has weak focal points, we should not compare ours to other cultures and rank them accordingly. We acclaim something and other cultures worship another, and all have beliefs that differ. Therefore, we have to take "careful inquiry" when observing cultures and other people foreign to us, remembering to praise the differences.