How Does You Race, Religion, Nationality, Gender and Culture Define You? Essay

If we were simple(a) of our day-to-day activities, would you just wander or so aimlessly, or would you default to the things that withdraw been ingrained into our brains since we were little? What sics you? It could be your job, the fact that you atomic number 18 an A wizardry student, a p bent, or maybe it could be the things you love like your railcar or your impressive record collection. The problem is, what happens when you lose it? Lose your job, your kids originate up and move out(a), then what? When you confine who you are with what you do for a living or the objects you birth, its temporary. Identity is fragile.For me, my race, beau idealliness, nationality, sexual urge and culture define me. No ace can tell you that you are non something you are that is to say, the things that define who we are cannot simply be taken a fashion because we do not meet their expectations. Peoples expectations say more(prenominal) nigh them than it does you.I am Chinese. But I am not from China. uncase colour is only skin deep. The genes for skin colour buzz off zilch to do with athletic ability, musical talent or forms of intelligence. Unfortunately in Malaysia today, almost everything is race-based, which makes me feel unhappy. Race isnt biological, scarcely racism is restrained real. Race is a powerful social root word that gives people unalike access to opportunities and resources. The organisation and social institutions in Malaysia do created advantages that disproportionately route wealth, power and resources to bumiputras, the Malay and indigenous people, which make up roughly 61.4 snap off of the total population.For instance, in my cousins school there are quotas on how legion(predicate) Malay, Chinese and Indian students are to become prefects. The idea shocked and angered me further when I found out that out of the twenty positions, only three Chinese students are allowed to become prefects, whereas 12 positions are reserved for Malay students and the remaining five for Indians. She goes to a government school, undoubtedly. I feel grateful because I study in an planetary school, which does not follow suchprinciples. Race-based quotas, a highly politicized and controversial issue, exists in university admissions also.I am also a Buddhist. But not a strict one. My immediate family does not yield a prayer populate or even an altar. Usually, Buddhists pray to specific gods or deities and give offerings as a daily routine in hopes of repairting what they hope for, or sometimes doing something in return. just about Buddhists do not eat kicking because they pray to the Goddess of Mercy, who regards the bull as a sacred animal.To my family and I, Buddhism is not more or less what you put into your mouth, but quite what comes from your mind and heart. As far as I know, a person who claims to be a Buddhist and does not consume beef can also indulge in supererogatory many other things, most of which are not a biding to the truthful teachings of Buddhism. We do, occasionally, visit the synagogue for blessings. We go to the temple in Ipoh, where my aunty and cousins live. The temple is very smoky but we endure it and kneel down in front of the idols of the gods and deities to pray, asking usually for good results, to be in the bump of health and generally good wealth. After that, we stick a a couple of(prenominal) joss sticks into a metal bowl. Sometimes, my parents, with the assistance of a temple monk testament use a slipper to hit a charm with the break of whomever they debate might be preventing business deals to fall by dint of or cursing them, in some way. Sometimes I do not believe in such things actually working, but I think my parents do it because it might somehow alter their luck. My father is, or rather was, a Christian. He went to church every Sunday when he was younger. His infant married a priest and they are very conservative. I am lucky in the sense that my father does not take religion to the extent that we are forbidden to say phrases such as Oh my god or God knows, like his sister. I am very trustworthy that her own children say that. This is not something she can control because we live in a different age now and the world is constantly changing. I think she should adapt to the current culture, or risk being seen as old-fashioned and not open minded. Back to my father, now he looks himself a Buddhist. He no longer goes to church and goes to the temple, with the rest of my family. I do pray, but rarely, sometimes when I am in desperate requisite of something, although not to anyparticular god, in hopes of the god wherever he or she may be, hearing my prayers and fulfilling them. I believe in karma too. When something injurious happens, I tell myself that it happens for a reason. Maybe because something good is on its way, or because the Supreme Being is punishing me for something I did previously. I think of it as a balance of nature, because nobody can have it all. I have been to church when I was younger, not because my parents made me but because my friends went. It was quite bid while it lasted. Many activities were conducted during Sunday school, as they called it. Such activities were singing, playing games, pull and reciting bible verses. Admittedly, I sometimes believe in Greek gods. I find it cool because they are special. Maybe I find them so interesting because these beings are publicized and are often said to have mythical powers and go on quests and such in the movies and books. All in all, I think that I might be still purpose myself in the religion department. But for now, Ill still consider myself a Buddhist.Seeing as my name is Samantha, I am unmistakably female. Some people may call me girly or feminine but I think I can be tough if I requisite to. I am not generally a loud person, contradictory my close friends. They are tempered like boys by other boys. Im not saying that I dont remove that, but I think I prefer being treated like a girl. I do not mind gender stereotypes because for the most part, they are true. Gender is defined for us at birth, but how much you become like the gender is down to how much you tell apart to follow it. I am strongly against anti-gay and anti-homosexual beliefs though. I trust that many people in my generation accept that culture and do not discriminate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. There was a recent case of a Muslim gay man in Malaysia says he fears for his safety subsequently speaking about his sexuality in an internet video that attracted online wipeout threats and accusations by religious authorities that he is insulting Islam. I get angry after hearing news of the government acting irrationally towards these individuals. However, the government insists that this comes under the Islamic Law and such acts are a disgrace to their religion. I, myself would like to participate in rallies against anti- LGBT activists next time. Being a Malaysian does not affect me in any way. I do sometimes feel embarrassed by what our country has done in the past. Petty issues are often made big and raise eyebrows around the world. I do not want our country to be noted for its many controversies. Politics is also another factor because many politicians have become corrupt and greedy for money and power. They abuse their power for their own benefit and end up in scandals, which take even more money to cover up. Last but not least, culture does define me. I, as a Chinese celebrate Chinese New family with my family every year. It is our tradition to pour and offer tea to our elders. We have periodical gatherings in my relatives houses. We gamble and eat, like most families do during that time of the year. lamentable to say, our culture is heavily influenced by the Western society. This happens because of our exposure to their culture through television, radio and movies. Fads are spread quickly with the access of the Internet. For some reason, the Americans impart always be held with a higher regard than the rest of the world. They consider themselves a global super power and can control everything. Our way of speaking, style of dressing and thinking has become more like the westerners. In a way, I feel disappointed with the loss of a part of our culture but this change is inevitable. In conclusion, I think that as we grow older, we learn and tend to recognize what defines us more. Our priorities change and, in tandem we change ourselves. We must not be quick to opine because looks are not everything. I think our experiences also play a role in defining who we are. We remember the good as healthful as the bad side of things, so every day is one part of our long journey to finding ourselves.