Cybelle Yao

INTSOCI- C31
A Damaged Culture
By James Fallows
(Reaction Paper)

I agree with what James Fallows (1987) had said in his article “that culture can
make a naturally rich country poor” because that is how the Philippine culture is now. It
may not be as a whole, but the identity of Philippine culture has been lost for a long
time now. We were influenced by too many external cultures. We were blinded by what
the other countries have. Thus, we lost the focus on what we already have and what
we could make out of those resources.
In the functionalist perspective [ CITATION Sch09 \l 13321 ], one essential part of the
society is dysfunctional. And that is the attitude of the people towards their own
country. The Filipinos are dependent on the countries we are allied with, especially the
United States. We have somehow forgotten that in order to achieve stability or, more
specifically, economic success, we should work together towards that and not the
economic success of another country. It is simply saying, leaving behind the colonial
mentality. And in the conflict perspective [ CITATION Sch09 \l 13321 ], this may be viewed
as simply an effect of social classes. Since we are now considered to be a developing
country, it is inevitable for us to be dependent on the developed ones. And that is
because, in the interactionist perspective [ CITATION Sch09 \l 13321 ] , we are becoming
hopeless with our own capabilities, and the capabilities of our government.
As a Lasallian, I must imbibe the idea of nationalism and relive the true
Philippine culture by putting trust back to what I know our country can do and can be.
And this shall come first in the support of local products, events, traditions, etc. If
everybody would work for a better Philippines (meaning stable economy, commendable
values system, and unwavering faith on future success), as what functionalists and
interactionists [ CITATION Sch09 \l 13321 ] say, then it will never be too late for the
Philippines to mend its damaged culture.
Bibliography

Fallows, J. (1987). A Damaged Culture. The Atlantic Monthly , 49-58.

Schaefer, R. (2009). Sociology A Brief Introduction (8th Edition ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill.