ISSUE147求拍

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第一篇 求轻拍


TOPIC: ISSUE147 - "Tradition andmodernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."



The statement puts tradition andmodernization in opposite positions and asserts that they are incompatible. However,i disagree. I hold the opinion that although sometimes modernization may put athreat to some of our traditions, in most cases it's not a simple multiplechoice question.


It is believed by many that traditions areof great value even in contemporary society when rapid development and non-stopchanging is the theme. Actually traditions are the foundation on which somebasic principles of modern society are built. The evolution of the Anglo-Saxonconstitution is a good example to showcase the lasting power of tradition. inthe year 1215, English king john, after losing all his territories on Europeancontinent, was forced to sign an agreement, which was later known as the magnacarta and was believed to lay the first brick of the democracy and freedom. itis under the belief of this historical document that the resident of the 13 Britishcolonies in north America stood up and fought for their rights. Even today,when American or British political critics comment on the parliamentaryprocedure and the election, the magna carta has always been one of the keyreferences. And this reference is almost 800 years old. It is clear as crystalthat tradition plays a vital role in the constitution and legistration of mostnations in the world, even in the continuous and irresistible trend ofmodernization.


However, modernization shall justify itselfin almost any cases. The belief that society is supposed be flexible and ever-evolvingshould be off any doubt ever since the enlighten movement. it is after the industrialrevolution that we human beings began to rely on something besides physical strengthof ourselves, and it is by the long struggle towards democracy that we all havea say and even a vote. The invention of electric appliances enables us to enjoyour lives, and information technology has been changing the world into avillage. Modernization gives us our lifestyle and distinguish it from that ofthe middle ages, that of the ancient times and that when we are still monkeys.


In many cases tradition and modernizationare actually compatible with each other. even in the extreme cases when themodern trend axiomatically contradicts with tradition, it is not simply areplacement. The tradition, unable to resist the modernization, shallinevitably determine the way and the speed that modernization takes its place. Recallthe communism revolution in china. Isn’t it declared by marx and engles thatthe revolt shall begin in factories in rich, industrialized cities? But when itcomes to china, which has preserved a farming-oriented tradition for thousandsof years, a different way should prevail, which is best described as 'villagessurround towns'. it is rather a merging, involving both the modernization ofthe communism movement and the tradition of china, than a simple choice tomake.


In conclusion, i don't think tradition andmodernization are incompatible. Instead of trading off and struggling to make achoice between them, it is more reasonable to try to combine them intosomething with which we can all be satisfied.