Issue147 [Jet小姐]第九次作业

michaelxuywUID: 2330197

ISSUE 147 - "Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."

Tradition the belief, value, and customs that we observe for a long time; modernization, on the other hand, incorporates industrialization, scientific and technological advancement and process of democracy. Some people believe that these two are incompatible forces between which we must choose one. However, in my opinion, both of them are equally important to us, and the society will benefit most if two of these are effectively synthesized.

Admittedly, the remarkable difference of our world due to the rapid modernization draw a sharp contrast to us with the relevantly old, time-worn tradition, and gives them the impression that these are opposite forces. For example, the cities are expanding at the expense of shrinking the farms. Old building are destroyed for the purpose of building a new modern one. We could also sense a increasing trend of "fast food" which, to some extent, is opposite to the traditional values of our society. Thus, some people postulate that all tradition should be deserted in favor of the modernization.

However, except these few inevitable direct clash between the two, most of the tradition are well preserved to the present without block the road of modernization. We still follow a lot of traditions till this day no matter how the modernization is advance. For instance, every country, despite the vast difference lies in culture, preserving a series of holiday to celebrate. We celebrate the Thanksgiving day to reinforce the importance of family by going back home, we celebrate the Valentines Day to show our affection on love, and we celebrate the National Day to show our affection to country. These instance of holiday celebrations are great example to confirm the compatibility of tradition in the rapid-changing world, and we can expect a continues trend of the customs.

Besides, preserving the tradition could be benefit to the development of modernization, for some long-time values lies in our tradition is helpful to guide our way to a more modernized society. "The key ability to change is," as Stephen Covey wrote in his book Seven habits of a highly effective person, "a changeless sense of who you are, what you are about and what you value." Since the development of science brings about too many opportunities, or directions, each of which will lead us to a totally different result: success or disaster. Therefore, our changeless sense of what is right, what is wrong plays a crucial role in deciding which way we should better go. When the success of Dolly provides us with the expectation of the potential multiplying ourselves which was supported by many scientists, it's our value on dignity of individual that stop the continues of human-cloning. Such example illustrates the needs of preserving our traditions.

In sum, both tradition and modernization are essential to the viability and advancement of our society and they are reciprocal to each other.