TASK 2 习俗
Some people think that visitors to other countries should adopt the local custom. Others think that the host country should welcome different cultures.Discuss both views and what's your opinion?
Rituals, rites, religions, and customs vary considerably from culture to culture and from country to country. But, should one adopt the local custom when subject to an alien culture? The seemingly simple question is virtually rather vexing in that the answer to which depends.
Cultures are generally classified into two categories: folk culture and public culture. The former refers to a culture that emphasizes the personal relationships in settling affaires. In such a culture laws are eclipsed by custom and moral in the maintenance of social order. People pay even meticulous attention to the custom. Any break of the custom is considered as unacceptable as regicidal behavior or commitment of some felony. Thus when a visitor is in such a culture, it would be better for him or her to "Do As Romans Do When in Rome." In a certain sense, to adopt the local custom is a way for an alien to survive.
"Public culture" is coined to refer an ethnic group whose social order is maintained by legal instruments, although custom is emphasized. But custom in such a culture seldom remains the same for a relatively long time. Under such circumstance, it is usually unnecessary for a visitor to calculatedly follow the natives' custom. Even the new comer preserves all his or her own custom or culture, it is safe for the visitor to do whatever he or she wants to do provided it is legal.
Put it simply, in a public culture it is unnecessary to adopt the local new custom. But in a folk culture, to follow the local custom is a must.
责任编辑：admin
① 凡本网注明“稿件来源：北京新东方学校”的所有文字、图片和音视频稿件，版权均属北京市海淀区私立新东方学校所有，转载请注明“来源：北京新东方学校”。
② 本网未注明“稿件来源：北京新东方学校”的文/图等稿件均为转载稿，本网转载仅基于传递更多信息之目的，并不意味着赞同转载稿的观点或证实其内容的真实性。如其他媒体、网站或个人从本网下载使用，需自负版权等法律责任。如擅自篡改为“稿件来源：北京新东方学校”，本网将依法追究法律责任。
③ 如有本网转载稿涉及版权等问题，请作者见稿后速来电与北京新东方网联系，电话：010-62578989。
