How My Socializing Environment Has Created an Impact on My Values and Political Points of View - Essay Example

Political Socialization An individual’s existence is greatly influenced by the force of nurture. I believe that this premise applies to my political opinions as well. According to Danziger, a person’s political behavior is affected by the environment, agents of political socialization, personal characteristics, and personality (87). He asserts that a person’s beliefs are very much shaped by the factors in his society, such as family, religion, innate characteristics, interests, and location. This paper delves into how my socializing environment has created an impact on my values and political points of view. Regarding my background, I am the youngest child in our family. Since my father died, my eldest brother has made most of the important decisions. At a young age, he had been in charge with a number of responsibilities. Since childhood, I have learned to show respect to my elders. My mother and older siblings have always emphasized the value of politeness. It is always nice to show gratitude to one’s parents and other relatives. I have been taught that being thankful is a way of showing good conduct. In relation to political behaviour, I have realized that my family background has influenced me to be docile to authority. I have found it almost impossible, if not totally unthinkable, to go against leaders. I have also noticed that I tend to be quite conscious of the tone of my voice when I talk to older people. Actually, people who do not display proper behaviour when communicating with authority or the elderly often irk me. It has also been natural for me to follow rules. Most of the time, I become tensed and check if I am obeying standards when a symbol of authority is nearby. In connection with my relatives, I am proud to say that my roots are from the ancient Arab tribe. Our ancestors were the first inhabitants of the Arabian Gulf. They have initiated the civilization that we are enjoying today. With this history, I have become honoured of my origin. It is also one of my values to be loyal to fellow Arabians. I can say that I regard my heritages with high esteem. This is reflected in my choice of songs. The genre I enjoy listening to is Arabian music. Moreover, I honestly think that my culture is rich with colourful rituals and customs. In addition, Arabian arts and crafts portray interesting painting, delicious dishes, and graceful calligraphy. It would be ideal for our country to continually develop and retain its high-income economy status. I believe that our leaders can do their best in governing the different emirates. As for my hometown, I live in Abu Dhabi. As the capital city of United Arab Emirates, it is large and sophisticated. Though it is not that large and famous as Dubai, it is also relatively industrialized. It is the home of a number of government officials including the president. With such locale, I have been aware of the significance of legislature and judiciary decisions. The cutting edge technology in our city has also made information more current especially concerning political issues. Hence, as compared to those living in the rural areas, I think that I am more in touch with current social changes. I have also become more accustomed to seeing prominent individuals. Considering my exposure, I would also add that being able to see members of the Emiri Family is not that much of an astonishing experience. Since Abu Dhabi is a melting pot, living in this city has made me more cognizant of different ways of life. The demands and frequent modifications of the metropolis have caused me to be used to a faster pace of life style. Along with this come attitudes of immediacy, independence, impersonal relations, and materialism. I have been comfortable with the benefits of technology through helpful gadgets. To efficiently subsist in the urban jungle, I also have to rely on my own skills and resources. This means that various supplies are important in the ability to relate with the challenges in the society. Moreover, I have been travelling to various countries and have enjoyed various cultures. I have seen many kinds of lifestyles. These have opened my mind to other kinds of standards, religions, fashion, foods, and a lot more. I have recognized the faith of others and I respect other kinds of churches. I have come to understand that human survival thrives in diversity. Thus, there is a need for inclusive principles. From observation, language has a great deal to do with a nation’s unification. Take, for example, India as compared to South Korea. The former has a lot of dialects and this causes partitions among the people. On the other hand, South Korea just has one language and interaction among them is much more affluent than those in India. Furthermore, the economy can either break or make the people’s welfare. In general, constituents’ life styles are affected by the country’s wealth. For instance, a first class country can provide more benefits and assistance as compared to its lesser counterparts. As a Muslim, I have learned and applied the teachings found in the Qur’an. I feel that this factor has made the most essential impact on my convictions. With the five pillars of Islam, I have come to aspire to embody idyllic values such as veneration, prayer, generosity, patience, and temperance. I believe that Allah is the Greatest and that I should live by the doctrine He approves of. Though I have nothing against other religions, there are times when I think that my religion creates a conflict or barrier in understanding and following certain foreign practices. This may be so when considering the proper kinds of food to eat and how women are regarded in the society. My emotional biases may be explained by Haidt’s explanation of moral foundations. Considering his proposition, I have a hard time accepting different kinds of morals due to my personal expectations. For instance, if I were an American, I think that it would be totally acceptable for me to eat pork and to regard women quite liberally. I would then have no qualms when eating pork at parties. I would also admire very independent women. If things were different, I could be one of those individuals encouraging female personalities to have prominent government positions. Moreover, it would then be perhaps typical to appreciate racy fashion styles. In conclusion, my respective experiences have shaped by current opinions. The values that were instilled in me in my community have formed the foundations of my values. My various introductions with other groups of people have broadened my standpoints. If I were born in a different setting, I would not have the abovementioned outlooks. Therefore, the socializing milieu is an indispensable aspect in shaping one’s thoughts and deeds. Works Cited Danziger, James. Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2011. Print. Read More