The indigenous population of Namibia is predominantly made up of Bantus, who are black and speak one of the Bantu languages. The largest group, the Ovambos, make up close to half of the country’s population. The Hereros, who are also a Bantu group, are traditionally nomadic which sets them apart from other Bantus. In addition to these groups, there are also three aboriginal peoples who belong to the non-white population.
The official languages of the country are Afrikaans and English. German is also widely used, along with various African tongues. The education system is based on the principle of separate development, with three systems in place – one for whites, one for Coloreds, and one for indigenous peoples. Schooling is compulsory up to age 16 for whites. Higher education opportunities are usually pursued in South Africa. While nearly all of the white population is literate, only 30 percent of nonwhites are.
There has been extensive missionary work by Christian churches, especially the Evangelical Lutheran Church, among the indigenous peoples. Approximately 90% of the population is Christian, while the remainder follows animist beliefs. The transportation system is largely owned and operated by the government of South Africa. Railways are heavily used, but roads are generally poor and unpaved. An international airport is located in Windhoek, while ocean shipping takes place through Walvis Bay and Luderitz.
The government of Namibia is headed by an administrator-general who is appointed by South Africa; however, this post is largely ceremonial. Executive power rests with a cabinet consisting of eight ministers and eight deputy ministers who are appointed from the National Assembly (the legislature). Members of both the cabinet and National Assembly are appointed by various political parties from their ranks. The judicial system is headed by a supreme court.
On the other hand, the United States is one of the countries that has a diverse population. No other country in the world has a greater variety of religions, communions, denominations, and sects than the United States. More than 220 religious bodies report membership figures. Nearly all branches of Christianity and almost all Protestant denominations are represented. Additionally, nearly half of the Jews in the world live in the United States.
Religious freedom and separation of church and state are traditional values in the United States. The government cannot interfere with religion or show preference for one religion over another.
In addition, music in the United States was strongly influenced by European music. Studying in Europe was considered a necessary part of musical training far into the 20th century. America’s most influential contribution to music was jazz, a form that originated from black culture and is based on African rhythms. The musical, which evolved from burlesque and operetta, was another American innovation.
The people of the United States enjoy a favorable economic position and have ample leisure time, which provides them with unique opportunities for recreation. Most industrial and office workers are entitled to paid vacations, making it easier for them to pursue their hobbies or explore new places. Additionally, the widespread ownership of automobiles allows millions of tourists each year to visit national and state parks, monuments, historic sites, and recreational areas with ease. It is worth noting that many American tourists also travel abroad.
The most popular outdoor spectator sports are football and baseball. Horse racing and automobile racing also have large followings, while soccer’s popularity is increasing despite not enjoying the same level of interest as in other countries. Indoor spectator sports include basketball and hockey, while participant sports are many and varied such as bowling, golf, tennis, skiing, skating, bicycling, running and jogging, boating, water skiing, and other water sports.
Diversity in Cultures
Often times, we hear the expression That lady is highly cultured.” But why? It’s because she speaks English, Spanish, and French; appreciates modern art; listens to classical music by Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach; attends operas, concerts, and plays; visits museums; and reads classical books and bestsellers. This is the popular view of culture that refers to a state of refinement in the arts, philosophy, and languages. However, social scientists consider this view limited since they believe that every member of a society is cultured.
Culture is a person’s social heritage or the customary ways in which groups organize their way of behaving, thinking, and feeling. It is transmitted from one generation to another through language and represents people’s ways of relating to others and their surroundings. Culture encompasses the designs or recipes for living, the interrelated network of norms and roles that define a society’s modes of thinking, acting, and feeling. As members of a society, we acquire everything that culture includes. It tells us what behavior is appropriate or inappropriate, what constitutes good or wrong behavior, what is allowed or prohibited, even which smells are pleasant or not.
In addition, culture enables people to adjust to both their physical and social environment. It allows members of society to develop coping mechanisms for dealing with the exigencies of nature and ways of harnessing their environment. Furthermore, people must learn how to relate to others in order to survive.
No culture is completely static. Every culture is in constant flux, and changes represent adjustments to the environment. Culture changes at different rates due to discoveries, inventions, and cultural borrowing. In some areas, pursuit of control over the natural environment has endangered society. Natural resources such as bodies of water, forests, plant and animal life, and minerals have been so exploited that the environment is close to destruction. Acceptance of change depends on exposure of society members to new ideas and ways different from their own as well as opportunities for acceptance through diffusion.
Furthermore, cultures differ due to the great variety of solutions that people from different societies develop to solve life problems. Cultures vary in terms of what and how people eat, drink, and provide shelter. They also vary significantly in the degree of internal consistency of their patterns of values, beliefs, and behavior. If the ideals to which people commit themselves are inconsistent with what they believe and do while behaving as family members, teachers or other professionals or when students are inconsistent with what they believe in and do while engaging in economic, political and other activities then their culture has more built-in stresses and strains.
A relatively well-integrated culture is one where there are no outstanding contradictions between people’s beliefs and their behavior; between one set of beliefs or actions and another; between institutional goals and means within society. Educational institutions tend to inculcate values such as equality while political institutions may not prioritize them. Banks may emphasize thrift, frugality, savings while commercial agencies stress buying and consumption.
