Interculturalism: How it Impacts Our Daily Lives

At some point in our lives, we have all violated and oppressed the rights of others. While we may not be consciously aware that we are part of a system, we are. Systems operate with actions and consequences, meaning for every behavior, action or choice we cause to occur, there will be a consequence of some type. One example of this would be talking badly about others or turning a deaf ear while others talk badly about others, is one way we can perpetuate a systems of oppression.

Either willingly, or unwillingly, we create systems which perpetuate "Privilege, Power and Difference" (Johnson, 2006). When we finally become aware of the systems, only then can we learn to make changes to lead us down the path of greater resistance.

In my essay I will start by discussing how systems of privilege operate and perpetuate. Second, I will discuss my positive and negative experiences with systems of privilege. Third, I will examine how I have participated in the path of least resistance.
How systems of privilege operate and perpetuate

"Culture is everyone's teacher" (Johnson, p. 86). With this thought in mind, we are truly a part of our surroundings, and with each interaction we take a piece of it and we add it to ourselves. From that point, once it has become part of us, we may then change it, or put our own experience with it and carry it with us. Systems are the same type of idea. We find a system we feel we belong in, we may change it or accept it, but through social interaction we spread systems like a viral infection. Even if we don't realize what we are doing, the systems continue to spread. "Systems do not exist without involvement of people". (Johnson, p.87)