The Challenge of Cultural Relativism by James Rachels raised many interesting points about society. Rachels introduces the issue of morality in different cultures and what is virtually right. The biggest problem that this posed was who is right and who is wrong? Where are the lines that are drawn to each society? James Rachels does approve of Cultural Relativism because it adds some validity to the issue. "Different Cultures have different moral codes," from this statement one can accept what each culture thinks. Although, Rachels makes many logical points, there are some issues that I would argue such as slavery, homosexual rights, and the moral code. This essay does allow a lot of questioning with the problems that are faced today.
Slavery, in my eyes is wrong in many ways. The issue of slavery reminds me of the book, Gone with the Wind. The setting of the book is in the old Georgia during the Civil War. Slaves were apart of life for the white people without them, the plantations would be over. Rachels presents his view of the modern western society and the view of slavery having no ethnic restraint. Gone with the Wind, presents how the owners treated their slaves. Remarkably, the book perceives most owners as exceptionally nice except for Miss Scarlet. The views of Rachels untimely say, morals and ethnics change over time and with evolving cultures.
"One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All." Our Pledge of Allegiance is one of the most false statements we say as country. "For All." No, for all would mean regardless of gender, religion, race, color, disabilities and sexuality. What qualifies anyone to say that homosexuals cannot be together? Rachels makes a point about keeping an open mind but from whomever we were taught about homosexuality being wrong, made us ruin our complete open minds. The society we live in, defines what we should think. Do we really have free will then?
The issues and ideas presented in this essay made way for many ideas to come into my head. I began to question, my own moral code. First off, how did I develop it? I was influenced by the people around me growing up. Then who am I really? My morals and ideas were never once my own. My motto of "Be a leader, never a follower," is gone. Essentially, we are all always followers, when will we ever lead?
