„From time to time one has to look at the world through the eyes of another. Apparently, this allows one to discover the secrets of the world and of mankind.“ (The Black Book O. Pamuk) – Is it possible for a traditionalist and a person with a more modern worldview to co-exist?
Barbara Marten - 28.09.2019 @ 10:57
Here is my article about traditionalists and modern people.
Leonie Reiter - 12.11.2019 @ 23:32
Traditionalists and modern human beings
by Leonie Reiter, BG-BRG Kufstein/ Austria
When we talk about traditions and modernity it is very important to mention the human beings involved in that topic. The traditionalists and the modern people. Most of the time older people cling to their traditions, for example, family dinners, going to church on Sundays, or celebrating Christmas in a certain way. These traditions, often family ones, just sink into oblivion because so many young people don‘t have time or the will to celebrate them anymore. Therefore, most of the older people are a bit embittered, just because they can‘t spend much time with the younger, more modern people because the latter don‘t have time for them anymore.
Of course, many young people are traditionalists too who want to celebrate feasts like Easter, Ramadan, Hanukkah or others, family traditions included. That‘s very important because what would we celebrate if there were no traditions anymore? Traditional celebrations are just essential for family ties or friendships. In that way everyone feels bonded and included.
In my opinion, traditionalists and modern human beings have to coexist. If someone‘s not a fan of traditions, that‘s okay. If someone loves to celebrate traditional feasts or just family traditions, that‘s okay as well. Everyone should choose for themselves if they are a traditionalist, a more modern human being or maybe someone in between.
I like to think of traditional and modern people as buildings. There are ancient buildings which have a long history. These are the traditionalists who love to celebrate their old traditions. And then there are the modern human beings, who are the newer buildings. Most of the time they are very functional but nevertheless beautiful too. And both kinds of constructions coexist with one another. They have their differences but deep down they are the same.
In the picture below the old fortress of Kufstein can be seen. It is reflected by the windows of the modern building of our school, the BG/BRG Kufstein. So, our school coexists with the fortress and both have their individual history.
Picture by Leonie Reiter
Hello Leonie!
I really enjoyed reading your text, it was really interesting, and it made me think.
I agree with your statement because I think nearly the same. In my opinion people are different and everybody has the right to choose what traditions they want to follow. Nowadays we are living in a pretty crazy and fast world, if we don’t accept each other or each other’s traditions that could lead us to a very problematic situation on our planet. I love the idea that you compared the people to buildings, by this example, your idea is much clearer and understandable. I think that I’m both of this person, a traditionalist and modern human too. I love celebrating feasts and also love dinners with my family, but I also consider myself as a modern person, who goes with the flow and always keeps up with the trends. What I’m trying to say that we can be both of them, that’s one reason why I think that we must co-exist with each other, the other reason is: if we were all the same, then our world would be boring, and we may never find a solution to our problems. To sum up, I think the co-existence is very important, for this reason is our world beautiful, interesting and more valuable.
Thank you for this interesting article,
Aisa Palkovics, DNG Budapest/Hungary
Aisa Palkovics - 16.12.2019 @ 00:59
Thank you for an article worth reading. In my opinion it's no wonder that older people cling to their traditions, because that's the way they were raised and, as being a retiree, they have time. Often younger people don't celebrate the traditions as much because they're simply missing time, because they have to work or/and have children. I totally agree with you by saying that it's important that every person is accepted the way he/she decides to live and only this way the co-existence works properly. However, I don't think that you can say that there are traditionalists and modern human beings because in a way literally everybody likes a good tradition, but on the other side wants to be modern and keep up with what's going on in the world. I also think that the world wouldn't be the same when everyone would be put in one category, yes it would be boring.
All in all, I think co-existence is important, also because then there are people who still know about the old traditions and people who can teach the older ones about new customs which can turn into traditions one day.
Valentin Innerbichler - 06.01.2020 @ 21:43
Hello Leonie,
thank you for your article, I really enjoyed the comparison of people to buildings, I thought It was really beautiful!
In most of the books I have read the traditionalists are shown as bad characters, and the modern people, the youth are shown as good. It happens in most young adult novels, like “The Hunger Games”, “The Giver”. Even Adam Mickiewicz, a Polish poet in his “Ode to Youth” written in 1820, praises the new generation, demanding changes and speaks very badly about the traditionalists who he compares to reptiles.
I believe that traditionalists need people with modern views and vice versa. If you only follow traditions, you can get caught up in them and it can prevent you from making any changes. You’re not becoming more efficient and in modern world not improving is more or less like a failure. If you find yourself in that situation you need someone who can show you where you can improve, maybe leave something behind in order for something new to be born.
On the other hand, people who don’t care for their traditions, always chase something new, fresh may find at some point that they don’t know who they are any more. Without any traditions their identity is fragile. They don’t feel any connection with their homeland and religion, because that connection is based on traditions which they have thrown away. They need someone who will remind them where they came from or accept them into an entirely new community with new traditions etc.
Izabela Kręc - 12.01.2020 @ 20:17