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Welcome
Integrated Cultures ACT Inc. aims to bring different cultures into an interaction that allows them to adjust their personal norms to accommodate others’ norms and in the process deal effectively with the tensions of cross-cultural interaction and develop a harmony that allows for better understanding., inter-mixing of races and cultures. It allows for expressions of that harmony to occur through the medium of the arts, social engagements, exchange of ideas on issues of common concern and, through a variety of interactions between and amongst the different people that compose Australia.
The association was formed with the aim of fulfilling what its name denotes namely the integration of cultures. Australia is a multicultural society where a variety of cultures, ethnicities, races and, generally, people live together in harmony. But, do these cultures, ethnicities, etc. simply live together or live side-by-side or, do they absorb cultural norms, practices, beliefs and mutate into one cultural identity?
Integration is a lot more than insertion into a community. Foreigners migrate into Australia and begin life on this continent. They interact and interrelate with their own kind and also with others. And, yet, they maintain their cultural identities such that beyond a certain point in their social and cultural interactions, they remain isolated within the perimeters of their own kind. This feature of multiculturalism has made Australia so much the richer for its strength lies in the contributions made by each culture, ethnicity, race or social group that brings its own perspectives, experiences, social practices and other aspects to a melting pot of immigrants that is Australia.
At the same time, “integration” as defined by the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition copyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company; updated in 2009; published by Houghton Mifflin Company) is “The bringing of people of different racial or ethnic groups into unrestricted and equal association, as in society or an organization; desegregation”. As defined by the World English Dictionary, “integration” is “the act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole”; “the combination of previously racially segregated social facilities into a non-segregated system.” Thus, integration aims at unifying into a whole what was segregated, albeit living together.
Culture is a concept that goes to the roots of one’s identity. It is a concept that defines one’s heritage. It is the basis of the notion of being ‘cultured’ when one practices the highest standards of one’s culture. It is a composite of the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. It is the behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group as for example the youth culture. Again, as defined by the World English Dictionary, “culture” is:
In essence, culture is a complex notion incorporating one’s beliefs, values, experiences, language, expressions, and indeed ones civilization. Imagine the wealth of human contribution that each culture offers to the whole of society! Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, rituals, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next.
Once again, welcome to Integrated Cultures ACT Inc. We will take this journey together to a harmonious multicultural Australia. We will also introduce you to other networks/groups that sit under this association – Integrated Women’s Network (IWN), Radio Harmony, Thamizhradio Kummalam, and Amarsanskriti (cultural heritage awareness for children & youth).
Our contact: integratedcultures@yahoo.com.au
Integrated Cultures ACT Inc. aims to bring different cultures into an interaction that allows them to adjust their personal norms to accommodate others’ norms and in the process deal effectively with the tensions of cross-cultural interaction and develop a harmony that allows for better understanding., inter-mixing of races and cultures. It allows for expressions of that harmony to occur through the medium of the arts, social engagements, exchange of ideas on issues of common concern and, through a variety of interactions between and amongst the different people that compose Australia.
The association was formed with the aim of fulfilling what its name denotes namely the integration of cultures. Australia is a multicultural society where a variety of cultures, ethnicities, races and, generally, people live together in harmony. But, do these cultures, ethnicities, etc. simply live together or live side-by-side or, do they absorb cultural norms, practices, beliefs and mutate into one cultural identity?
Integration is a lot more than insertion into a community. Foreigners migrate into Australia and begin life on this continent. They interact and interrelate with their own kind and also with others. And, yet, they maintain their cultural identities such that beyond a certain point in their social and cultural interactions, they remain isolated within the perimeters of their own kind. This feature of multiculturalism has made Australia so much the richer for its strength lies in the contributions made by each culture, ethnicity, race or social group that brings its own perspectives, experiences, social practices and other aspects to a melting pot of immigrants that is Australia.
At the same time, “integration” as defined by the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition copyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company; updated in 2009; published by Houghton Mifflin Company) is “The bringing of people of different racial or ethnic groups into unrestricted and equal association, as in society or an organization; desegregation”. As defined by the World English Dictionary, “integration” is “the act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole”; “the combination of previously racially segregated social facilities into a non-segregated system.” Thus, integration aims at unifying into a whole what was segregated, albeit living together.
Culture is a concept that goes to the roots of one’s identity. It is a concept that defines one’s heritage. It is the basis of the notion of being ‘cultured’ when one practices the highest standards of one’s culture. It is a composite of the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society. It is the behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group as for example the youth culture. Again, as defined by the World English Dictionary, “culture” is:
- The total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of social action;
- The total range of activities and ideas of a group of people with shared traditions, which are transmitted and reinforced by members of the group: the Mayan culture;
- A particular civilisation at a particular period;
- The artistic and social pursuits, expression, and tastes valued by a society or class, as in the arts, manners, dress, etc;
- The enlightenment or refinement resulting from these pursuits;
- The attitudes, feelings, values, and behaviour that characterize and inform society as a whole or any social group within it.
In essence, culture is a complex notion incorporating one’s beliefs, values, experiences, language, expressions, and indeed ones civilization. Imagine the wealth of human contribution that each culture offers to the whole of society! Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, rituals, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next.
Once again, welcome to Integrated Cultures ACT Inc. We will take this journey together to a harmonious multicultural Australia. We will also introduce you to other networks/groups that sit under this association – Integrated Women’s Network (IWN), Radio Harmony, Thamizhradio Kummalam, and Amarsanskriti (cultural heritage awareness for children & youth).
Our contact: integratedcultures@yahoo.com.au
