Who is a cultured person? The definition of this concept is very abstract. Everyone, whoever you ask, will highlight their qualities that a cultured person should possess. But all, perhaps, will converge on upbringing, nobility, respect and education.
I will not take the liberty of speaking about all of Russia, but I know firsthand about some regions. Therefore, I can judge most of our vast country. Frankly, I’m not sure that the situation in Moscow or the so-called cultural capital of Russia is very different.
So, where is a cultured man hiding today? Hard to tell. Does it still exist? Take a look around. What do you see?
1. Children who from an early age get used to tablets and iPhones, but have never heard of Pushkin or Agniya Barto. The sad thing is that many of their parents also know nothing about them!
2. Young people who instead of theaters and exhibitions go to nightclubs or even get lost in the web of the global Internet. Boys and girls live a virtual life, not suspecting that there is also a real one, and it is much more beautiful.
3. Adults. Here the picture is completely frightening. Endless race for money, success, career, etc. In everyday hustle and bustle there is no time to stop and take time for yourself, your family and the whole world. And the weekend turns into gatherings in front of the TV with a bottle of beer (for men) or doing household chores (for women).
So what does the term “cultured man” mean?
It is clear that it includes upbringing, which, in turn, implies knowledge and observance of etiquette. Do you often meet such people? But what is there to hide, admit, even to yourself, do you yourself observe the rules of etiquette? Of course, you know how to hold a fork and a knife, give way to (possibly) older people a place in transport. Do you always politely talk with people?
A cultured person is always cultivated and in everything. Even if they will pour insults and derogatory words into his face, he will find the strength to restrain himself and not answer the same. Therefore, to become a cultured person, you must first of all work hard on yourself. This also includes education. What kind of culture can we talk about if a person does not know the main events of history or does not distinguish a verb from a noun?
By no means do I want to blame or insult anyone now. To be honest, I also can’t consider myself a cultured person. Of course, my parents took good care of my upbringing, education in my life was always one of the first places, I like to go to the theater, read books (“live”, paper, not electronic), but in dealing with people, I admit, I don’t always correct.
I don’t want to say commonplace things, but during my childhood people were different. As if from another planet. Kinder, more fun, calmer. There were no computers and mobile phones. But people had a soul and real life, not virtual. Now it’s even hard to imagine how we lived without the Internet and mobile communications. But we lived well! And a cultured person for that time was not as rare as it is today. So what turns out, all the fault is technical progress? There is reason to think.