Different cultures can never be equal

After reading your response I think it would've been best if you've started your debate in defining "culture" because as I've indicated in my last response, there are various cultures. I am confused as to whether you are referring to ethnic cultures, or sub-cultures within our society. I’m not trying to confuse you con. I have been talking about both ethnic cultures and subcultures. Perhaps a better definition of culture is 'what everyone has in common', and a subculture is another group with another set of things in common. A migrant group may have a subculture, but an individual of any ethnic group will not necessarily be part of that subculture. He may have more in common with everyone else in the nation than with other people with his ethnic background. A culture is a set of ideas, customs, traditions, and art. We are born into a family (hopefully) and we learn a lifestyle, we learn ways to react to different situations, we learn morals and values. We also learn culture at school, work, church, books, and other media. What we are arguing about is whether we are all more equal, if there is more equality in society, if we all have the same culture, or if we all are split up into subcultures. I think we impoverish the overarching culture by encouraging subcultures and ethnic cultures, and people have less in common with each other. Nonetheless, I'll respond. In response to your beginning sentence I will continue to state that no, we do not agree. I believe all cultures are equal on the basis of humanity. Let me again state that all cultures regardless of their variance, are equal in that their variety is the result of human migration and settlement, and that our human ancestors did what they had to do to survive and out of that, they have developed a culture in relation to their geographical status whether it is religion, ethnic foods, ethnic garments they wore etc.... What binds all these cultures together as one is the human element. On the basis of "equality" one cannot judge which culture is better than the other because we cannot measure cultures based on our perspective because it will not become fact because we are a part of the outgroup of that particular culture. We can make a judgement based on our own perspective. What you are saying is we can’t stand up for what is right and wrong, smart or stupid. ISIS are going around razing cities, raping women, taking sex slaves, and slaughtering people. I’m going to make a judgment call here and say that this is a bad culture. We all have to stand up for right and wrong. Otherwise who will? Don't leave it to the experts to tell you. I mean that on the day a human being is born, they ought to have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Regardless of financial status, nobody deserves to NOT have a chance at making a better life for themselves. This is confused idealism. The word ought, ought to give it away. When you say that everyone ought to have the same opportunities, and that they deserve a chance at making their lives better for themselves regardless of financial status – Everyone has the opportunity to accumulate wealth and knowledge and pass it down the generations. If you wanted everyone to have the same opportunities you’d remove everyone from their parents and give them the exact same upbringing in a boarding school, but then you’re not helping anyone reach their full potential. Unfortunately in the United States people do not live in a meritocracy therefore it is incumbent upon those that wish to obtain a better life to know someone who can help them. This is symptomatic to capitalism, and unfortunately those who are able to perform tasks and have the credentials in relation to the job cannot get an opportunity due to favoritism. However, all human beings regardless of status (money, power, influence) are equal and regardless of whatever culture they belong to, ought to have a chance to realize their full potential. I told you we would agree. My opening statement was “I will argue that different cultures have different vices, virtues, and customs. We are all biased towards our own culture and therefore different cultures will never treat each other as equals.” I don’t think ‘favouritism’ is symptomatic to capitalism, you’ll find it in every kind of society. Capitalistic society probably most closely resembles a meritocracy than any other kind of society. My opponent stated: "Say one culture is obsessed with social status. For that reason they're hard workers, and bigger risk takers. They're willing to take a risk by changing companies, or starting up a new company, or borrowing money and putting it on the stock exchange. Because they're risk takers, many of them will be poor, but their culture will end up owning and controlling more and larger companies than other cultures. We could say that culture has more money power and influence than other cultures, and therefore a higher status. Other cultures have equal opportunity to do the same, but they're not risk takers, and they're more likely to stick to one job for longer." The above really has nothing to do with culture per se and more having to do with the person's intellectual capacity to make risk assessments on valuable stocks, if we are going to use your stock broker analogy. You must remember people of the same culture do not typically conduct in groupthink so just because people of the same group perform the same job functions does not necessitate that they will think the same even if they're of the same culture. When it comes to stock brokers some may take risk and some may not. I serious think you needed to rethink your idea of culture and perhaps defining culture would've been best if you've began your debate in defining what culture is to you. Because alas your analogy has little to do with culture and more regarding risk-benefit analysis. Because you are associating people who perform the same job functions as if they are going to think the same and I repeat just because you perform the same job functions does not mean you will think the same. I don’t agree. Different cultures are brought up with different values and ideas, so it’s not just about group think (although there is an awful lot of it about which is part of the story), it’s about coming up with similar conclusions based on similar ideas and values. It’s more about your mindset not just intelligence.