Who is a cultured person? The definition of this concept is very abstract. Everyone, whom you ask, will highlight his qualities that a cultured person should possess. But everyone, perhaps, will agree on good breeding, nobility, respect and education.
I will not take the liberty of talking about the whole of Russia, but I know firsthand about some regions. Therefore, I can judge most of our vast country. To be honest, I'm not sure that the situation in Moscow or the so-called cultural capital of Russia is very different.
So, where is the cultured person hiding today? It is hard to say. Does he still exist? Take a look around. What do you see?
1. Children who get used to tablets and iPhones from an early age, but have never heard of Pushkin or Agnia Barto. The saddest thing is that many of their parents don't know anything about them either!
2. Young people who instead of theaters and exhibitions go to nightclubs or are completely lost in the web of the global Internet. Guys 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 quite frightening. Endless race for money, success,career, etc. In the daily hustle and bustle, there is no time to stop and take time for yourself, your family and the whole world. And the weekends turn into sitting in front of the TV with a bottle of beer (for men) or doing household chores (for women).
So what does the term "cultural person" mean?
It is clear that it includes good manners, which, in turn, implies knowledge and observance of the rules of etiquette. Do you often meet such people? Yes, what can we hide, admit, at least to yourself, do you follow the rules of etiquette yourself? Of course, you know how to hold a fork and a knife, give way to (possibly) older people a seat in transport. Do you always speak politely to people?
A cultured person is cultured always and in everything. Even if insults and derogatory words are poured into his face, he will find the strength to restrain himself and not respond in kind. 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?
I don't want to blame or insult anyone right now. To be honest, I also can not consider myself a cultured person. Of course, my parents took good care of my upbringing, education has always been one of the first places in my life, I like to go to the theater, read books (“live”, paper, not electronic), but inI confess that I am not always correct in dealing with people.
I don't want to say banal things, but during my childhood people were different. As if from another planet. Better, happier, calmer. There were no computers or mobile phones. But people had a soul and a real life, not a virtual one. Now it’s even hard to imagine how we lived without the Internet and cellular communications. But we lived well! And a cultured person for that time was not such a rarity as it is today. So what happens, all the fault - technical progress? There is reason to think.
