Investiture Achievement/Companion/Making Friends

Standard Level

Requirement 1

Discuss how the media strengthens or weakens our relationship with others.

The media is a collection of methods by which people communicate with one another. In most cases, it is for the few to communicate with the many. It includes methods such as:

Print

Newspapers, books, newsletters, magazines, etc

Broadcast

Radio, television

Recorded

Theater, DVDs, music, streaming

Digital

Internet, blogs, social media sites, electronic mailing lists, etc

Advertisers make use of all these forms of media, which is both good and bad. Because of advertisers, many of these forms of media are inexpensive or free to consume. This makes the media available to a much wider audience than would otherwise be possible. However, one must always remember who is paying for the media (the advertisers) and why (to sell a product). Advertisers often work by trying to create a desire for a product - a desire that a person might not otherwise have. If we are not careful, these desires can take over our lives, and the consumer becomes the consumed.

The media keeps us informed of what is going around in the world around us, and forms the basis of modern culture. This gives us the opportunity to share ideas with the people we meet. By using the media, we have a point of commonality between ourselves and others, so we can connect with them.

However, the media also has the capability of drawing us in to the exclusion of other things. Instead of talking with one another, we watch TV. Watching TV is not a social event - it feels about the same when we watch alone or with our friends.

Social media (Facebook, Twitter etc) can be used to draw people together. A Facebook group can help keep members of a youth group connected and informed of upcoming events, even helping facilitating planning. Social media can be a good way to keep track of friends you don't see often. However, social media can become a way of escaping real friendships and reducing interaction to 140 characters. Do we follow this exchange from the hit sitcom Big Bang Theory? Sheldon: " I have a very wide circle! I have 212 friends on MySpace!" Lenard: " Yes, and you never met one of them!" Sheldon: " That's the beauty of it!"

It is up to us to use the media wisely. We can make it a springboard for communicating with others, or we can use it as a substitute for communicating with others.

Requirement 2

Fulfill requirements #1, #2 and #3 of the Cultural Diversity Appreciation Honor.

For tips and instruction see Cultural Diversity Appreciation.

Trail Companion

Requirement 3

Complete Companion requirements.

You must complete the requirements listed above this one on the current page.

Requirement 4

Complete the Cultural Diversity Appreciation Honor, if not previously earned.

There are only four requirements for this honor, and the first three are above.

4. Develop a friendship with a boy, girl or older person from your church, school or community whose cultural background is different from yours and conduct research from the following: library, internet, videos, encyclopedia, etc, about the culture. Arrange an interview with this family and complete the following:

a. Where did the culture originate?
b. What language is spoken?
c. What religions are prominent in that society?
d. What foods are typically eaten for:

(1) Breakfast

(2) Lunch

(3) Supper

e. How are eating habits influenced by the food available in that country?
f. Are there cultural traditions that are different from yours? What are they?
g. Do people of this culture celebrate the holidays that we celebrate? What customs do they have for celebrating the different holidays?
h. What customs or traditions from the original culture have been continued by the family in this country?
i. Is the dress different from dress in your culture?
j. Identify at least 5 ways in which you are similar and 5 things which make you different and tell how your attitude or feelings towards people of different cultural backgrounds has affected you? How do you feel about your differences?
k. Attend church with your friend if it is a different church than yours, or attend a church service of a different cultural group. Identify 3 similarities and 3 differences you observe in the church services.

Earning this honor on your own

This would be an excellent opportunity for you to invite your friend's family to your house for a meal (perhaps Sabbath lunch). Having them come to your house is more socially acceptable than inviting yourself over to their house, though it is going to be more work for you. If you are living with your parents, be sure to clear this with them first. Also make it clear that you wish to interview the entire family about their culture when you make the invitation. Be sure your house is clean before they arrive. If you like, you can even give them a list of the questions you intend to ask ahead of time so that they may prepare. They may also wish to bring a few items from their home to show you.

When they arrive, you should spend a little time socializing with them before the meal is served. Your goal here is to set them at ease and make them feel comfortable. If you like, you may serve appetizers, and perhaps something to drink, such as juice, hot chocolate, or water. After the meal, you should bring out your question sheet. If it's OK with your guests, you may tape record the conversation, or you may simply take notes. Remember to be courteous during the entire visit, and ask follow-up questions for any of their answers that intrigue you, or which you do not understand. Do not pry into personal affairs that are none of your business. Remember, this is not a news magazine interview attempting to sensationalize a scandal.

When the interview is complete, it would be quite acceptable to socialize more. When your guests are ready to leave, be sure to thank them for coming.

Earning this honor as a club

If you wish for you whole club to earn this honor, you have an excellent opportunity to organize a church social. Identify several people from different cultures, and ask them to participate first. These will be the special guests. Give them a list of the questions well before the event so that they may prepare. Once you have at least three specials guests representing three different cultures, set a date, and invite the whole church to attend. Select a different Pathfinder to conduct each interview. Reserve question j for the audience - ask them to answer it.

As part of the social, you may wish to serve a meal consisting of items from the cultures represented. Identify each food item, indicating what it is, what the major ingredients are, and what culture the food represents. Place these food items on a special table. In addition, you may ask your featured guests for recipes ahead of time so that your club can prepare some food as well. Be sure to place the dishes made by your club on a different table so that if it turns out nothing like it's supposed to, nobody blames your guests. You may also open this up as a potluck, asking everyone to bring a cultural dish representing either their own culture or one they are familiar with.

Again, you may record the interviews, or you can have your Pathfinders take notes.