Cultural baggage

The general subject of "Cultural Baggage" is we as human beings do not all have to have a strong ethnic background, and we can believe in what we choose to believe in. I believe the thesis is stated in paragraph nine, "we are the kind of people, I realized- whatever our distant ancestors religions- who do not believe, who do not carry on traditions, who do not do things just because someone has done them before." This thesis comments on the subject by telling the reader that we do not have to follow what people before us have done. I feel the writer's purpose is to inform the reader that it is OK to not have an ethnic or religious identity. The author tries to hold a friendly tone throughout the essay, which is comforting considering the importance of the issue. She tells the story through personal experiences which helps the reader relate to the issue and relate to the author's viewpoint of the issue.