The overwhelming loss of "culture" is rather lack of familial & ethnic teachings, beliefs & practices. We have become so well homogenized in our great country that many of us have been "whitewashed" and the ethnic traditions have been removed from us a 100 or more years ago. Add to that the age of media, TV, www, movies, etc, we spend time apart instead of with family members doing family activities which once taught us those teachings, beliefs & practices. Only recently has it been "cool" to be Irish, Native American, and many other ethnicities. Many are interested in "Celtic" traditions & music. I asked one of my Aunts not long ago why it is that we, the grandkids, were never taught to dance a jig, or play the traditional instruments, although I recall that my Granny still danced a jig for us when she was in her sixties while Grandad played a jig tune for her on his harmonica. My aunt replied that the Baptist preacher would never have allowed it. That music, he taught, would lead to wild dancing & thus the liquor, he taught. Therefore, we learned little Irish Music in the home. My great grandmother was not allowed to speak her native Choctaw language, or wear the clothing, or prepare the food, or any other Choctaw traditions. Thus, we had little Irish traditions and absolutely no Choctaw traditions by the time I came along. If these things are to be passed on now, it must be taught in the families. The parents must take the responsibility not only for the proper upbringing of the child (a rare occurance these days), but also must take the responsibility of teaching their children the family & cultural traditions.