Many cultures practice many types of rituals that may seem odd and extreme to one who isn't familiar with their traditions. In places such as America, we have the freedom to celebrate and practice traditions whether we want to or not. But when it comes to 3rd world countries, the people there must embrace their culture to the fullest extent or else they could be punished severely. Both "The Lottery", a short story by Shirley Jackson and "A Tale of Two Lovers", a news article written by Barry Bearak, talks of the extreme circumstances that rituals may lead to. "The Lottery" talks about a typical small town, such as the ones you would see in the movies happy, cheerful, and perfect, yet they hide a deep dark secret. They bring about a human sacrifice year after year over the simple superstition that if they do, they will have...