For example, the concept of pundonor, or point of honor, forms the core of the Hispanic spirit and drives every action and thought. Pundonor is composed of two key elements: saving face and preserving honor. Spanish is a language that allows the speaker to maintain his own infallibility by transferring responsibility for actions to inanimate objects. Hispanics in the US are often wary, if not fearful, of police because of two factors: the alien nature of the concept of public service and the prevailing image of police in Latin America who are often crude, illiterate, and brutal. Bribery is an accepted practice in Latin America, and the different criminal justice system exacerbates the Hispanic attitude. Other cultural factors including gender roles, family honor, punctuality, work patterns, and religious practices must be understood in order to promote mutual understanding.