Global Village Essay, Research Paper
You say potato, I say patato
Hi, how may I help you? asked the cashier.
I ll take a slice of plain and a water, please. Replied Jen (My new date).
Will that be it? asked the cashier.
Can I get a glass of water with a lemon on the side? I answered.
Sure, it will be a minute. Sit down and relax, we will bring it out to you.
Thanks
Jen and I sat down in the far corner of the dinner and began talking. Everything
was going fine until our order arrived. To my disgust the New Jersey native, Jen, started
to eat her slice of pizza with her hands. Now, you may be asking what s wrong with that?
It is a common site to walk into a pizza parlor and see everyone handling their food, but
to an Argentine native like myself anything else than a fork and knife would seem
barbaric. Instances like this occur every day throughout the world because of cultural
differences. Another good example by Dean Barnlund, in Communication in
a Global Village is when former President Nixon and former president Sato met to
discuss a growing problem between the two nations. Because of poor global
communication their words where miss under stood and as a result a new wave of
hostility surged. (Barnlund 64)
Tomorrow we can expect
Words from author Dean Barnlund, who expects that as our world is transformed
our neighbors increasingly will be people whose life styles contrast sharply with our
own. Barnlund points out that this transformation a kind of world blender through
our newly acquired technologies, such as the internet, jet travel, low cost phones, and the
increase of study abroad programs will expose us to a variety of cultures and ultimately
make the world shrink . Mr. Barnlund seems to hold a mostly positive view about a
global community. I am led to believe this because his book, Communication in a Global
Village, supplies us with the problems we will and have encountered, and offers us
advice on how to deal with it. It seems to me that Barnlund is not so much worried about
the end result of globalism, but rather with the tensions involved in its creation.
Signs of globalism are sprouting all around us. A couple of months ago World
Cup 98 took place in France: A world soccer tournament in which almost all countries
participated (about 100 or more). The World Cup is the most watched event in human
history (La Blanc and Henshaw 2), and has served as a tool to unite cultures together.
Where else could one watch 11 Iranian men defeat 11 Americans with out a single act of
bloodthirsty violence? The World Cup ignites a flame brighter in patriotism than the
Olympics, and exposes us to people from all around. When a country (Holland) beats
your maternal one (Argentina) Fairly (the blame always goes to the referee, a trait all
countries agree in ), the emotion proceeding the initial heartbreaking pain is that of
respect. What makes this tournament so beneficial to the global village is that after you
have finished cheering for your team, you look into others to carry your imagination.
Other events that will serve as a great spark for globalism are those such as the
new Eurodollar. A standard form of currency not only shows us that countries can agree
on something, and are indeed dependant on each other, but will also help people spread
more easily from country to country, ultimately breaking down cultural boundaries.
Why Globalism?
One doesn t have to look farther than the ground we stand in to see the effects that
globalism would have on cultures. The United States is a prime example of globalism.
The Good:
1) By having so many different types of people we are influenced in varying
ways such as in, sports, religion, education, family, and in the business world.
2) Helps create a better overall society, that has global social skills.
3) Makes a community that represents all the ideals and ways of life.
4) Helps the speed and spread of technology.
The Bad:
1) Violence because of racism.
2) Often times in a desperate attempt to preserve a cultural identity, countries
become inclusive. Ex. The many years it took the U.S to accept any other sports
apart from Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, and American Football.
3) The lack of seclusion will create generic art, music, and ideas. Back in time
cultures such as the Incas and the Egyptians because of isolation were vastly
different. I recently flipped my television to a Japanese station and saw a
Rock band. Not that there is anything wrong with that but the distinction
between cultures is fading. Another example in the music industry is how British
music influences America. (Beatles, Radiohead, Prodigy, etc.)
I personally hold a bitter-sweet look into globalism. Since I am a product of
culture shock I feel I have experienced it first hand. I believe that globalism would be
beneficial to humanity but it would ultimately make it a very bland world where everyone
thinks the same way and does everything the same way, and being an artist that s the last
thing I would want. Gone will be the days of contrasts such as African art from Egyptian.
Another thing that keeps me from being totally pro-globalist is that the education system
in the U.S (one of the most crucial nations for globalism) does a very poor job educating
its youth about anything but itself. Students are bombarded with U.S histories all
throughout grade school and high school with very little world education. This self-
centered mentality is also seen in our newspapers, where foreign affairs are only covered
if they are directly affecting us. It seems we only hear about other nations when there is a
war or we have sent them money. Opening the sport section clearly shows the lack of
international coverage. Newspapers in Europe and South America not only post their
sporting news, but those of other nations (including the American sports). I think it
is a lot more important to know a little bit about other cultures than to have all the
presidents memorized.
We already know the positive and negative results that globalism would have,
however, the question remains: is it really possible to achieve globalism?
In order to determine we must first clarify what is needed in order to achieve a global
friendly community. In my previous paper, Loneliness: a national feeling? I wrote that
For the most part, good communities offer a stable and trusting environment, where
freedom of choice and expression is encouraged. Little discrimination, support,
protection, and success leading involvement, also constitute good characteristics. The
key term is: expression. Every person must learn to accept, and if not possible, respect
others forms of expression. Obviously, we have not done a good job which is proven by
our constant racial and sexual discriminations.
In order for a Global Village to succeed, there are three points that must be
focused on: technology, education, and understanding. Technology has already reached a
point where it is allowing people from across the world to unite with no delay time. The
world overall has had an increase in literacy, but even scholars are often ignorant of the
world language. Schools and more importantly adults have to take the responsibility
and eliminate prejudice from our youths mind. And of course, education would prove
useless unless we are understanding and have an open mind. Greed for power, the
unwillingness to accept new ways of life (clinging to your roots), and the mentality that
we are all too different , are the three main killers of globalism. It is because of
stubbornness and an immense greed that globalism has not already taken full effect.
I believe that it is possible to achieve something close to globalism. My theory is
that in the future nations will unite because of political needs, shared wealth, and military
allies. Countries in Europe and South America have already began to open up their
borders. The result would be a couple of different communities. I am sure that a total
global community is possible, but unless our planet is being jeopardized by alien beings I
highly doubt that we will ever find enough motivation. Globalism is definitely coming
on headstrong with its good and bad points. But, then again, nothing good in life comes
free of burdens and in the end it will be up to the people to decide whether the sacrifices
are worth it or not.
Barlund, Dean. Communication in a Global Village. Literacies: reading, writing,
interpretation. Ed. Terence Brunk, Suzanne Diamond, Priscilla Perkins, Ken
Smith.
W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. 61-75.
La Blanc, Michael L., Richard Henshaw. The World Encyclopedia of Soccer.
Visible Ink Press, 1994.