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.