Globalization is unique today because in a world that seems ever so changing and fast paced, the idea that globalization is solely the notion of spreading “western ideas” and the “Americanization of the world” (as generally perceived) is still in a constant battle with understanding the concept that America is adopting the ideas, people, and cultures of other countries instead and that this can be a healthy, beneficial, and integrated cycle between all networks if only people considered ceasing to believe globalization is black and white, all good or all bad, and instead see it as a choice to embrace diversity in all aspects of societies. This misconception has been a back and forth discussion for centuries and I find it very interesting that whichever country involved in a certain globalizing process, accuses the other of being the enemy by interfering with cultures, traditions, and altering roles in daily life when in fact all the parties involved are benefiting in one way or another. It makes you wonder, is globalization “all bad” or do we as humans, as a society, tend to only focus on the bad or find higher benefit in being the “victim”? Meanwhile, other countries are sometimes the first to break a story regarding U.S. content, or to eat at one of the 21,000 locations in a KFC in one of their 130 different country locations. Vice versa, we live in America, a country initially encouraged and succeeded by its melting pot tendencies, however today we heavily constrict the possibilities of immigration and often reject the cultures that make up our population all while contradicting our history. We as the U.S. thrive off of outside influence! As stated in the article, Nye, Joseph S. The Paradox of American Power — Why the World’s Only Superpower Can’t Go It Alone. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Oxford Scholarship Online. Oxford University Press. 28 August 2007 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/0195161106.001.0001>, some of our most influential, praised, and iconic sports teams are European, music like the Beatles are British, and popular video games are Japanese. We fight globalization, but we’ve been subconsciously letting it in and it’s shaped some of the best parts of our lives and interests. This contradicting and hypocritical cycle is extremely unique today because even after all this time and all the outside influences, we hold globalization on a one way street.
Globalization affects my life in not only my understanding of the world around me, but my appreciation for it as well. I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout my life to 12 countries and the knowledge I take back from each one is not measurable. When I am exposed to different people, food, and cultures it ignites a curiosity in me that makes me want to learn more which in return gains me more interests. When I travel to other places and apply the knowledge and experiences I had prior, I notice a more distinct connection and an ability to relate with the people, culture, and even the terrain. Exposing myself to diversity, whatever aspect it may be, I gain valuable insight in understanding a certain way of life, why certain people do what they do, why the traditions they share matter, why I should appreciate and indulge myself in new foods, etc. Ultimately, it all connects on a larger scale and I understand the world as a whole much better all while bringing people and parts of it together.
As good as connecting all the dots affecting my life may be, every rose has its thorns and globalization is no exception. When you are blending so many differing people and physically different parts of the earth together, you are exposing yourself to dangers and elements you haven’t experienced and prepared for. I’m from Florida and tourism is heavily concentrated there. While many people were traveling and enriching themselves in a Florida vacation state of mind, I alongside my community were fearing for our health. Tourism from Latin America and the Caribbean brought forth the Zika Virus carried by mosquito infected bites. Our state relies on tourism and ports between us and other countries are vital to our economy and lifestyle, however we couldn’t shut it down and manage the virus without hurting that factor of our lives. I couldn’t go outside as much, participate in extracarricular activities, spend quality time with loved ones at the beach, and ultimately live in a state of fear. People were dying, babies were targeted, and the chaos was enough to make you question which areas of globalisation were worth it. This specifically affected me because I second guessed my beliefs and really had to self reflect my stances and in return what my heart was made up of.
Furthermore, we can measure whether we are living in a more or less globalized world just by the toll it has scientifically and environmentally taken on our earth. Through the process and spread of people, we have certainly spread our traveling carbon footprint. The spreading of ideas, products, machinery, technological and mechanical processes, creates a large amount of people all over the world using the same practices at once. This inevitably is playing a large role in global climate change. According to the article, the sea levels alone have risen