Zogby mentioned many thought-provoking things during his discussion of The Way We Will Be, but what captured my interest most was the fact that: My generation, the globals, in large part (57% or so), own a passport.
This means globalization is most likely an idea my generation will strive for. Introduction to new cultures can open up our eyes/minds to new ideas. I personally experienced this when I visited Munich, Germany about 2 years ago. The culture of Munich was much different than what I was used to in little ol' Columbus, Ohio. While at first I was quite the victim of culture shock, I later came to appreciate numerous aspects of Munich culture that once scared/shocked me.
In particular, I came to appreciate how Germans drink. A normal day consisted of mamosas with breakfast, beer with lunch and wine with dinner...and sometimes more beer during an evening out if it was a weekend night. My first reaction to all this drinking was that my generation (Eropean style) was out of control! They certainly were all headed for hangovers, alcoholism and perhaps straight to hell. Nevertheless, as I spent more time in Germany, I came to realize they drink for reasons much different than why my generation (in America) drinks. It seems, from my experiences, American "globals" drink to get drunk...whereas German "globals" drink as part of their culture. Not once did I attend a German party where I saw someone throw up or make-out with someone they didn't know.
One aspect of German culture that I'm still undecided on is the high amount of tolerance in Germany. I guess us "globals" in general seem pretty tolerant. And tolerance always is a good thing right? Well...not always. I think that sometimes too much tolerance can be a bad thing. For example, the government tolerates the KKK. Here intolerance is being tolerated. I don't agree with that...
Or in Germany, the people tolerate an intolerance to embracing religion. In fact, only 2% of Germany attends church regularly (a shocking drop from 68% prior to WWII). If, in a social setting, someone brings up religion they are instantly seen as foolish or not up to speed on the way the world works. Article 4 of the Bavarian Constitution calls for equal treatment of all religions. Nevertheless, Bavaria (as well as 5 other German states) have enacted laws that treat different religions in different ways. For example, four years ago teachers in Germany were banned from wearing Muslim headscarves. The crucifixes, yarmulkes and even nuns' habits, however, were not banned. As a sophmore in high school, I very distinctly remember seeing this on the news. Commentators discussed how the headscarves had become a political (not religious) symbol of extreme fundamentalism.
I am sure other cultures, from Western America to China, have globals who claim to be tolerant, and yet sit back allowing intolerance to be tolerated (both at home and abroad). My generation, the globals, must not only travel with a sense of tolerance, but intolerance as well. Tolerance demonstrates that we can indeed have too much of a good thing.
This means globalization is most likely an idea my generation will strive for. Introduction to new cultures can open up our eyes/minds to new ideas. I personally experienced this when I visited Munich, Germany about 2 years ago. The culture of Munich was much different than what I was used to in little ol' Columbus, Ohio. While at first I was quite the victim of culture shock, I later came to appreciate numerous aspects of Munich culture that once scared/shocked me.
In particular, I came to appreciate how Germans drink. A normal day consisted of mamosas with breakfast, beer with lunch and wine with dinner...and sometimes more beer during an evening out if it was a weekend night. My first reaction to all this drinking was that my generation (Eropean style) was out of control! They certainly were all headed for hangovers, alcoholism and perhaps straight to hell. Nevertheless, as I spent more time in Germany, I came to realize they drink for reasons much different than why my generation (in America) drinks. It seems, from my experiences, American "globals" drink to get drunk...whereas German "globals" drink as part of their culture. Not once did I attend a German party where I saw someone throw up or make-out with someone they didn't know.
One aspect of German culture that I'm still undecided on is the high amount of tolerance in Germany. I guess us "globals" in general seem pretty tolerant. And tolerance always is a good thing right? Well...not always. I think that sometimes too much tolerance can be a bad thing. For example, the government tolerates the KKK. Here intolerance is being tolerated. I don't agree with that...
Or in Germany, the people tolerate an intolerance to embracing religion. In fact, only 2% of Germany attends church regularly (a shocking drop from 68% prior to WWII). If, in a social setting, someone brings up religion they are instantly seen as foolish or not up to speed on the way the world works. Article 4 of the Bavarian Constitution calls for equal treatment of all religions. Nevertheless, Bavaria (as well as 5 other German states) have enacted laws that treat different religions in different ways. For example, four years ago teachers in Germany were banned from wearing Muslim headscarves. The crucifixes, yarmulkes and even nuns' habits, however, were not banned. As a sophmore in high school, I very distinctly remember seeing this on the news. Commentators discussed how the headscarves had become a political (not religious) symbol of extreme fundamentalism.
I am sure other cultures, from Western America to China, have globals who claim to be tolerant, and yet sit back allowing intolerance to be tolerated (both at home and abroad). My generation, the globals, must not only travel with a sense of tolerance, but intolerance as well. Tolerance demonstrates that we can indeed have too much of a good thing.
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