GLOBAL CULTURE 2.0

            Technology will one day render national and geographic boundaries obsolete. It's already done a great deal of damage; damage in this case being a relative term. Communication and data flow are the culprits. The easier it becomes for information to traverse borders, the harder it gets for the borders to sustain themselves. The organization of the world is in a constant state of flux.   Borders are an agreement; they are by no means the rule. This, as we have all heard entirely too many times by now, is the information age. Data is an economy in and of itself. On a daily basis there is more new information being dumped into cyberspace then we could effectively process in a lifetime. This essay is merely adding to the clutter of the world. But what are the implications of this? Is it good or bad? And what does it mean for the future?

            One of the unfortunate victims of the information age is culture. As the predominant cultural influences become more and more accessible, the weaker cultures get subverted and ultimately wiped out. This is not a 21 st century phenomenon. This sort of thing has been going on ever since society has existed, but the rate at which cultures are being eradicated today is alarming.

            It's not a blatant assault on different cultures. It's one of the many sad byproducts of globalization and the media's influence. Wherever these influences can take root they will, and will co-opt and replace what had previously been. I suppose it would be more accurate to describe culture as being replaced, rather than being obliterated. But once it's replaced, and the new ways accepted, the old ways are forgotten and lost.

            Culture behaves the same way as evolution. It is not static. It is constantly changing. The survival of the fittest does not apply, in nature or in culture. It's not the fittest; merely whichever is more successful at proliferation.

            Culture is something that should be preserved. We need to protect it as we do endangered species. It is something to be studied and appreciated. Not forgotten. Culture is the main thing that separates us as a species. Race is a much smaller issue compared to culture. In fact, race has absolutely nothing to do with anything other than physical differences. Culture is the real determinant.

            With the idea of cultural preservation in mind we should view this breaking down of National boundaries as a fantastic opportunity. We need to understand that we are part of a global community. We need to abandon our ideas of nationalism. Nationalism and culture are completely separate. Nationalism limits us. Culture liberates us.

            There is also a tremendous difference between global community and globalization. Globalization is the legacy of capitalism gone out of control. Globalization is the result of corporations breaking down boundaries as opposed to information and ideas. It is governed by the accumulation of capital. It destroys culture for profit.

            Global community on the other hand is something we are all a part of, and need to work on strengthening. We are not just Americans, or Canadians, or Japanese, or any nationality. We are a part of the world, and we are connected with it now thanks to technology.