Globalization

The longer I think about it, the more I am convinced that globalization is actually something that affects most of us a lot of the time, and we often don’t even realize it. There are many things in my life that I haven’t really thought about before that can be traced back to globalization. For example, a vast majority of the little property I have, including clothing, music, and daily supplies, was manufactured or produced somewhere other than the U.S. But it’s not just my wardrobe or my ipod that is affected by globalization - my mind has also been opened to new ways of thinking because of what I know and see from other countries, and how they do things. I would like to think that because of globalization, I have been able to experience more of the traditions and cultures of other countries, and consider how they all have value, though they may be different from what I am used to.

I knew a girl from Germany who came to the U.S. on an exchange program to my high school, and because she also played the violin and spoke Spanish, we became good friends. We talked a lot about the differences between our two countries of origin, and it became very clear to me that I know very little about other countries. I feel like it’s possible that because the United States plays a very dominant role in the international stage, it can be harder for us as U.S. citizens to really see other countries for what they are, and understand where they are coming from. We may stubbornly stick to the mindset that our country is better than all of them, or worse than all of them, having either national pride or shame. I know that for me personally, because of my interest in Spanish, I have felt like it is harder for me to enter the foreign world and be accepted there because I will be judged for the country I come from, and that people won’t give me a chance to prove myself an understanding person. I feel like there is another world I can’t touch because I haven’t experienced 3^rd-world poverty, and to some I might look like a girl who hasn’t worked a day in her life. Though neither of these things are completely true, I feel like they are factors that may cause others to judge me because of my native country, and that is, in my opinion, an effect of globalization that I feel very acutely.

There are also positive effects of globalization of course, and one of my favorite examples of this is in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. As a globally recognized religion, the church has been doing a great job of helping its members to feel a sense of “global community,” and to remember our brothers and sisters who may not share our culture, but who do share our faith in the same God. Members from around the world can share their experiences with the gospel, or music, or videos that we can all watch, and be part of. I know that things like Mormon Messages, which often have footage from other countries, are a constant influence and help to me in my life, and that just reiterates the power of how things that happen on a global scale can also be very personal and meaningful. For me, this idea actually builds my faith because it helps me to feel a connection to other countries through my religion. It makes me feel like I’m part of something important and larger than myself, which is a great privilege to have. A large part of this privilege that I claim is thanks to globalization, and I can now say that I recognize and appreciate that much more than I had ever thought to before.