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Legrain's article was interesting. I've never had any thoughts that America is taking over the world and enforcing its culture on everyone. But that is probably just because I am in America and whatever. Poynter's article about Ladakh I did not find very super. Poynter kept repeating something about everbody caring if traditional cultures survive...I sure don't! It really doesn't make a difference to me what happens in Ladakh...or pretty much most places other than where I am. Jenkin's thing about cultural music and whatever didn't do much for me. Pavitr Prabhakar is spiderman?!?! Freakin sweet!

In Defense of Globalization

I really enjoyed Philippe Legrain's piece "In Defense of Globalization." I think that it was really effective in getting the point across. The last paragraph in particular was so persuasive: "The truth is that we increasingly define ourselves rather than let others define us..." Globalization does not have the power to change or determine who we are. Our choices are transcendent.

At the start of this class I wasn't really sure if I was for or against globalization. They both have their pros and their cons. I partly still feel that way today, even after reading so many passages giving both sides of the argument on globalization. But after reading this weeks readings, I can definately say that I am for globalization. It may sound trivial, but I guess it really hit me when I read Jenkins article, talking about how through globalization we are able to experience different cultures music, movies, food, etc. It seems like such an obvious statement, and it is. Yet, the impact of how other cultures have shaped me never hit me until another person said it. And that's when I realized that globalization is a wonderful thing. But other articles such as Poynter's remind me that the power of globalization cannot be taken lightly. It's a careful balance. To tie in another article, "With great power (globalization), comes great responsibility". Poytner's article reinforces my belief that globalization can help all those devloping countries struggling to survive. But it also reminds me that globalization can easily overwhelm a culture and soon bury it in the new techonology and foreign habits and cultures that globalization may bring, only to be lost forever. So it is important, nay essential, for us to preserve cultures yet bring the benefits of globalization. When you think about it, if we don't preserve our indiviual cultures, then once globalization has reached it's peak, what else is there to share and spread because we'll all be exactly alike.