Some people say that the increasing business and cultural contract between countries has a positive effect; others say it could contribute to a loss of the countries identities. Do you agree or agree or disagree.
Our world is changing but the questions seem to remain the same; is increased contact between cultures leading to cultural destruction? Well maybe it is, and, maybe it isn’t. And maybe that is a good thing, and maybe it isn’t. But what ever is happening we have to understand that we cannot control it, nor change it, but rather we have to get used to it.
In this modern world there are so many possibilities; many people can live how they wish and where they wish. People choose to take up any identity that they want; in China some westerners embrace Chinese culture, whilst their Chinese neighbours are wearing Nike and eating at KFC. So it is hard to say if this is cultural loss or not. (Are American’s committing cultural suicide with their KFC and McDonalds food?) The world is far more complex than we try to make out.
And why are we so protective of our culture? (Chinese foot-binding, amongst other things, are cultural artifacts which we would rather forget.) Why can’t the new things we create also be valuable? Trying to preserve the old ways when they may be unsuitable for our future or our survival seems ridiculous. We need to move forward to survive. Increased contact with other countries and cultures is part of that movement forward.
But we will create new things if we give people freedom and resources to do so. I say let people loose, let our culture free; don’t try to hold it back or control it, for surely you will only kill it. Let’s embrace all forms of change; don’t worry we can reject them later.
