Globalization: Good or Evil?

I've always had mixed feelings about globalization. There are plenty of reasons why it's good for the world and plenty of reasons why it's bad. If I was asked to write a persuasive argument either for or against globalization, I wouldn't have a problem coming up with evidence to support each case. But when I think about globalization subjectively, or when I look at it for what it is from my perspective rather than others; I don't feel too badly about it.

If I hadn't been overseas before and I hadn't met people from around the world, I might even think globalization is merely the United States and other dominant countries forcing their form of government, culture, and economy on the less developed nations. In some ways, this is the case. But I see it differently.

When you meet people from different cultures, the two best things to talk about are the things you have in common and the things you don't have in common. No matter how "standardized" or connected we become, every country or group of people within a country will have differences. Liking similar movies, TV shows, activities and music give you common ground with the rest of the world. It shows we really are not that much different. We are all human and find the same things funny, scary or entertaining. There's nothing wrong with that. We still have differences that make us unique.

Less developed countries might not be joining the race; there's nothing wrong with that. Others are eager to jump on the band wagon. There's nothing wrong with that either.