In Jihad vs. Mcworld, Benjamin Barber suggests that American culture is overtaking world culture, but how do we determine what is our culture and what is their culture. Is it not true that we began with many cultures integrating themselves into a "melting pot?" And what are we supposed to do if our culture is overtaking other people's cultures?
I can understand how McWorld attempts to overrule all other cultures. Mcworld being Barber's description of our capitalistic, free market, globalizing economy that has no respect for borders or governments. McWorld can be found in Hollywood, in music, in TV, and in our "culture," if we count those things as our culture.
Certainly Americans do not have their own food unless we are looking at the Native Americans. We have brought piergoies and croissants and even tea from other countries, developing other country's customs for indulging our meals. We embrace other country's literature and art and fashion, or so I've come to believe. Perhaps I live in a bubble world?
It seems our culture is their culture, but their culture is not our culture. It's as if we believe that we can pick and choose and integrate that diversity. I suppose that's fair; it's a matter of whether it's fair to then impose what we have bastardized in their culture to a fit a new culture for them.
If we allow a monoculture to take over, and a single industry of entertainment and information, then how can we be citizens? How can we think for ourselves? How can we embrace imagination and literacy? Democracy is at stake, but democracy is a balanced point in the middle of chaos. Is it not impossible to reach with our sharp pointed sticks?
