Our Century - What will we make of it?

by Bob Carey

On January 1st, 2000, the sun rose on the first dawn of the 21st century. On the evening of December 31, 2099, the sun will set for the last time on this century. During that time 36,525 sunrises and sunsets should occur. What will transpire during this time? What will our eyes see and our ears hear? What words will come out of our mouths? What will we write about? What will historians record and philosophers philosophize while musicians harmonize and the sages prophesize? What are the forces that will shape our world? Where state will the human race be in when that last sun goes down below the horizon?

Today, as the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close, we find ourselves living in a world characterized by an asynchronous distribution of wealth, power, influence and cultural misunderstanding among vast regions of the world’s population. We face a number of daunting challenges that some believe will bring ruin to the human race if they go unaddressed. The need for an informed and educated population has never been greater. Global affairs education is needed to help us understand and reshape the self-defeating cultural barriers that can only serve to hold us back.

Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofstede, defines culture as "the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category from those of another." From this we can reasonably conclude that culture is a learned, shared and interrelated set of symbols whose meanings provide a social orientation. We Americans comprise a rich cultural fabric of national orientations. The fact is that the United States is a multi-racial immigrant nation that continues to suffer from lingering racial and ethnic tension.

We as American citizens need to do a better job of embracing our own diversity as a creative force for promoting peace and socio-economic progress within our borders. As a nation we need to become more empathetic and tolerant of those who come to our shores seeking a better way of life. Additionally, it's critically important for all of us to understand the world beyond our borders and how our behaviors as citizens affect public diplomacy, government policy formation and ultimately our international relationships.

The empathy that is born of broader understanding allows us to resonate with others. It helps illuminate our ideas about diversity. Empathy facilitates inclusiveness far more than it creates divisiveness. Empathy produces something far more valuable to the preservation and advancement of global society -- a common cause and sense of purpose that we are in this together. Empathetic people are far more likely to advance peaceful coexistence because they have learned to trust and believe in others.

Global education is critically important because it serves to uncover the historical and cultural influences that allow us to see constructed patterns of social behavior that define who we are. It serves to amplify and explain the substance of the socio-political, economic, cultural and religious ideologies that affect the behavior of those living under their influence throughout the world. Applied to the domain of international relations, the key questions we all need to ask about any ideology, society, organization or institution is: How did it get to its current state? What are the factors that sustain it? In what manner and toward what new forms might it be transforming?

World Savvy’s mission: "to educate and engage youth in community and world affairs, so they are prepared to live, work and learn as responsible citizens in the 21st century," is consistent with these ideas. Its work with educators to integrate issues of global concern into the classroom environment via its Global Educators Program contributes to ensuring that cultural understanding and transformation are addressed in real and sustainable ways that resonate with people living in communities of cross-cultural orientation.

This is why I choose to work with World Savvy. Like Dana, I passionately believe that we can change the world for the better. We only need to choose to do so. What good is cynicism without a constructive plan and program for reconciliation and remediation?

I believe that World Savvy's programs represent a high-impact force for socially constructive change through education. We need your support to become and sustain our movement to contribute to shaping the 21st century world order. Clearly, the challenges of the 21st century cannot be met without collective action. As President Obama recently stated, "this will require a common sense of purpose, persistence and optimism the moment commands."��

We will be defined by and remembered for the actions we choose to take now. Our youth are our future. How they see the world in the years ahead will be heavily influenced by what they learn now, the skills they acquire and the knowledge they accumulate.

We can all be certain that the choices we make, the art we create to express our feelings and the thoughts about those choices and the philosophies we practice will unleash the forces that shape our world and how we conduct our affairs. This is what historians will record and sages reflect upon when the sun sets on December 31, 2099. See you then.

Bob Carey resides in New York and has been a World Savvy volunteer for the past three years. Most recently he worked with World Savvy’s Executive Director, Dana Curran to redo World Savvy's website. Bob developed a high level business analysis plan that is being used to identify the new website requirements. Once finalized and approved, he will help develop the detailed project plan that will be used to redesign, build and launch the new website in 2010.

The opinions reflected in these articles are the author's only and do NOT reflect the opinions or goals of World Savvy.