This is actually a copy of what I originally wrote as an article on Zblog
I am really surprised (well actually not!) by the mainstream media’s incursion in to the homes of Indian mass. The trend is high as you move your finger down the South Indian map. This is when I think of the good ol’ days of simple and soporific Doordarshan (popularly called DD). These days, each and every party, particularly in the State of Tamil Nadu (regionalism here) has its own channel as a form of propaganda!
What is really missing is the quality of information. Well, what can you expect with these MNCs or home bred Corporates trying to compete with each other for TRP ratings. I notice a growing trend of Nationalism, falsely promoted by the main stream media, in the form of coverage and even the fill up Ads. Where is it going to end? May be at where it begun?
My question is, how important is Patriotism/Nationalism in a Globalized world? Is it OK to live with a strong sense of identity? In community centric societies, I notice that people tend to have a strong sense of identity (well at least a fair majority). They are bought in to the concept of Nationalism in order to discard Regionalism. Regionalism does exists but it is dwarfed in the sense of Nationalism, say in the form of a perceived threat or war. Now, is the same being used by the Governments to divert the attention of Public? Well the answer is a clear “yes”. Even in individual centric societies, like America, the Government succeeded in garnering the sentiment of Nationalism at the time of crisis.
Where would Nationalism be in the case of a Japanese kid adopted by Nambian Parents? Or a Jewish kid adopted by Shia-ite Parents? What is the purpose of emphasizing on freedom struggle in the form of history books or observing independence day? Is it more of a reminder to the new generation or younger ones about the cruel past of the Colonizers? How much would it matter to these kids that are already exposed to Cosmopolitan setup or Globalized world. Consider a kid, born in India, raised in the Gulf, working in US. Will the sense of Nationalism matter?
Well I can agree to the fact that not a majority lead such a Globalized life. Globalization in its fledgling phase, doesn’t allow the Lebanese or Palestinians to sell whatever they produce to whomever they wish. May be the Iraqis are not yet the so-called “knowledge workers” for American Corporates. May be Uncle Sam failed to set up a back office in Afghanisthan or Rwanda. It is driven in the interest of major Corporates that fail to own moral and social responsibility in the weaker Countries where it invests.
Do these MNCs really care about the long term social well being of its low wage workers? Will their so-called “better work condition” be strongly applied to Countries that blatantly violate the norms? How much will they emphasize? How much change does a worker in a low wage Country need to undergo in the name of cultural adaptation in an MNC? Does s/he lead a visual split personality life? Is this trend turning us in to Zombies and in turn numbing us of unadulterated emotions?
There is a lot of difference between “taking a country out of a person” from “taking a person out of a country”. Say in a hypothetical case, if Globalization is the impetus for evolutionary rate of human beings, will a homogenized world become so boring? Will the heterogeneity that interests most of us (to travel and drive each other) from contrasting cultures be lost in the permanent fog of Globalization?