Samantha Naso

Tina Katsanos
5/6/17
LBST
Globalization

Why does one feel the need to impact another's civilization? Is it human nature? What is

it about being human makes us want to travel and see how others live, and in many

circumstances, change it? These questions relate back to a sole topic of globalization. As we as

humans grow, we desire to show others just how far we've come whether it be in technological

advances, expansion of knowledge or a flourishing of the arts. No matter what it may be, we

want to share it with others and allow them to join us in what we feel is progress. Unfortunately,

we forget to realize some like to keep living the way those before them did. They avoid change

because they do not see the need for it. Although this may be true, we adopt the ignorant mindset

of saying we know better and forcing change when it is not always needed. Throughout this

assignment, I have been identifying examples of this through different times in history. When

one tries to "help" another, they tend to forget if it was asked for in the first place. Through the

research I've done, it has become apparent that this type of misunderstanding can have both

positive and horrific outcomes.

One example of this situation occurring is to the Australian Aborigines. The Australian

Aborigines are an indigenous group located in Australia. This unique and diverse group of people

communicate through many different languages and is known to be the worlds oldest

continuously living culture on Earth! Between the 1900s and the 1960s, children from this group

were taken away by the government and placed within white foster homes. The purpose of this

was to terminate the Australian Aboriginal culture and help children be raised right by

traditional white families. Children were kidnapped from their families, ripped away from their

culture and expected to become westernized. Although the government felt as though they were
Samantha Naso
Tina Katsanos
5/6/17
LBST
doing these children a favor, I dont see how any positive life could form after forcibly getting

ripped away from your family and stripped of your identity.

A second example of voluntourism gone wrong is when Columbus arrived on America. In

1492, Christopher Columbus sailed to America and encountered Native Americans. Although

peacefully practicing their colorful and fascinating culture, Christopher Columbus recorded that

these natives were cannibals and should be feared and removed from their land. Instead of

greeting these individuals and learning about their intriguing culture. Christopher Columbus

instead stole the land and identified this indigenous group as the enemy. He felt he was doing

good for his country by claiming land and not killing all the Native Americans. By turning these

people into the enemy, Columbus started the chain of negative feelings towards this native group.

Due to this poor first encounter, Native Americans have been a victimized minority group

throughout history. Westernization forced these people to be once again, stripped of their culture

and forced to embrace white American culture.

A third example of a time where trying to help only made the situation worse was in

the book Of Water And The Spirit. Malidoma was a 4 year old boy being raised within the

Dagara community. He was kidnapped from his home by Jesuit Missionaries and brought to a

Catholic Boarding School where he was forced to give up his old cultural ways and begin new.

Although the missionaries felt as though they were doing Malidoma a favor by teaching him the

ways of the western world, they did not see the damage that was occurring before them. Ripping

a child away from their family and home life without warning or consent is one of the most

traumatizing things that could happen to a child. In addition, Malidoma was physically and

sexually assaulted during his time away at school. These horrific events could have been
Samantha Naso
Tina Katsanos
5/6/17
LBST
prevented if the Jesuits ignored their human nature and left Malidoma within his culture,

unharmed by the western world.

A last example of this is the idea of voluntourism. Especially within modern day,

voluntourism has become a common trend within young people. The idea of packing your bags

and going to Africa to help for a couple weeks seems like the most appealing offer to college

graduates. After spending our whole lives in school, the idea of making a difference is an

attractive wave of power. The only problem with helping is that volunteering internationally is

usually a short term process. Volunteers will travel to Africa, China, Thailand, ect. Expecting to

help and make a difference but they are inexperienced in the culture they have just set foot in. By

the time the volunteer begins to understand their job in this newfound culture, it is their time to

go back home. The education programs taught by volunteers might the the most horrific

occurance of all. Volunteers who have absolutely no experience within the classroom receive an

entire class full of students to teach. From here, the teacher will spend a couple weeks getting

their footing and learning how to teach. Just as they begin to become effective teachers, they

leave. Just as they begin to form relationships with students, they leave. As an education major,

Ive learned the most important part of teaching is forming a relationship with students so you

can understand their needs when learning. This is important because lessons must be adjusted

around the students for their best outcome. If a classroom gets a new, inexperienced teacher

every month, how are they supposed to thrive in school?

The impact we have on others is crucial for not only our lives but for theirs as well. Once

again, I am unsure of why we as humans feel such a desire for changing the lives of others but it

this appeal has endangered the lives and the wellbeing of so many. The solution to this problem
Samantha Naso
Tina Katsanos
5/6/17
LBST
is simple. If we would focus on ourselves and not our desperate need to control the lives of

others, maybe things would get better. A reduce in contact with other civilizations might increase

cultural diversity and indigenous cultures might flourish back to the popularity they once held.

For those who still have a burning desire and passion to help others, why dont you only assist

when asked. There are many things we can do for other groups that wont necessarily change

them culturally. We can send food and goods to those who ask or we could send educated

teachers, nurses, ect. abroad for enough time to make a positive impact. The options are endless

and can assist many but the solution to this problem of mass globalization is only to help when it

is asked for.