It seems like, every day, there is talk of a new conflict between foreign powers.  Some one claims a particular plot of land as their own and this causes other nations to threaten war.  This is nothing new.  After all, there have been wars longer than there has been a written history.  However, with each generation, the idea and scope of war become more and more frightening.  We live in an age where communication is instantaneous.  People click on an icon and a message appears.  Processes that took several months just a generation ago can now be accomplished in weeks.  Obviously, this is progress at work.  However, something vital is lost when communication is limited to a 30-second sound byte.  Forethought. 

Before, messages took ages to write and distribute.  By necessity, people had to think carefully about what they wanted to say and how they wanted to say it.  This quiet period of reflection gave them time to weigh options before making final decisions.  Now, however, inspiring a nation to go to war is as simple as posting a note on Facebook.  We at Globalmusings fear what will happen when globalization runs its full course and several nations act as one completely connected entity.  In that scenario, who will act as the voice of reason?  Who will stop and ask questions before charging in?  As the lines that divide nations continue to blur, we should always remember that differences are not necessarily bad.  Uniqueness is not inherently evil.  Sometimes, a new perspective is vital to making decisions and coming up with ideas.  If we all hold the same values and expectations however, the well of ideas will eventually run dry. 

            During the Cold War era, people were frightened that someone in charge would press the wrong button and end the world.  What is worrisome is that the weapons and technology that our parents and grandparents feared is old to us now.  We have much newer and faster ways to destroy ourselves.  As fast as we are progressing, we must never forget the history of the World Wars and other such conflicts.  We have not evolved to the point where war is no longer an option.  We have merely made war move faster than before. 

Reference

“Globalization” Wikipedia.org <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization>