Let’s elaborate a bit, shall we? Within the contents of this blog, we have attempted to show methods and reasoning behind thinking locally, not always thinking globally. Additionally, however, we have made arguments for remembering to stay conscious of the world around our lovely United States. So, now, let’s combine our thinking. Let’s learn ways to think globally and act locally simultaneously.

Recently, I have learned about Al Jazeera. In case you haven’t stayed current in the news or turned on a television lately, Al Jazeera is an Arabic news station produced by the people, for the people. The station has been wildly influential for its independent spin. The station has also become wildly popular with its audience, so much so that the company has expanded. On November 16, 2006, Al Jazeera launched Al Jazeera English, a station which offers the similar Arabic views of its sister station while capitalizing on the influence of the English language. The news is delivered in English by English-speaking reporters from all over the country. This is truly a breakthrough of its kind. This is an opportunity for Americans to understand current affairs from an Arabic perspective, not an entirely American one. The station allows us to see the Arabic side of things and how those in Arabic countries view Americans.

The step is a powerful one.

However, this is a step that has been met with criticism, and no major American providers will air Al Jazeera English. Curious to see it? Yeah, you’ll likely have to go online for that. Accuracy in Media, Inc., a conservative media group, campaigns against the showing of Al Jazeera English. A representative from that group, Cliff Kincaid, says that Al Jazeera is a “mouthpiece of Osama bin Laden,” and this is why Americans need not be exposed to it. But I have to wonder, if we don’t ever hear these viewpoints, will we ever learn anything? After all, we can’t just sweep Al Jazeera under the floor and pretend it doesn’t exist.

The truth is Al Jazeera is extremely influential to Arabs, and we need to stay connected to that. DAvid Marash, an American reporter formerly of Nightline who now works for Al Jazeera, explains, “America has never been perceived as more isolated and less influential. I think that probably we’re pursuing that angle harder than our colleagues are, and it’s not that we want to undermine America’s position. It’s because the reality is America’s position is undermined and no one needs to understand that more than Americans.”

But really, when you truly think about it, Al Jazeera English is the perfect example of thinking globally and acting locally. The station’s producers have taken global thinking and given Americans an outlet to which we can apply our knowledge.

As an American military officer sums up the blocking of Al Jazeera English: “I think it’s ludicrous. … It’s another outlet. … It’s a disservice to Americans, who, unfortunately I’m seeing, are becoming more and more insulated, more and more insular.”

So apply yourselves, Americans.

For more information, I highly recommend viewing Frontline’s “War of Ideas.” The quotations featured in this post are extracted from this excellent broadcast.