Term 3 Week 4 (Blogging Assignment)

Read the following Newsweek article, How to Raise a Global Kid, byLisa Miller (July 18, 2011)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.print.html

What is the main argument Jim Rogers is trying to make in this article? Do you agree with his argument? Justify.

In the article, Jim Roger's main argument is that in order for children to live in the globally competitive world of today, one must be able to master the ropes and indulge in different cultures and languages, needing actual experiences with foreign cultures to better able communicate with people of a different "world". Jim Roger also mentions that domestic issues and international issues would slowly bond together as one in the future, and the world would be where all economies, industries, and people would be interconnected and co-related. He also states that if America is left without communication to this futuristic world and continue to feel superior about their current superpower title, they would gradually lose out to the other rising economies. Thus, immersion into different cultures would definitely be beneficial to future interactions.

I agree with the view point of Jim Roger. Integration into the world around us would do more good than harm. Our world is slowly changing into a global world, where everyone would be able to communicate with each other due to advanced technology of our time. Countries thus start working together more closely and global issues have been expanded to different areas. It is definitely important that children get familiarised with different cultures and languages so as to be better informed about certain "rules of religion" and also to more fluently and smoothly communicate with their future partners in their careers.

The status of Asians of a whole is definitely rising. Countries like Korea and Japan are producing high end products, improvising on many of America's production. While China sticks to a lower end production, we are certain to see many goods such as daily necessities like toothbrushes, toys and other household products made in China. While the intelligence of the product might be originating from different parts of the world, China has one of the largest, if not the largest manufacturing industries in the world. Working with China is just inevitable.

Take Google for example. While they might be looking at themselves as global giants, not working with countries like China could lead to large losses to them. China has the largest population in the world, which would mean a significant change in audience once China agrees or disagrees to work with an organisation. Google fell out with China due to issues which are sensitive to Chinese people and the government. If the people had been placed in a more global situation where there is mutual understanding, the fall out would not have happened.

Thus, it is definitely important that children are put into a global world from a young age. After all, their young and inquisitive minds would lead them to wandering around and exploring the world. They would "grow" into the world just like they "grow" into their clothes. As they mature and grow up, they would subconsciously be a more global being compared to a person who is not familiar with the global world of tomorrow.