Global Sameness

This keeps coming up for me, the idea and progress of what I call global sameness. I was recently asked by the Women’s Internet History Project, “What do think the future will hold internet/digital/tech?” and I worked global sameness into my answer:

“For better or worse (mostly better) the internet and all the applications that go with it have broken down a lot of boundaries. One of those boundaries is the boundary of power. The United States will become less and less important, but not in a bad way, I don’t think. It’s just that the rest of the world has risen and will continue to rise in importance, and in power and influence.

“No one gives up power without a battle, or accepts change without resistance. For instance, the divide between liberal and conservative in this country is at its most acrimonious right now, just as America is slowly becoming more fair and more just (black president, increased civil rights for gays, etc.) So there are going to be problems all over the world, as we all start to blend into each other a tiny bit, and then more and more, some rising a little, some falling (or perceiving that they are falling).  

“We’re going to lose some things in the process. For example, NYC has lost a lot of its uniqueness over the last two decades. That is going to continue happen on a world-wide scale …”

I talk about how loss is inevitable, but the gain is worth it (hopefully). There are so many conflicts associated with differences (cultural, religious, racial), so someday global sameness may result in less conflict, more peace. Except families fight and hate each other sometimes, so maybe not.

My Thanksgiving at Peter and Miguel’s!