The last bit of the World is Flat gave a bleak picture of the future for the US. We are now in an age of coming together, but we are pushing away. Many other countries are reaping the benefits of the ever flatting world, but we are becoming more and more insular. After 9-11 many Americans have grown to distrust the rest of world. They are trying to put up boarders when every other country is tearing them down. The world is becoming a singular market and everyone in the United States has to learn to except this new world or be left behind.
I think that we as educators can help citizens learn to adapt to the new flat world. Educators can tap into the world like never before. We can create projects that look at the diversity of the world outside our classroom like never before. The classroom can become a place where people from many different cultures can meet electronically to discuss the world’s issues. Through these projects and discussions our students will be able to see the world outside our boarders. They’ll be able to network with children from India, China, Poland, and many other places all within our classroom located in Medford, Oregon. And, through this process they’ll learn not to be afraid of a flat world, but see all of the potential that it holds.
I agree with Friedman’s opinion of the citizens of the United States. We are a great people. We do have some of the most innovative, cleaver, and imaginative people of the world. All we need to do is wake up to what’s happening and adjust. The question is will Americans become global citizens, or stay just US citizens?
