Promoters, Vehicles, Enforcers… of what exactly?

As it appears, but is often forgotten, the diasporic movement provides an array of advantages for the home country. While one may be quick to judge this as a process that deprives the country of migration from the benefits of the individual engagement within the particular culture, it contributes to the development of the country of origin. So, if there is such a degree of closeness and connectedness within our global society, our global village, why are we so disturbed when others within the same world, but in more impoverished areas are gaining? Or is our love relationship supposed to function only one way … North America and the West receive, and the rest of the world sweats through the process of showing its love? Have we become so caught in the capitalist ideal, have we become so absorbed by the protectionist policies that we are propagating them in an age in which we are presumably living in a free market global economy? Are we the new Me Inc. that contribute to the implementation of national and corporate ideals, thus enforcing the mechanisms of power, control, and hierarchy in the world?

Behind the all inclusive, “we are one world,” lie larger issues of concern. The one world we are living in is not merely a question of unity. If we were to live in a world where we truly cared for our neighbours to the fullness of the principle of caring, we would think twice before becoming tools of the capitalist system. How often have you thought with a form of bitterness and frustration about the outsourcing of jobs to China or India? How often did you feel migrants and immigrants could have been the source of all problems? How often did you feel your country, your people, your community were suffering because of the flux of money and goods to other areas? I assume at one point in time at least one of these questions crossed your mind. But, have you ever considered the fact that you may have become a marionette of the mechanisms of power within neoliberalism, capitalism and global culture?

Think twice next time you look with bitterness to those who are mere passengers in your world, in your country, in your community. While many may be sending money home, or may be choosing not to integrate, this is in part because of the same discourses we often propagate, the politics we adopt – often unconsciously. If we are to live in a united world, the success of another should not be seen as a failure or reason for envy, but much rather, we should respect and learn from those who have succeeded. We live in a world in which we are constantly told we are not good enough and that we need to perfect ourselves: how about appreciating who we are and what we have? How about giving the Cesar what is Cesar’s and moving on with our respective paths? It is time for the world politicians to leave their desire to control aside, if they are truly seeking to promote a united front. Surely, the tensions in the Middle East affect you and me and everyone else; similarly, the North American goals and targets affect you and me and the whole world. If we are all together, then we all suffer with the failure of the "other, or rejoice at the success of the other. Think twice next time you jump to conclusions because much of our selfishness and desire to protect money that is not ours and is found in abundance here, may be the money that provides the development and much needed help in another nation.