After a month off-line, I am resuming my blogging. Thanks to those of you who have acknowledged the value you have gotten from my ramblings so far. This year I want to up the ante with some outrageous ideas of what we might do to bring some sanity to the world. My key messages are the ones in my books Animal Kingdom and Spirituality in the Workplace.
In Animal Kingdom, the message is humility as a prerequisite for learning how to get along with others. Americans are generally perceived to be arrogant by most of the world. My observation of us in other countries confirms this perception. Our arrogance stems from our dominance in technology and business success. Both of which are quickly coming to an end. China, India, and the growing unification of Europe, economically, will eventually overcome our dominance.
Foreign students are choosing to stay home and go to school rather than coming here on the basis that we are still superior in science, technology, and engineering. Banning them over the past few years didn't help much either. Somehow, people find alternatives. They always do. Check out sometime how we rank in science, mathematics, and engineering worldwide when you get a chance. Also check out the quality of our high school system compared to the rest of the world.
Humility begins with the realization that we do not know what is best for the world. In fact, we haven't managed to find out how to solve our own problems here in the U.S. We are a divided country politically, economically, racially, and spiritually. We haven't discovered how to get along with each other, let alone imposing our way of thinking on the rest of the world! We are certainly not a role model.
Humility is recognizing that others are more impressed by what they see in terms of real results and are seldom fooled by slick marketing. Slick marketing is really designed to fool us not the rest of the world. Based upon what is observed, little marketing is necessay in terms of exporting our ideas, culture, or business acumen. It is also key to tell the truth to ourselves regardless of how embarrassing it might be. Remember, "the truth will set us free."
Humility is being open to the perceptions of the rest of the world of the U.S. As my mother used to say, "where there is smoke, there is fire!" Until we can be open and receptive to the overwhelming perceptions of the world, we are hopeless. Being more arrogant in the face of world opinion does not make us right. There is only one planet available to us all, for the foreseeable future. Unless we can learn how to get along with each other, then we are headed to a very predictable tragic future!
Hang on, since I predict we have no intention of changing at all. After all, we are right and anyone who disagrees with us is obviously wrong!
Welcome to 2007
Where to Now?The devastation of Hurricane Katrina is forcing millions to ask themselves one of life's most difficult - yet vital - questions. |
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A diversity fable written by New Orleans native William Guillory, PhD, offers answers to that question, and what all Americans can do to turn tragedy into new life. |
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Animal Kingdom: A Diversity
Fable. 
