标签:
博考10-1 |
Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities
for China’s Younger Generation
Where, you may wonder, is our Chinese spirit in the course of the
globalization?
In the early 1990s, Beijing was a flourishing city with a distinct local identity. It boasted a rich history that’s mirrored in its spectacular palaces, temples and gardens. Chinese traditional cuisines were most popular in every corner of its narrow Hutongs. Generally speaking, people were proud to be citizens in the cultural heart of China.
With the overwhelming wave of globalization, however, Beijing has become a multi-cultural metropolis basked in western values: the skyline is no longer filled with the natural hue of sunset, but defined by skyscrapers and concrete buildings; Wal-marts and Carrefours have made inroads into Beijing’s districts, overshadowing the glamour of the traditional local grocery stores; the ever-widening roads seldom witness that bygone tranquility, but are jammed by roaring sedans and limousines.
Somehow, Beijing is gradually losing the luster of a nation’s cultural landmark, degrading into a mosaic of westernized jigsaw puzzle. The succession of the new seems destined to be the decay of the old.
The greatest challenge for us youngsters lies not in the improvement on our material well-being, but in the defence of our own culture in face of a looming invasion of western values, cultures and ideology.
Our deep-rooted cultural sentiments such as generosity, communal compassion, and wisdom are dimmed by the emergence of a new cultural wave coming from the West. It is sad to learn that Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Qi Gong are dying arts harboured only by the old. The youth preferred to indulge in violent video games and watch European football on television. The faith in Chinese tradition is quickly being written off as out-of-date by the young, replaced by a fancy for exotic trendy fashions.
In the name of modernization, more and more young people have been induced to abdicate their culture. A fulfilling life, according to many of my fellow students, is a life filled with money and material riches.
Yes indeed, the challenges and controversies of globalization are infinite. Yet, every cloud has a silver lining, globlalization on the other hand does give us a golden opportunity by setting the stage for a rediscovery of the Chinese spirit in a global context.
The Chinese spirit emphasizes the peaceful integration of cultures. As western countries sell their ideology and technology, we can try to market our profound cultural legacy. The younger generation, which is full of energy and drive, represents the promise for the rejuvenation of “our own stuff”. Endowed with such excellent traditions spanning more than 5000 years, we can not only find sustenance from our mother culture to bolster a stronger local identity, but also have abundant cultural resources to offer to the world. By doing so, we will fight back the monopoly of western cultures and establish our own in the international arena.
The Chinese spirit emphasizes the harmony with nature, which gives the youth an opportunity to endeavor to solve the social and ecological crises in China. As globalization brings about environmental disharmony and cultural discordance, we can serve as a model for development in a sustainable way.
Although these are all Chinese spirits, they can be applied universally, thanks to the thriving globlization. Once we aspire to inspire other people with the idea of gaining wholesome qualities of life, the whole world will benefit.
It is an opportunity for, as well as a responsibility on the China’s younger generation to afford our diverse cultural heritage. The youth of today, equipped with an international language, will be better prepared to communicate our sentiments during a time of change and defend ourselves through the power of words. Our peaceful spiritual poise will help us in face of all the upheavals of globalizations.
When all is said and done, our identity as a
Chinese national is the most valuble treasure we possess. And with
our newly found Chinese spirit, the younger generation will find a
larger stage to showcase their talents and the country’s
excellence in the brave new world of
globalization.