Plate Tectonics and the Global Community

Thomas Friedman stated in his recent book that the world is flat. Recent advancements in IT and globalization have made the world smaller. I say the Tectonic Plates are shifting, coming rapidly toward each other. Ideally, their coming together will disintegrate borders, making the world, truly, one united global community.

Mom has made liaisons with crafters from all around the world. Plans to start a massive craft manufacturer monopoly overthrow are already underway, at least in Asia. And yes, mother might very well be one of the powerful moving forces, doing all this from the convenience of this very PC in the middle of a light residential Quezon City district.

In science, we were taught that when two continental plates divide, one sinks below, while the other is forced up. Which will sink below is anyone’s guess. Physics will say that the plate with less mass will likely sink below, or crumble from the larger plate’s mass. Yet these plates we’re discussing, being virtual in matter, can easily override the laws of physics. It’s the more human cultural border that will lift its defenses, and therefore forecast which shall flank the other.

We may be one when we find the common interest land bridge, but not everyone will be able to cross that bridge. Sooner or later, detractors will use the rivers that were once oceans as borders, perhaps as a last resort — their last line of defense. Merging into one always has its benefits, but there are those who hold on to their virtues, those distinctive advantages that once formed the natural borders.

I’ll admit, I’m not too keen on the return of Pangaea. I enjoyed the little this tiny island had to offer even if the grass was greener on the other isle. But we can’t live in nipa huts forever. Modernization necessitates the compromise of some culture and principle for the advancement of all.

Like my editor says, globalization has done nothing but make a universally acceptable bland delicacy that any country wouldn’t find offense. The intrinsic identity that makes a dish a delicacy is lost, but then, it’s a blandness that all the world can tolerate. It’s a sham; tiny umbrella, squeeze of lemon, spice of paprika, all designed to make us feel at home. But we’re all bound to outgrow our cribs at some point or another.