Well, I have lived in Time-Warner most of my life, but I was born in Chevy GMC

Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.
-Aesop

In this fast changing world one of the hottest topics of discussion is globalization.  To make worldwide, to extend to all other parts of the globe, globalization often refers to a change in our culture. With the ever blurring lines of nationality, our identities are fast becoming global ones. It seems our addresses, our cities, our countries are no longer what we use to identify ourselves.  This massive change in cultural identity has sparked much debate.  Is this a good change or a bad one?

    Thomas Friedman a journalist would say it is a good change. In his look on outsourcing in India he shows the booming economy and rise in industry occurring in India due to outsourcing.  In an interview with two young Indian Girls Friedman speaks about the changes in culture for their generation. The girls, along with most Indians can see the shift in values that is taking place. The youth has access to jobs, and money affording them economic freedom. While most of this seems like a good trend, I had a hard time with the negative sides that appear with this story, and therefore disagree with him.

    While the youth of India is being afforded disposable income and financial stability, there are some cultural changes that I find rather sad. When the two girls are sitting on the couch with their parents the talk about the role models in their life. When asked if they look up to Bill Gates or a Yogi, both girls responded with their loyalties toward gates, while their parent responded with theirs toward the Yogi. This is a very blatant disregard to the Indian culture. Later in the interview we hear one of the girls saying they are much more materialistic than they used to be now that they have money, and they think the future of India looks like a miniature America. While there might be a lot of hope in this, there is also a lot of despair.

    In the changes occurring we can see a definite loss of national and cultural identity. What then will the global population use to define themselves. The trend points to materialism. The youth of India seeks to define themselves by what they own, what brand they own, how much they own. Gone is the spiritual worth of the Yogi, and in it's place the material worth of Levi's Jeans. We could actually become not only what we own, but citizens of the companies that we buy from.