E is for Ethnocentric or Europe, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Etc.

Ethnocentricity. Far be it for me to jump on the "blame America" band wagon, but there is something to be said for cultural and global awareness. It seems we all live so wrapped up in our own worlds that we forget vast amounts of other worlds exist. However, I'm not so sure that this is a problem isolated to the United States. Indeed, we're accousted with being stupid, arrogant, and unaware, but I imagine that "Jay-walking" type shows have given us this image. Can you honestly tell me that if I went over to France and asked the average person on the street about Cambodia, that they would know more than I? Perhaps they would, but I'm thinking not.

The simple fact seems to be that we are all mostly obsessed with our own lives. We forget about others not because we are callous, but because they simply don't affect us. Globally, the decisions of a man in Ethiopia today can make headlines and even cause a ripple that affects the price of my clothing, but mostly, no change happens in my life. I do not state this to make excuses and say, "Hey, why should I care." But perhaps this evil label of ethocentrism is just unfairly applied. If we spend all of our time worrying beyond ourselves, is that much better?

And if America is truly guilty of being less aware, can we fairly blame this reality on the issue of proximity? Let's face it, I'm more aware of what's going on in Illinois than in Peru, but Illinois is my neighbor, Peru sounds like a distant paradise.

So let's let ourselves off the hook a bit. DO fight to stay politically and socially aware, but DON'T kick yourself and feel like a loser if you're not up on everything. No one person can be and still live in the present life they have.