The World (and it’s people) is changing – what I
experienced as a child does not apply today. What I experience today will not
be what my children or grandchildren will experience when they are adults. The
World is becoming more cosmopolitan – dare I say more “homogenised”?
I have often wondered about the strange desire of
mankind to travel, to explore, to emigrate, to settle in other lands. This,
generally admirable desire, often led to greater knowledge of the world and
should have lent itself to tolerance and understanding. But no! More often than
not the travellers caused problems – they became invaders because they were
often technically more advanced or militarily stronger – so they overwhelmed
the populations of the lands they arrive at.
This is evident in history stretching right back to
the migration out of Africa into Europe some 50 000 years ago – the Greeks into
Asia, the Romans into Europe and England, the Arabs into North Africa and the
Iberian Peninsula, the Mongols into Asia, the Spaniards into South America, the
Portuguese into Africa and India, the English and French into North America,
the English into Australia, and so it still goes on.
In most instances what these travellers/invaders
introduced to the original inhabitants was beneficial – often after the initial
shock wore off, they were tolerated, they integrated and so became part of the
population. This movement of people was in most cases slow and may have
extended over generations. People moved at walking pace, or at that of the ox, the
sailing ship and, occasionally, (as with the Arabs and Mongols) on horseback.
This movement of people may, very generally, be
traced by the languages spoken across the world.
A consequence of these continual movements of people
was a general “equalisation” of knowledge and technology leading, again very
generally, to groupings of like-minded people into city states, then nation
states, which were fiercely defended. A semblance of stability ensued and
people settled down. Each “state” developed their own unique customs and
characteristics. This created a divisive “them and us” attitude – which still
prevails.
Today however, in the Twenty-first Century, the
situation is rapidly changing. State racial purity is on the decline.
Immigration, speedy immigration, by air, or at the very least by some form of
motorised transport is standard procedure today. For instance within a
generation or two the white population of the USA will be a minority (estimated by 2045). Europe is
no different and in so far as Europe is a “unified” economic grouping of
nations it simplifies movement between member countries.
The complication today is caused (generally) by
nations interfering in the internal affairs of others (refer: the Middle East
and Asia). This is causing a massive upheaval and a mass exodus from troubled
areas to what are considered “safer” countries.
This happens. It cannot be “undone” – the people who
left their home countries will not be same ones who repopulate those previously
abandoned countries. Another generation, another differently educated people,
with different hopes and aspirations will move in.
Each country will benefit from the different
cultures, languages, skills, energy and belief systems of their immigrants. It
has always been so. But the speed at which the changes are taking place is
unprecedented. Integration is now taking place at a frenetic pace and by
default will be incomplete and fragmented. Language courses, counselling,
special instruction about a country’s social mores and customs are now
commonplace to make new immigrants feel “at home” and adapt.
The adults may never feel “at home” but the children
will adapt to their new home much more rapidly. Guided by the precedent of
armed conflict in South Africa – the Boer War – I understand it took two
generations, say 50 years, before the English and the Afrikaans (Boer) speaking
population more or less accepted each other. The original combatants could not
truly reconcile and they influenced their children (who could possibly remember
the conflict). It was only the NEXT generation that had no direct memory of the
conflict and had no “input” from the original combatants (now either very old
or dead) who were more accepting and, possibly, tolerant of the situation.
As I say, this is generally a good thing – people of
all nations, races and creeds must learn to live peaceably together – there is
no other viable option.
What this means to the USA, Europe and other
countries caught up in the current “refugee” crisis is problematic. The long
term effects, however, are very clear. There will be a general “homogenisation”
of the world’s population – peoples will gradually, over generations, become
one “colour”, will (possibly) speak one hybridized language – understood by all
– a very much altered form of English, would be my selection.
Religion will be another matter entirely! Even in
those countries and states which have been relatively stable for generations
there are, for example, hundreds, if not thousands of different Christian
belief systems, sects or denominations. Similarly with Islam – reportedly 73
sects and Judaism has apparently about the same number – 72 sects.
I can never imagine a “homogenised” world religion!
We are all too different for that. But the rest? - it will come.
A Homogenised World will be the future – anything else is fraught and should not be contemplated.
