'All the world is singing Lady Gaga -with different accents'

Pico Iyer  FIGT 2013

It’s the dangerous illusion of closeness, according to Pico Iyer.  The world appears to us as homogenous.  Commonalities like popular culture and the English language draw us together as though we are all the same, and culture or nationality don’t make a difference. 

Hearing Pico speak at the recent FIGT (Families In Global Transition) conference, and being surrounded by so many people from around the world who share common interests and concerns for Families in Global Transition, I could almost have agreed.  The world does seem like a global village exchanging ideas and all doing the Harlem shake or dancing Gangman style.  This assumption (of homogeneity and closeness) can also be made by those in global transitions as they move to another country.

And yet, as Pico continued in his presentation, he described a world that is not homogenous.  In reality we lack a real understanding of the other and often the more we really learn of another culture the more we realize we have yet to learn.  As he said, the concept of a global village may be a consoling idea but the reality is we are more like a global city with warring tribes.  Even English, our common language, can divide us, despite the expected common understanding. 

Pico spoke of positive signs, however.  Of the chance to see a new life in a new country as an opportunity rather than a loss as the Dalai Lama did when he was sent into exile.  Pico described how literature, art and music are breaking down barriers and bringing narratives of migration and change to people from different cultures, stimulating curiosity and increasing understanding.  How foreign names and faces are now commonplace and accepted in many of the cities around the world.

He encouraged us to laugh at ourselves as we journey into the culture of the other, recognizing that the comic in every piece will be ourselves, making mistakes, hopefully learning and discovering.  And he encouraged us to continue to take hope as we experience the fusion of cultures in many of today’s world cities drawing on old and new ways to create more and better possibilities.

He pointed out that while many of the systems of the world may remain national (taxes, passports, voting) many individuals are more global. 

For those individuals home has become less a piece of soil and more a place in the soul.