It is easy to see earth's cultures are mixing. Mixed music forms are just one aspect of the emergence of this newly mixed world culture. Many Fundamentalists (and neo Nazis) worry that children of mixed heritage will suffer identity crisis. The argument is of course against inter-racial breeding and pro-cultural-segregation. And we all know this argument is not going to fly. People have airplanes and cars. They're going to travel, fall in love and they're going to mix. They're going to mix their cultures, traditions, art and music!
Cultural Segregation: History
Most of us have a clearly-defined culture. We were born "Negro," "Catholic," "Jewish, "Irish," "Indian," etc. In this case it is easy to follow your traditions and keep them alive. In following your traditions you gain a sense of cultural identity and belonging. Most of us on planet Earth have been living in isolated communities for generations. Travel wasn't as easy as it is today. You celebrate special holidays and you also inherit a system of cultural ethics, morals and values which go back for centuries. It is these morals and values that many argue to be necessary for stability and even sanity later in life.
Cultural Mixing: Today's Problem
But some of us have parents from different cultures. For us there is no definite culture. This poses a problem as we grow up because we either have to decide which, if any, culture we will follow, have it decided for us, or decide to make up our own culture based on what we like from this or that tradition and this or that system of values. Sometimes the family chooses to follow one tradition or the other "as a unit" so that all the offspring are raised with a clear cultural identity. Some families either neglect to choose or leave the choices up to the children. As our cultures merge into centralized political zones, centralized banks, euro dollars, etc., many cultures are having some of their practices legislated against, which further complicates things.
The Solution
The solution to this problem of mixing cultures is to discover we are part of a global community. We may try to uncover the common and basic values a global culture would have. Surprisingly, our various traditions have much in common with each other. It is as if they are pieces of a former global culture which existed some time in the distant past. So, in a sense, we are actually as brothers re-uniting after many years of separation.
"The End" or "A New Beginning?"
Many would agree that the end is near. But the end of what? The end of our segregated and isolated cultures suppressing and warring against each other. We must unite as a world and re-discover our world cultural roots. Thus marks the end of our culture as we know it--and the beginning of a new culture. Our world culture, reborn with values from a distant past merging with the present. Values we can agree on. Now comes the hard part of deciding what we have in common. Already we can see the new culture taking shape as mixed music gains popularity with people of all traditions, Mexican and euro, Goth and punk, Chinese and Country Western. There is a certain amount of humor in the new emerging mixed culture and that will be part of what holds it together.
You are welcome to share your ideas on the new mix culture in the forums.
Welcome!