Surface Ripples

“Foreign Influence”

From time to time I read with great amusement comments by various statesman or other influential people about the need to “purge foreign influences“ or “not succumb to foreign influences“.

At times it may be understandable: people don’t want to lose their national identity.  Some comments suggest more these people are living on a different planet.  Let’s see: they wake up in the morning thanks to an alarm set on their “foreign” smart phone. If they are still of the type who wish to use an actual alarm clock, it will probably won’t be made in their country.

After getting up, they (one hopes) shower using shower products made in any number of other countries, after which they dry themselves on a towel again made (most likely) in China.

They then dress in clothes made overseas (in India, Bangladesh, China or if they can afford it, Parris, Milan, Savile Row).

They then have a cup of coffee for which they boil the water in their Chinese or Korean kettle. After that, they leave the house and, if they drive themselves to work, most do so in a car made in China, Japan, Korea, Germany, the UK, or the USA.

On arriving at work (at the local subsidiary of, say, an overseas bank) they go to their desk and switch on a computer made in China, Korea, the USA.  Their desk and office chair may well have been manufactured in a different country as well.

For lunch, they may well decide with their colleagues to go out for foreign food.  After leaving work and driving home in their foreign car, they change and relax in front of their Japanese, Korean or European TV.

Dinner may be a simple affair: a microwaved meal, cooked in their Korean microwave.  Afterwards they load the dirty dishes and cutlery into a Korean or German dishwasher.  Following a relaxing cold drink from the Korean made fridge, they head upstairs to bed before beginning the whole process the next day again.

The lust to “purge foreign influences” seems characteristic of national populists and those trying to carry favour with a minority of the population.

Unless we go and live in a remote cave, “foreign influences” can no more be purged from our lives than can our hearts or lungs.  Like the latter, they are an integral part.  Were we to genuinely “purge” them, we’d be left stark naked, with no (or very few) possessions and probably little gainful employment.

I’ve spent more than half my life delivering change in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With a wealth of international experience in international financial services around the world running different operations and lending businesses, I started my own Consultancy to provide solutions for improving performance, productivity and risk management.  I work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email. My website  provides a full picture of my portfolio of services

Labels: Leadership, Leisure, Social

posted by William Martin @ 07:54