I cannot recall when this story was first brought to my attention, it must have been on the news within the last year or two. The above picture is a Starbucks which was opened in the middle of the Forbidden City in China. If I am not mistaken, I believe this Starbucks location was eventually closed down because of protest; nonetheless, it is a prime example of globalization. This picture is an example in the sense that it depicts how modern culture, in the form of economy, has impacted historical culture. To think that centuries prior the Forbidden City was held as a sacred place for emperors and has now been invaded by an American owned corporation.
Last year, when I was at the University of Colorado in Boulder, I read a book entitled Fast Food Nation which talked of the growing influence of the fast food corporations, such as McDonalds. I guess I really never considered beforehand of the possibility of having McDonalds in many other countries other than the U.S. One of the many stories in the book told of how a McDonalds is now in a remote town not far away from Aushwitz, a former concentration camp during WWII.
I am alright with the idea of capitalism but I believe that some boundaries must be set to keep places of cultural importance, like the Forbidden City, from being tainted by companies like Starbucks, McDonalds, Etc. It is one matter to have a fast food restaurant or coffee shop in the middle of Lincoln rather than the holy city of Jerusalem. Don't get me wrong, I love American culture but I believe that we should preserve the uniqueness of other countries from becoming too much like us. All cultures are valuable and I would hate to see more die out by the time my children have the chance to study them or even my children's children. My point, again, is this, I am pro American culture but boundaries must be recognized and respected so not to destroy parts of history.
