Communication at every level, cultural, linguistic, personal, regional and international has never been so important on our ever shrinking planet, where all we do and decide affects everyone – near and far.
Communication is speeding up. It is adjusting. It is both more inclusive now than ever, and demanding.
No one language can dominate. Those of us who can operate in English are relieved that we can continue to converse for commerce and personal pursuits – because most of the world plugs into English still as a common language. We must now also respect a new world order.
In the 40th year of the Internet’s impact on our lives, we are faced with the reality that much of the world now CAN communicate and search in their own regional language and preference. And they can reasonably expect communication in the style, if not the actual words of their language, culture and ways of doing business.
I was reminded of my need to learn more, and faster about the world around me while listening to a song recently. To respect the growing strength and expectations of the ‘non-English’ speaking world. It was not enough that I felt somewhat comfortable in French, German or dabbled in Polish and even some ancient holy scripts. I realized that I would have to be prepared to embrace a good deal more and to be familiar with many more means of effective communication if I was to understand and be understood as a global citizen.
I was reminded recently of my hope to do so in our ONE world in a song sung by Bette Midler and the words written by Julie Gold.
The song …From a Distance.
Do these images inspire you?
From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.
From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It’s the voice of hope, it’s the voice of peace,
it’s the voice of every man.
From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed.
From a distance we are instruments
marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.
They’re the songs of every man.
God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.
From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.
From a distance there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
And it’s the hope of hopes, it’s the love of loves,
it’s the heart of every man.
It’s the hope of hopes, it’s the love of loves.
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
Oh, God is watching us, God is watching.
God is watching us from a distance.