It is a small world after all* (and even smaller with wonders of technology)

Point to Ponder:

There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all.
 

Story Line:

In a seminar I attended recently, there was a video that showed creations of the human imagination in art, science, architecture, and music. While watching the video, it occurred to me that the spirit of innovation and the limitless possibilities of the human mind are not exclusive to any one group of people, race, religion, color or national origin. Both qualities are timeless, ageless and boundless. 

When the video ended, the instructors asked the class to share our observations. Mine consisted of reciting words from a song I love from Disneyland, “Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide, it's a small world after all…”

Throughout history the power of the human mind has created many innovations. Advances in technology have connected the world such that we have the opportunity to share our ideas, creations and discoveries on a real time basis. Our differences are few and our possibilities, endless. Fear holds us back - creating misunderstanding and conflict – where hope can move us forward towards understanding and peace.

With the power of human imagination and the infinite possibility of technology, we have a golden opportunity to make this world a much better place.

 
Reflection:
It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all
 
There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all…

   

*Dedicated to my childhood penpal on our 40th anniversary. Her first letter was dated September 24th, 1970. It was postmarked from the Philippines, a country I did not know at that time. She said that she was Chinese, a culture I did not know much about at the time either. Forty years later we have a multicultural family consisting of Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Dutch, German, English, Scottish and American Indian heritages. It truly is a small world after all.

Comments

[Bonnie]

Happy anniversary. It is a small world after all. And at the end, the world is you, and you are the world.

[shw]

Yes, it is a small world after all.....and one can be contacted any time, any where.

[Selma]

I love this! Happy Anniversary to you and your friend!

And I now have "It's a Small World" stuck in my head... it's going to be a good day!

[Your Penang Friend since 1984]

Happy anniversary!! With a wink of the eye, 40 years have passed by........Have a great one.........

[Ben & Levi]

Happy Anniversary to you and Luisa !

[chris]

Mabuhay and happy anniversary! Your family is indeed a good example of globalization.

While the world is getting smaller (figuratively), innovation and technology offer us exciting possibilities and opportunities. Just recently, the first habitable exoplanet tagged as Gliese 581g was discovered. Imagine if Facebook conquered that territory. Really exciting! :-) Richard Branson's space travel business can also be a big hit soon!

[Madhuri]

Anand- Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary, and wishes for many many more . I learnt this song while at St Joseph's H.S in Poona. I have never forgotten the words or the tune. Not because i recognised the message as being profound, but because it seemed so simple and believeble, that it simply stuck! Unfortunately today, given the blantancy of sharing via Face book, Myspace, Twitter etc, the verse " There's so much that we share That it's time we're aware ..." takes on a whole new scary meaning.

[Quality Guy]

Within just the past 25 years,the speed of communication across the globe has improved tremendously. Text messages used to be by telex and would add several hours to the communications process. Today we get irritated if an email from across the globe takes a few extra seconds to be transmitted. What's next? Its boundless as long as the human mind continues to imagine. Best wishes to you and to your "special penpal" on your aniversary.

[Student of Yours]

Anand and Luisa,

Happy Anniversary!

The world is indeed very small, knowing both of you and able to be part of your world is an indeed an honour.

Have a wonderful day.

[CS]

Happy anniversary to you and Luisa. One of my favorite songs and my daughter is learning to play it on the piano

[Mukund]

Congratulations on the 40th Anniversary. Wish you many more healthy and happy ones to come.
Warm regards,
Mukund

[ST]

Anand and Luisa, 40 years of wonderful and enriched life in many ways. Happy Anniversary to you both. Lots of love
ST