A while ago, when I was saying goodbye to someone I love and respect, I mentioned that I considered myself a citizen of the world. They laughed and said that one was from the country of birth. Since it’s not the first time I’ve observed this kind of somewhat isolationist nationalism in educated people, I thought it would be helpful to clarify the concept, and that’s what I intend to do with this note.
Perhaps I should begin by saying that I have lived, for at least fourteen years, in each of three different countries, researching and teaching, or as I prefer to put it: guiding others to learn. I have also been fortunate in my profession and have traveled to over twenty countries, giving more than sixty international lectures. I love to travel, and as a tourist, I have visited more than ten additional countries. On my professional trips, I always tried to humbly share the best of my ideas and research results, and I invariably felt welcome, both in academia and when wandering around as a tourist. In each country, I enjoyed every artistic and musical expression I could, the different customs and traditions, the geography I saw, and the diverse culinary dishes, as well as the fruits and edible products I was unfamiliar with. And let’s not forget the people. While one might encounter, as we say in Andalusia, the odd «grump,» I’ve always felt that most people, when they realize you’re a foreigner, try to be friendly, eager to share and please. There’s so much to learn and enjoy when traveling with an open mind to other countries that I’ve always found it difficult to understand the narrow-mindedness of those who invariably spend their time comparing themselves to their homeland and criticizing.
Both traveling and the communication and video resources available today help us learn about other cultures, broaden our worldview, and make us feel part of a human community far larger than our own country, city, or culture. As a result, we realize that we don’t just belong to one country, but that we are also part of the world.
It’s clear that we value the place where we’re born, its customs and culture, its traditions, our family, our friends, the flavors and aromas we grow up with, etc. But if all of that was given to us, what right do we have to criticize what others have received? How can we expect others to respect ours if we don’t respect theirs? And above all, with so much wonder in every country, why look for the negative?
For me, a citizen of the world is someone who feels part of a broader human community than their country, city, or culture. As a result, they believe they are also part of the world and act responsibly and respectfully toward others, without limiting their identity to just one nation.
Some of the best-known historical and modern examples of individuals who transcended borders and worked for humanity, peace, and social justice include Nelson Mandela—a global symbol of peace, human rights, and reconciliation—Mahatma Gandhi—a universally recognized pacifist leader—and Albert Einstein—a scientist and advocate of pacifism and a democratic world government, who renounced his nationalities as a symbol of his commitment to humanity. Numerous organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee, among many others, provide aid to those in need in various countries. Today, in every country, there are thousands of people who, in one way or another, are concerned about the problems affecting millions of people in different parts of the world: wars, hunger, disease, dictatorships… or problems that affect us all, such as the environment, human rights, and social justice… and who try to contribute to their solutions in some way: by voting, by belonging to social action groups focused on these issues, by making small financial contributions, by sharing ideas that raise awareness, by recycling… and, for those of us who believe, through prayer. For me, they are all citizens of the world.
