Ethnocentrism is the feeling that one's country is better than any other country or that their country's ideals should be a standard way of thinking internationally. While this may seem like a bad thing, ethnocentrism can be both beneficial and detrimental to a country's progress.
In the media, we see lots of ethnocentrism. Our news focuses on American stories with very little about what is going on in other parts of the world. This isn't just an American issue, however. When I was in Germany and watching the news there, they focused on German issues. This can lead to people being ill-informed and close-minded. However, in cases such as the Olympics, we see a complete opposite. Newscasters will of course get excited about American athletes, but you will hear stores about a speed skater from the Netherlands or a basketball player from Argentina. If you're willing to look, you can get past ethnocentrism and learn about the world around you.
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