Eric Liu wrote a thoughtful article in the August 14, 2012 edition of The Atlantic entitled “Why There’s No Such Thing as Global Citizenship.” He identifies three areas that are commonly described as global citizenship, arguing that they are not such, and that when it comes to global citizenship, “there is no there there.” In other words, it is a phantom.

Global citizenship, he first relates, can be defined as being conscious of the worldwide impact of our actions. As we learn about other cultures, we realize a shared responsibility. It’s more a general template for mutuality and pro-social behavior, using citizenship as a metaphor. It’s global and commendable, but not citizenship. Secondly, global citizenship “contemplates creating or bolstering institutions that can help govern the people of Earth.” Again, commendable. But one cannot get health care from the U.N. People turn to their own government for that, if their government is stable enough to respond. Thirdly, some corporations self-justify their global networking as a way to pass over national responsibilities. But they forget it is the nation’s investments and institutions that made these corporations possible. But none of this is citizenship. What is needed is to recall that the U.S. matters deeply. Today, Americans must engage in civic life more fully. Our civic institutions need the bright minds of the globally aware. In other words, “Want to be a citizen of the world? Help America be all it can be.”

This and similar articles contain a wink and a nod. Yes, be aware of your world. Yes, travel and study and engage in other cultures. Yes, grow in your understanding of our smaller, more interconnected globe. But, please don’t be one of those enlightened, globally aware people who retreat from the calls and the needs of our nation. Please don’t be another globally aware person whose “inter-nationality” now sees what is bad about the nationality, and then disengages from it. Don’t be so ready to save the world while vilifying the U.S., disqualifying the needs of America as too mundane, too local, or perhaps not glamorous enough in their familiarity and redundancy. And remember, the author highlights, “Citizenship of the United States is also the closest humanity has yet gotten to an actionable version of global citizenship.”

So, are the globally minded not locally good? Does international investment empty the bank of local commitment? Are those who advocate on the international scene those who disconnect from appeals to better our own country? Are the starving in Rwanda more deserving of attention than the disenfranchised around the corner? Bluntly put, when one becomes globally minded, is that one’s ticket to criticize what’s wrong here, but only travel toward the cause there?

If being globally minded included checking out of all things local, that would be a betrayal. Intently seeing the world includes gaining new perspectives and insights. For what? To be isolated in a travel log/memory book? To glamorize the world and only criticize the country? Rather, let all that is gained from a global perspective find application on the home front. The social studies teacher here will have a panorama of cultures to accent. The small-town mayor will be able to incorporate big world ideas. International exposure and global perspective form the person for a fuller divestment of themselves, as an investment in America. The company picnic never was better than when it included the tastes and flavors of the world.

Indeed, some who travel and learn may desire to use their gifts and abilities in different countries and settings, for a season or a lifetime. If that is their calling, then it should be welcomed. But for many, our vocation is here. Whatever the occupation, a globally minded person brings their other-awareness. The local applications are myriad.

As these applications fill the landscape of this country, we are better for it. The globally minded person is someone who cares about the U.S. They bring what has been learned, often in hopes of making things better here. It is civic mindedness with global dimension that enriches and expands. And so, we understand global citizenship to be an awareness and empathy for other people and other places that informs and supports our activity in this place. Who has the potential to be one of the best civic minded persons? It is the global citizen, bringing the world to the local, making it richer, wider, and better. Is there such a thing as global citizenship? Yes, and that citizenship is best lived out locally, where the world’s ideas complete ours, its perspectives accompany ours, its customs inform ours, and its love nurtures ours. Truly, to be a global citizen finds its definition on the local landscape.

Invest in America? See the world.