Although human societies, with their cultural traditions and social aspects, vary around the world, human beings are all connected, socially and biologically. All humans share the same common ancestor and the same anatomical and physiological characteristics, as stated in biology and anthropology reports. They also share distinctive characteristics (basic emotions, self-awareness, language, and symbols) and common needs: the need for communication, love, social interactions, food, and shelter. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. “(Article 1). And, as Thomas Jefferson once said, “all men are created equal” (United States Declaration of Independence). By embracing the words of Thomas Jefferson and the evidence that we belong to the same human family, sharing the same planet, we teach our children about equality, justice, freedom and rights for all. We also tell others that we all belong to the same humanity, that all people are equal, and, to paraphrase Socrates that “We are not Americans or Canadians, but citizens of the world!” We are even calling for a global passport, to demonstrate to the world – and especially to our annoyingly perfect neighbor – that we are engaged in global issues and that we fully support and understand human equality. Ultimately, however, do we really understand what it means to be citizens of the world or are we just (as the Italians say), "all smoke and fire"? National citizenship is an accident of birth; global citizenship is different.” says Madeline F. Green in her article “Global Citizenship: What Are We Talking About and Why Does It Matter?” ......middle of paper......it. By choosing to wear a tribal tattoo on your arm, just for fun, you are probably declaring your belonging to an unknown tribe and should immediately act accordingly according to its laws and rituals. Centuries of significant traditions and cultural identities collapse every single day under the weight of our cultural ignorance. How can we prevent it? To dispel the “fog” of our cultural ignorance, as explained in the video “Cultural Gaffes Beyond Your Borders”, we should start reading about other cultures, their rituals and traditions. We should also ask questions, be aware of our verbal and nonverbal behavior, respect diversity, help our community, and try to understand the feelings and points of view of others. We should, as the French-born American scientist and writer René Jules Dubos once said, “Think globally, [and] act locally”..”