One of the more disheartening pieces I’ve read lately came from a recent Sunday edition of the New York Times. The message? The United States is doing a lousy job of adapting to the global market and culture. In fact, we may be losing that vaunted “superpower” status we have held for decades and are starting to look more like the creepy neighbor with the electric fence in today’s international community.

There are so many reasons for this downturn: an unpopular war, an unstable economy and/or domestic hyper-partisanship. But the one that stands out the most is an issue that starts right where we live: our culture.

We, as a country and as a university, have failed to truly embrace the multiculturalism that we need to have in the new globalized world. After all, two of the most eminent new superpowers in today’s world, China and the European Union, haven’t engaged in a military show of might to gain their new standing. They did it with competitive, yet effectively managed economies, and in the EU’s case, with an inclusive social and political policy that integrated other cultures and societies into their community.

America, on the other hand, is excessively partisan and stuck with a slumping economy, an unpopular war of choice and an abysmal standing in the international community. Is it me, or do we need to rethink our strategy?

The bottom line: multiculturalism is the future. And if we want to have a shot at keeping up with the Joneses, we need to start embracing this attitude where it will take almost immediate effect: at the University.

There is a plethora of multicultural programs and initiatives at N.C. State. According to Tracey Ray, the head of Multicultural Student Affairs, there is a wide array of departments and groups devoted to a multitude of cultures. Even more impressive is the proactive attitude Ray and the University take towards enhancing multicultural awareness and acceptance. Among these initiatives are the plans to strengthen the Hispanic Affairs program to better accommodate and integrate Hispanic students, both present and future, into the University.

Even the opening of the GLBT center is a huge step in the right direction. I sincerely hope this facility will improve University students’ acceptance of differences of any kind — be it cultural, religious, ethnic or personal. This will help make the University a friendlier, more comfortable environment for all students.

But these are only the first steps in a journey that will take years to end, assuming we remain committed to pressing forward. Chancellor Oblinger and the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs need to continue to make the University more friendly and accepting of the many different cultural viewpoints in the world today.

We cannot drop the ball on this issue. It is vital that the University acts to promote multicultural acceptance and integration on the campus as part of preparing students for the new global economy and society.

So ignore all the people who say America needs to return to an isolationist policy. What we really need to do is stop invading foreign nations and start living with them.