Skip to content

It’s a Small World after All

The other day several friends were reminiscing about the first time we saw the Disneyland ride “It’s a Small World”. Some of us saw it a Disneyland. Others at the 1964 World’s Fair. Younger friends saw it at Disney World in Florida.  But it touched a chord in all of us. It appeared first at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and then was moved to Disneyland. But it is at every Disney Park.

At the New York World’s Fair the ride was linked to UNICEF, the United Nation’s Chidlren’s Fund and money raised went to help the Fund.

This ride and this message was so ahead of its time.  Now we think about how globally connected we are.  In an instant you can Skype a friend half way around the world or text them with ease.  We live in multiple place and international travel is common. The message of it’s a small world was a message of global peace and unity.  Even as the dolls wear their unique ethnic costumes, they are one in the end.

In 1964 in the midst of the Cold War this was a daring message of hope.

Today do you think we are closer or farther away from this goal of unity in our diversity?  Of ethnic pride but global universal values?  Or are we farther away as the clash between East and West  seems more pronounced in the era of terrorism?