Change is Good
Cultures are continually evolving. Some changes come at a slow rate and can take centuries and multiple generations, while some changes can occur almost overnight. Change, while sometimes can be, is not always bad. Kwame Anthony Appiah wrote about change in an article in the New York Times titled “The Case for Contamination.” Appiah explored change throughout many centuries and many cultures. Appiah makes the case supporting cosmopolitanism versus cultural preservationist. The dictionary definition for cosmopolitanism comes from a Greek word which translates to “citizen of the world.” Cosmopolitans see that there are great things that come from many cultures and adopting some is good for society. These changes do not hurt “the identity of a society” (5), they enrich it.
Migration across the globe has been happening since the beginning of man, and with this migration, cultural differences too are brought and shared. Appiah points out that “societies without change aren’t authentic; they’re just dead” (5). Societies that were not able to adapt to changes, were overtaken by war or disease or famine. Changes do not destroy cultures, they just alter it slightly. “The global spread and hybridization of culture — through travel, trade, or conquest — is hardly a recent development” (12).
Today, knowledge and ideals are shared more than ever before. The growth of the internet has made access to information easier than ever before and changes are occurring at a faster rate than ever before. Many societies try and resist these changes by censorship and control of availability of the internet. Very often religion is a deciding factor of resistance. With religion comes many traditions that some see as critical to control the masses. Embracing these changes is important as the world becomes “smaller” with the sharing of information and ease of travel. Many countries and cultures would greatly benefit if they were more accepting of cosmopolitanism ways. Sharia Law is the first to come to mind. It is a century’s year old way to govern. Under it, women are greatly restricted and controlled. The law is taken into the hands of local elders and they become the jury, judge, and executioners. Adoption of European court systems would greatly help the people, especially women, of these cultures which still rule by it.
Change is continual with my work with students. The teachers and I are continually sharing best practices and adapting the way we teach. No two students are the same so our teaching methods need to adapt to be able to reach the student the best. We have students from various cultures so understanding and accepting differences is a must. Without accepting differences we would be doing a disservice to the student and the school dynamics. We strive to teach the students to also be accepting of differences in hopes of setting judgment aside and making this a better world.
The United States is a melting pot of cultures where we share our ways and beliefs with one another and continually change and adapt by adopting things we like from the other cultures. Food is a major way in which cosmopolitanism occurs today. It is easier to try something new and different than it is to fully immerse oneself into another culture to see differences. This melding of cultures is what makes America great.
