Analysis of the Case for Contamination: Kwame Anthony Appiah

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Analysis of the Case for Contamination
Introduction
Kwame Anthony Appiah is the author of the article, the Case for Contamination and he is from Ghana. The focal point of his article is cultural change and globalization. The changes in the culture are what he is referring to as contamination. Usually, contamination means that something has been polluted. In this case, Appiah meant that the cultural mixture is destroying what was inherited from ancestors. He uses various examples from Ghana to demonstrate how indigenous traditions that so honored have been changed as a result of interactions and influence of the western culture. This paper critically analyzes Appiah’s arguments in the article discusses and declares a stand at the end of the discussion.
The Analysis
Appiah divulges that some people think that globalization is not good because it intrudes the traditional practices. Coincidentally he wrote this article when UNESCO was trying to drive a convention on the protection and promotion of cultural diversity. The aim was to preserve the cultural identity because globalization posed risks of imbalances between rich and poor countries. It was feared that the native culture might be suffocated by the western culture. However, the same UNESCO asserted the importance of a universal free flow of ideas and freedom of expression as well as human rights (Appiah 1). This argument presented two approaches to globalization, and neither could be taken without hurting the other. For example in most cases, protection of culture would compromise the welfare of individuals. In support of the protection of the individual Appiah indicated that he thought the right approach started by taking individuals and not nations, tribes or peoples as the proper object of moral concern. His argument is that people should be allowed the right to choose what they deem important and what they do not value. Therefore, people need to be more truthful to themselves so that they can experience different goods and services from other cultures. This calls for people to adapt to new influences and use them to suit their needs well. There is more accessibility to effective medicine, clean water, and schools otherwise without them; the condition is deplorable (Appiah 2). The situation where people do not have access to effective modern medicine because they want to preserve the ancient practice of visiting witchdoctors is unacceptable.
Culture is very dynamic and is a continuous process that gives a society a sense of identity, dignity, security, and togetherness. Some people like the change while others reject it. Some people feel their identity is being threatened when the world around them changes. Appiah points out how globalization has positively changed the Ghanaian way of life since cocoa farmers benefit economically from the global consumption of chocolate. Cocoa is an economical identity and a source of livelihood for the Asante farmers, and it is facing a threat from the global economic recess. A fall in the prices of chocolate will force these farmers to find a new crop or new forms of earning their livelihood. Some farmers will be excited by this new venture while others will be troubled about it. He quickly observes that there is no need to be troubled because globalization has also opened up new opportunities for the younger generations who depended on a piece of land given by their maternal clan to feed, clothe and educate the children. The land and the responsibilities were expected to be passed next generation, and the cycle went on and on (Appiah 2).
Young people can now leave home in search of employment so that they can be able to sustain themselves because unlike before when cocoa prices were good, their families may not be able to feed, clothe and educate them all. The days of successful family farming are dimming because the prices of cocoa have failed to keep pace with the cost of living. It makes Asante farmers sad to see the economic activity they once identified with go with American family farmers are whose lands are accumulated by giant agribusinesses (Appiah 2). In this scenario, globalization leads to lose of livelihood for the traditional farmers while to the young people it brings job opportunities in the nearby cities. Therefore, children cannot be stopped from leaving in order to protect the authentic culture that does not make bring the much-needed economic benefits.
Appiah states that it is good to help people preserve the arts they want to keep so that people of different generations can learn the traditional way of life through preservation of such artifacts. He cites an example of the Ghana National Cultural Center in Kumasi is a place where one can go and learn traditional Akan dancing and drumming. Such valuable cultural artifacts should be preserved (Appiah 3). Appiah argues that the main problem in preserving these cultural artifacts is that people in many communities are too poor to live the life they want to lead. He also gives an example of Zao people in Vietnam who really want to dress traditionally but...