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...