Partial Cosmopolitanism in Southall
- Emily Freeman
- May 18, 2019
- 3 min read
Cosmopolitanism, as explained by Kwame Anthony Appiah in the introduction to his book, Cosmopolitanism, is essentially the idea that we are “citizens of the cosmos,” that we are all one human race rather than different communities within and among other communities (Appiah xiv). Cosmopolitans paint a picture of a world without boundaries, its citizens without particular loyalties that separate them from each other. However, this view can sometimes be taken too far, in that you begin to disregard the people and loyalties closest to you for the sake of loving and accepting all of humankind. Thus, Appiah presents another term, partial cosmopolitanism, which is essentially the middle ground between strict cosmopolitanism and nationalism. The partial cosmopolitan appreciates the value both of having local ties and loyalties, and of acknowledging their obligation to serve, know and understand the human race. As I understand it, partial cosmopolitanism is the ability to find a healthy balance between accepting and seeking to understand other cultures, while still holding onto and appreciating the value of one’s own culture.
My experience in Southall yesterday was a perfect embodiment of this idea of partial cosmopolitanism. It felt like a practically seamless fusion of several cultures: the Sikh, Hindu, British, and American cultures were the most notable. Although I didn’t know what exactly to expect going into this excursion, Southall definitely was not anything close to my tentative expectation. It felt very much like the rest of London, or even like the town in Stratford-upon-Avon that we saw earlier this week. By that, I mean that the streets and the shops looked very similar to the other streets and shops around the UK. However, it was the people, the food, the languages, and the products that made Southall different from any other place we’d been. The pound store we saw was a great example of this cultural fusion. It felt very much like the dollar stores I’m used to in the US, and yet everything was one pound instead of one dollar. On top of that, the products found in the store were pretty unique. Some products were simply unique to the UK, like the different types of candy, but some were also unique to the Sikh/Hindu culture in Southall. It was also cool to walk the streets and see all the bakeries, sweet shops, and restaurants. The set-up of all these places wasn’t very different from places you might find in the US or elsewhere in London, but the food they were selling was often unlike the food you would find elsewhere. It was a very interesting experience to walk into a sweet shop and not recognize a single food item on any of the shelves and counters. It felt very much like these people had come in to London and brought their culture with them, but had adapted it to fit the British culture, thus creating something entirely new.
The place where I saw partial cosmopolitanism the most was the Sikh temple we visited in the morning. It was very much an example of a group of people coming into a new country and building a huge temple to preserve their own culture, while still maintain an appreciation not only for the culture of their new home country, but also for the cultures of all those who pass through their doors. It was a beautiful experience to walk into this temple and experience a piece of Sikh culture by wearing a headscarf to cover my hair, taking my shoes off, learning about the basics of Sikhism, and partaking of the communal meal prepared for any who wish to partake. What made the experience even more beautiful, was thinking about my own culture and how it overlapped with Sikh culture. In the main prayer hall, the walls and the floors were both white, similar to the overwhelming whiteness of our own temples. I felt a very strong feeling of sacredness and peace while in this room, also reminiscent of the spirit I feel when I’m in the temple. In learning more about the Sikh religion, I was impressed by the emphasis placed on charity, service, and acceptance of all people. I saw this especially with the free communal meal (or langar) that they serve all day, every day, as our tour guide explained to us that they never turn anyone away from this meal. They accept people from all different cultures, classes, and nations. The underlying feeling of partial cosmopolitanism in this type of acceptance of those wishing to partake of your own culture is astounding and beautiful.
-Em
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