A cosmopolitan at UK looks just like you or I, that is the problem, it could be anyone of us, and one can not distinguish who is an counter-cosmopolitan until it is too late. A counter-cosmopolitan is one who appears open to acceptance, seems to want harmony among all individuals, and wants to connect with strangers. What a great person you say, it sounds as though they are trying quite hard to bridge the gaps between social interaction. But this is a fallacy, although they are eager to converse, they are in reality trying to convert their acquaintances to share the same beliefs as them. This is quite a blow to cosmopolitanism, because instead of being open to discuss beliefs of others, they are immediately in the mind set of proving the opposition wrong right from the get go. It is important to be aware of these people and their manipulations in the real world, maybe it is ok to listen to what they are saying, but one should also get the chance to respond with their own thoughts.
This next issue, the one that "people don't matter" is a tough one. We have spoke of this in class before, the question of "when is a cultural practice just too much to bear?". On one hand, we don't want to ruin their beliefs, but on the other, if we disagree with those beliefs, we feel as though they should be stopped. There is a line drawn between these judgments, and I'm not certain of where that line stands. One must really reflect and think about what should be universally important, such as the suffering of an individual. I for one think this is never ok, and if in theory(or maybe in practice) there is a culture out there that ritualistically tortures people, I think this should be stopped. Just because it is their custom doesn't make it right. However, one could flip this on its end, and say that maybe I am not right...who knows, it all comes down to subjectivity and what you believe in. On one end, we might say it is not our place to interfere, but on another, the one that obliges itself to the feelings of other people, we say that practices must be stopped.
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Got to watch out for those counter-cosmopolitans huh.. lol. I agree with u that torture within other cultures isnt good, and goes against one of my values, but it is especially hard for an outsider to go into a culture and say i think its wrong.. stop. I think there are just some things are just hard for one to intervene, like against a strong ritual other culture have. But nice blog :)
-Reecie
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