Well well well. The London School of Economics alone has a student population hailing from 156 countries, what to speak of London itself. One of the few cities which have witnessed the dark ages, renaissance and are still contemporary in this modern world, London is arguably a pivotal center of economic and political organization, shaping the present and the future of the world today.
And why shouldn't it be so? It carries with it people from all generations, backgrounds, cultures and traditions, bringing with them the virtues and vices from the world over. I call this 'the sea of humanity'.
No matter where you are; peering from the Holborn Station in Central London; being at the eastern end at Heathrow; the so-called Indian town Southall in the west; you will always wonder as to where do all these people come from??? Its a question better not answered for it leads to many other perplexing questions. And if you are and Englishman, then even to frowns and anger, from being perpetually turned into a minority, both ethnic and cultural, in your own backyard.
It seems it is the outcome of the 400 years of one way transmission, which the United Kingdom has been instrumental at, that it has come to be occupied by the so-called 'outsiders'. Having sown the seeds of the English culture and mannerisms across the globe, those who have had been recipients of these imparted lessons, have come to plague this country and particularly London in the last 50 years, and the numbers are continuously rising.
But don't forget here that the sea of humanity refers to much more. It symbolizes the epitome of a cultural bridge that people are constantly crossing. The inter-mingling of sorts, the march towards cross-culturalization, and giving the world a message of the future. It gives a peep into the times to come, a time when cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, geographical and national differences of the inhabitants would be so inter-merged that there will be just one race, the world race. No black, No white, No Asian, No African, No American and No ... . Just one class of people everywhere.
The march to it is already on. The European movement to consolidation, the US attempt to take together its North American counter-parts, the South American organization of sorts, the Asian culmination etc. though all having a common-point of trade interests in them, are potent indicators to where the march is marching towards. A harmonization at a continental level, which will undoubtedly lead to one at the world level.
So this sea of humanity has a message for us; forget the prejudices, join hands towards making the world a better place to be in. Lead the march to a civilization which has no essential traits but one, respect for mankind and tolerance for others. So let us march in our quest for "making this world a better place to live in".
1 comment:
interesting way to look at internationalization and diversification amongst major world centers. But I don't think various nationalities settle in London to "plague" or take revenge on the imperialists, but for several other simpler reasons. For some its a life away from a stronger communistic (strong society) country like the developing world, and for others its the big UK government which is attractive(for example in US ceral government is smaller so there is more individualism, while in UK if u r spirit is not individualistic, its easy to rely on the "social welfare". while for some it might be better prospects of a job, for others it might be just the charm of "living in London." the world race concept is nice but it is, i think, mainly motivated by globalization. With economics ruling all societies, a chinese would talk politely to an indian not because they r both sufferers of third world or any other emotional/historical basis, but merely because he might come across the indian as his next client, employee, business partner etc.. its all about money honey.
Post a Comment