You hit on the theme I see everywhere: individuals from different 'groups' can bond and share their stories as equals, but zoom out to a whole community and it divides in unequal ways. It is as though the human brain is still operating at a prehistoric tribal level when confronted with an amorphous 'other'.
In the past, I always condemned tribalism. But I now have seen it first hand from the perspective of marginalized people. And suddenly, it is a more complicated judgement. So maybe it is OK to live side-by-side but without trying hard to build bridges? So at least you have your own people watching your back? But when I ask myself that question, I instinctively move against it. Still much to figure out.
Like you, I have wondered about this. I think it works fine for different groups to coexist but function apart as long as resources are available. The big problem is in times of scarcity. That is when the bad stuff happens.
You hit on the theme I see everywhere: individuals from different 'groups' can bond and share their stories as equals, but zoom out to a whole community and it divides in unequal ways. It is as though the human brain is still operating at a prehistoric tribal level when confronted with an amorphous 'other'.
In the past, I always condemned tribalism. But I now have seen it first hand from the perspective of marginalized people. And suddenly, it is a more complicated judgement. So maybe it is OK to live side-by-side but without trying hard to build bridges? So at least you have your own people watching your back? But when I ask myself that question, I instinctively move against it. Still much to figure out.
Like you, I have wondered about this. I think it works fine for different groups to coexist but function apart as long as resources are available. The big problem is in times of scarcity. That is when the bad stuff happens.