Us and Them

During the holidays, I think of the divisive concept of - us and them. Separatist thinking is very prevalent in our society and the world of today. It is hard to say if this belief in the other, is actually growing stronger or just becoming more salient due to the speed of high-tech communication. Whatever the case may be, separatist thinking in the atomic age is a real threat to us all.

This ideology of loyalty to subgroups within humanity can be seen in various forms: nationalism, regional citizenship (e.g., Oregonian), township, religious affiliation, etc... The identification with these groups and the social identity that is created by this categorization has its function in social structure, but it also has its consequences of social tension and conflict. Some would say - this is just human nature - but I do not see human nature as a static state of being. We exist in a constant state of flux, within our physical, mental, and cultural states of being.

Can we see these social identities for what they are, or do we get so caught up in the identification with these groups that we forget we are all a part of the human group? This may be one of the most important questions that humanity as a whole and we as individuals are facing, in our day-to-day lives. When we link this topic to the earlier discussed concept of separate realities, these social groups can be viewed with a little more objectivity.

I do not think that humanity will ever evolve into one homogeneous culture or society, and I certainly hope that it does not! Cultural diversity is what makes the human species such an amazing phenomenon. It is this diversity, which makes human beliefs and behavior an ocean of case studies for anthropologists and psychologists to spend lifetimes studying.

So, does it come down to tolerance and respect, which will allow us humans to find balance and harmony between our perceived differences? Is tolerance and respect enough, or does there need to be more awareness with respect to the nature of reality and the existence of separate realities?