There's
a DNA basis for it. When the brain's grey matter became just a bit
more convoluted than that of a reptile, many life forms began to
cluster together, and resist integration of unknown critters from
other clusters. Herds, packs, coveys, clutches, family groups,
flocks, among other things formed, which ensured continuation of
successful arrangements of DNA.
Rumor has it that man originated in Africa, and in all probability, was of uniform melanin content and roughly similar appearance. Then survival based, DNA mediated tribalism, once an expedient means to preserve the lives of families, became a major factor in how societies formed. The more cohesive family groups were, the more successful they were in passing this tribal predisposition on.
Small groups of humans became ever larger groups, inevitably finding themselves competing with other groups for resources. Then it was no longer, "we humans," but "us" and "them." Eventually groups of humans, as a result of, or to avoid conflict, or maybe to find happier hunting grounds began to spread across the globe.
Different environments led to physical changes in those who lived there. This made it easier for one group of humans to point to another and say "They ain't us!" The tribal DNA gene said, "We don't like 'em and don't want 'em around!" By extension it was reasoned that "Because they ain't us, we're bettern' dem!"
The tribal gene remains able to strongly yet insidiously influence our perceptions. It's often said, we should trust our instincts, or our "gut feelings." We mistake them for intuition, and even in the absence of any valid rationale, we look for and find "proof," that our instincts were correct.
Anyone who has worked in teams, groups, or even on different scheduled working shifts, in all probability has observed some degree of resentment, competitiveness, or perceived difference in level of virtue in the members of other groups. At the same time, humans generally have a strong desire to "fit in" to a group, and will adopt attitudes that reinforce alliance with a group.
So, if we all looked like either star-bellied or non-star-bellied sneetches (of Dr. Seuss fame, we would still figure out some basis for feeling better or more deserving than other sneetches, perhaps because they lived in green as opposed to brown houses, drove Fords instead of Toyotas, or some damn thing. Maybe shorter sneetches would feel oppressed by the taller ones. Anyway, a number of sneetch/humans would come up with some kind of socially unjust system.
This elemental tribalism manifests as racism, elitism, rationalized greed, oppression, etc.
It may be too difficult to unravel tribalism from our psyche. We can declare its usefulness to be obsolete, but it won't get rid of the associated urges.
Consider however, that these urges can be redirected in a more positive way. Encompass everyone as part of a single tribe. It takes conscious effort in the beginning, but eventually feels quite natural.
I've had the good fortune to live and work in a community where I was very different in appearance from those around me, and in a culture I initially knew nothing about. I got around to forgetting that I was "different," even when others made it clear that my presence was unexpected. I came to accept such reactions without giving it much thought.
I have seen many who are "different" blend sweetly into diverse groups.
There is hope for us!
Rumor has it that man originated in Africa, and in all probability, was of uniform melanin content and roughly similar appearance. Then survival based, DNA mediated tribalism, once an expedient means to preserve the lives of families, became a major factor in how societies formed. The more cohesive family groups were, the more successful they were in passing this tribal predisposition on.
Small groups of humans became ever larger groups, inevitably finding themselves competing with other groups for resources. Then it was no longer, "we humans," but "us" and "them." Eventually groups of humans, as a result of, or to avoid conflict, or maybe to find happier hunting grounds began to spread across the globe.
Different environments led to physical changes in those who lived there. This made it easier for one group of humans to point to another and say "They ain't us!" The tribal DNA gene said, "We don't like 'em and don't want 'em around!" By extension it was reasoned that "Because they ain't us, we're bettern' dem!"
The tribal gene remains able to strongly yet insidiously influence our perceptions. It's often said, we should trust our instincts, or our "gut feelings." We mistake them for intuition, and even in the absence of any valid rationale, we look for and find "proof," that our instincts were correct.
Anyone who has worked in teams, groups, or even on different scheduled working shifts, in all probability has observed some degree of resentment, competitiveness, or perceived difference in level of virtue in the members of other groups. At the same time, humans generally have a strong desire to "fit in" to a group, and will adopt attitudes that reinforce alliance with a group.
So, if we all looked like either star-bellied or non-star-bellied sneetches (of Dr. Seuss fame, we would still figure out some basis for feeling better or more deserving than other sneetches, perhaps because they lived in green as opposed to brown houses, drove Fords instead of Toyotas, or some damn thing. Maybe shorter sneetches would feel oppressed by the taller ones. Anyway, a number of sneetch/humans would come up with some kind of socially unjust system.
This elemental tribalism manifests as racism, elitism, rationalized greed, oppression, etc.
It may be too difficult to unravel tribalism from our psyche. We can declare its usefulness to be obsolete, but it won't get rid of the associated urges.
Consider however, that these urges can be redirected in a more positive way. Encompass everyone as part of a single tribe. It takes conscious effort in the beginning, but eventually feels quite natural.
I've had the good fortune to live and work in a community where I was very different in appearance from those around me, and in a culture I initially knew nothing about. I got around to forgetting that I was "different," even when others made it clear that my presence was unexpected. I came to accept such reactions without giving it much thought.
I have seen many who are "different" blend sweetly into diverse groups.
There is hope for us!
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