Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Tribalism works, just so you know.
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Three ways of looking at someone:
- An individual
- A member of a group
- A member of the larger community (whether it's the nation, or even humanity)
The second category is the most problematic for a democracy for two reasons:
1) It encourages us to think of others as members of a group and not as unique individuals. So George is first and foremost an Asian and not George. Cherryl is first and foremost a woman and not Cherryl. Asha is first and foremost a Muslim and not Asha.
2) While it makes people in the In Group feel stronger and more secure, it also fosters conflict between groups and makes it easier to dehumanize those in the Out Group. Many ostensibly democratic countries are dysfunctional because the population is divided into hostile groups who place higher loyalty on those tribal, ethnic, or religious identities than on their identities as citizens.
And no, that isn't just the complacency of a 'privileged' white male. I first heard that formulation expressed by Neil Bisoondath, a Canadian author of East Indian heritage who is an
outspoken critic of identity politics.