TRIBALISM: the Good, the Bad, the Beautiful, & the Ugly

The following is from the soon-to-be-published book, The Beginning of the Path to Human Extinction, and HOW TO GET OFF IT - Notes on a Paradigm Shift.

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Ever since the beginning of Homo sapiens, we have adhered to the concept of tribalism. Even today, it’s a way of life among humans. It’s a philosophy and practice which more often than not provides solidarity, cooperation within the “tribe”/group, security, purpose, friendship, shared values, and stability. Modern-day tribes are numerous and varied. They are found in the arenas of religion, Race, ethnicity, economics, philosophy, nationhood, regionalism, vocation, academics, science, politics, ideology, and on & on. Often they overlap to one degree or another. A person easily can belong to more than one tribe. It appears, though, usually there’s one which is the most influential in a person’s life, and that can vary substantially from person to person. With any one person, it also can vary during different stages of an individual’s life. Unfortunately, there’s also a dark side to tribalism.

Hypothesis: one of the main causes of our social ills is the dark side of tribalism – intolerance of other groups, and arrogance relative to the virtues of one’s own group. Especially when members of any “tribe” feel threatened, those aspects spring forth. It may result from a perception or misperception that the group’s culture is slipping away or being assailed by some other faction. Prejudice follows, and discrimination. Social disharmony follows. Uncivil and unethical behavior follow. Sometimes, violence results. Intolerance and arrogance disrupt society in innumerable ways.

What can be done about it? What’s the solution to the problem? For centuries, probably for a few millennia or more, enlightened people have been trying to promote this idea: the most important human group we all belong to is Homo sapiens. [Not only that, but the most important planetary group we’re in is the Web of Life.] Relative to their efforts, some progress has been made… but not enough. One even could argue that for the last fifty years or so, we’ve been regressing.

For us to survive and thrive as a species, every one of us should look deep within and make a herculean effort to overcome intolerance. Such would involve countering the indoctrination we may have received from parents, other family members, friends, groups, institutions, and the like which has shaped our worldview. Entertain this probability, or at least, this possibility: in general, we humans have become a massive number of specialists in various ways. Apparently, to some degree we’ve lost the ability to think comprehensively about each other and our habitat. That seems to have resulted in many people developing a fear of losing their way of life, their culture. Intolerance grows in such a scenario, perhaps even hate.

For all their good works and best intentions, even religions at times exacerbate the situation. All across the spectrum, political groups often do the same. To be an ethical human, one has to look deeper than the surface of institutions and their ideologies. There’s a fine line between “truth” and opinion. Even some theoretical physicists have stated: we humans barely have scratched the surface of Reality. We don’t know nearly as much as we think we do. Question everything.

Bottom line: intolerance and arrogance increase the chances of a miserable human future, and ultimately, human extinction. That’s a well-founded opinion. In your own life, be rid of the dark side of tribalism. Then humans and the entire Web of Life have a great chance to flourish.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

The Tragic State of Affairs in the USA

Preface
As a wizened old man who has had (& continues to have) a most interesting life, I find my thoughts below to be not only tragic, but comical as well.  I first developed a keen interest in American politics with the election of Ike in 1956.  So, point being:  I've lived through quite a variety of Presidents and members of Congress.  Compared to those of the past, most of the current national office holders in DC don't seem to be at all interested in representing the will of the People...all the People, not just 25% of the population.  The politicos of today are beyond the pale in a way that's darkly hilarious.  For whatever reasons, they see little to no cause to hide the fact that they are Plutocrats/Oligarchs leading us down the path to NeoFeudalism.  It's astounding...and comical.
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Here's why the USA is in dire straits, in no order of importance---

1.  The Powers-That-Be apparently have convinced the population that Debt doesn't matter...especially Gov't Debt.  The Repubs (& some Dems) plus the current Oval Office Occupier have increased our National Debt by about two trillion dollars in only two years.  And I thought Dubya Bush and Obama were bad in that regard.  Ha!  Public and private debt here is at record levels.  Corporate debt is beyond incredible.  The Debt Bubble is the mother of all bubbles, and all bubbles burst.

2.  Despite what the Gaslighter in the Oval Office claims, our GDP is decreasing.

3.  Trump continues his childish, ridiculous Gaslighting.  Most of us simply are bored with it, but many (maybe most) of his supporters still take him at his word, or worse, if he's proven wrong beyond any doubt (which happens often) about something, they don't care.  Not only is that potentially dangerous, I find it to be hilarious.  They don't care that (as the old joke goes) the lunatics are running the asylum.  Go figure.

4.  Whether inadvertently or purposely, the White House Crew and The Don are encouraging both lawlessness and racism in our Land.

5.  Encouraged by the Fed Gov't and deregulation, as well as by Propaganda, our Bubble Economy is bubbling on.  If you look at the time intervals between the Booms & Busts from the severe Recession of 1973-1975 up to present day, you'll see that we're overdue for the next Bust.  Unfortunately, the public and private Powers-That-Be seem to have convinced most Americans that's not true, that it's all under control now, that the economy "is booming"...no worries they say.  The Gaslighter-in-Chief is especially adamant about that.  Please, are you kidding us, or simply lying to us?  I find it comical that anyone believes it's all under control, and the economy is doing great.

6.  The median income of workers here is now $32,791.  So, half the workers in the USA make less than that...HALF.  That doesn't sound like the richest country in the world to me.

7.  Trump has alienated all of our Allies in the world except for the few who essentially are dictators, such as the Leaders of Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, the UAE, & Brazil...maybe another one or two, can't recall.  This is not good for us or the world.

8.  Our Two-Party System in politics is rotten to the core.  It's oligarchical in nature, and its practices rarely represent the will of the People.  Not long ago, a Princeton study found that politicians ignore that will 70% of the time.

9.  Our Gov't has managed to institute a State of Perpetual War.  The crazy idea that we are the police of the world is now taken as a given by most Americans.  Never mind that most of those actions are utterly unconstitutional, and many violate International Law.

10.  In most cases, the protections of the Fourth Amendment are totally ignored by Gov't in this day & age...all in the name of "safety".  Who's keeping us safe from those who violate the Constitution?

11.  Too many Americans no longer seem to understand the difference between nationalism and patriotism.  The former engenders arrogance and superiority; the latter engenders responsibility.  Trump and Crew promulgate nationalism.

12.  For this next point, I'll exaggerate a bit.  Exaggeration often drives home a valid point.  More and more, Americans appear to be dividing up into "tribes", so to speak.  Whether political, or religious, or economic, or cultural, or something else, these tribes often are less & less tolerant of each other than in much of the past... and more & more self-righteous.  For example, in politics the Left-leaning folks accuse the Right-leaning people of being intolerant, self-righteous, etc.  In fact, though, the Left side of the spectrum also is intolerant---of the Right side---and, self-righteous about it.  What's tragic and comical about that whole situation is that neither side thinks it's that way.  It's only the "other side" who demonstrates those failings.

13.  Finally, all across the political spectrum here in the USA, people are gulping down the Edward Bernays style Propaganda Kool Aid coming from Corporatists and Plutocrats as if there will be no tomorrow.  Certainly not everyone is, but most are.  That's the primary reason that we are in today's tragic situation.  It's not only a tragedy; it's a cosmic comedy.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well