Tribes

A meditation on sociology

Some argue for one world,

And the notion sounds nice,

But in truth we're still tribal,

Neither sugar nor spice;

You might say that's awful,

And you're probably right,

But if you land on the wrong turf,

Say not "never" to flight.

Author's Note

The race is still evolving.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I have seen a shift to less tribalism in my FB crowd, which is largely from my high school days in an agricultural area where Trump supporters reign. I so agree with your poem -- even if I can enjoy a jocular comment or two with my Trump-loving friends, I cringe when I read their long exposes describing how great he's been for our country! This dynamic symbolizes the larger tribal feud in this country & I am trying to love our differences, but I can never be of that tribe! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, bg. Originally, tribalism was a survival device. One had to favor his own tribe, for that was his only support. Now, especially with the internet, you can spew all manner of slaters worldwide against those with whom you disagree. That's how ISIS recruits turned up in the US.

[Pete]

true, many tribes in this world. our "new world" seems to be evolving into the very tyranny it was founded to get away from. i am always amazed by how much police behavior and their authoritarian uniforms remind me of the nazis. the more time that passe,s the more we seem to be regressing to that from which we came. never say never. thomas jefferson said, ""That government is best which governs least."

“I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.” “Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government?” “government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. - thoreau

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Pete. All things pass, and hopefully our present crises will do the same.

[Papaya]

Such a wonderful notion but I don't know if we will ever get there.
Not in our lifetime, certainly.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, and I agree. Evolution is one slow sucker.

[Lorry]

Perhaps there will be a day after all, that we finally get the blend right and can see beyond colour, like children before their environment starts pointing out differences to them. I only hope that expanding our knowledge of diversity can someday get us beyond what holds us back as a race, spending a little more time on caring and less on hating the different from us.
I thought we all wanted to be unique anyway. Shows what I know.
One day, hopefully.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Lorry. Tribalism shows itself not only in race, but in class, politics and other ways. The partisan divides that have surfaced over the last few years have had people claiming that those who differ are not only wrong, but evil.

[Chris Shaw]

We are all different, but that doesn't mean to say we can't live together in harmony.. Needs work. A great deal of work. I don't see much improvement. There's always trouble.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Chris. I lived through the turbulent '60's, but I think the current polarization is even worse than it was then.

[CMC]

This is very articulate, and I really like the line "neither sugar nor spice" because it's good imagery that leaves the mind to wander within its own realm of interpretation. It's excellent in conveying the idea that humans are separate and territorial bluntly.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. Sugar and spice comes from an old nursery rhyme. Tribalism was initially an evolutionary development to promote survival. Like anything else, it can be either used or misused.

[Dave Brown]

I like to think we, as a whole world entity, have made a major progression toward world peace/harmony.
For the sake of our offsprings, I hope it continues to improve, but not at the expense of animals, birds, bees, flowers, and trees (except cats)
Lead the way, John

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Dave. You may be right, but malignant tribalism (ISIS, etc.) seems to rear its ugly head regularly.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we are all different...we won't ever be the same...but we can agree to disagree...and live next to each other in peace...I hope.
a thought provoking write here.
j.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, j. "In peace" is the key word of your comment. We still have a way to go on that one.