Us and Them

 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

I have to admit, as I travel, the deeper I dive into the various cultures I'm exposed to, and the more often I hear fellow ex-pats from various nationalities make disparaging remarks about the locals, it's all the more that I appreciate having been born and raised Canadian.  Canada is extremely multi-cultural, and growing up in that environment gives one a sense of community within the world that I've seen sorely lacking on my adventures abroad.  I'm very pained to say that racism is strong and prevalent in the world.  Canada isn't perfect, but at least it gave me a little more understanding and exposure to those somehow different than myself.  When I first started flying helicopters in Canada's North country, I had difficulty understanding the overt animosity I witnessed towards our First Nations people, having spent my youth in a high school that was fifty percent First Nations, as I had many friends from the Six Nations reservation, just up the road.  The remarks were rather silly and nonsensical, folks blaming all sorts of things on "Them".  Us and Them.  It appears to be the human condition to wallow in self pity and to blame "them" for all our woes, to exploit and embellish our perceived differences.  It got worse as I travelled internationally, people feeling very comfortable with our shared skin colour, assuming I understood, voicing their distaste for cultures different than their own, one fellow even showing me the secret KKK sign, so a fellow racist can be identified by the like-minded.  It made me shudder that people actually think this way, but that attitude is not confined to race.  While that attitude is certainly distasteful when applied to racial differences as one has little choice of one's parents, the "us and them" attitude is certainly more acceptable when applied to one's choices, but it's still a plight on the human condition.  Be it visually distinctive race differences, varied religious beliefs, economic standing, political views, favourite sport team, different school, adverse musical taste, or any other stupid inane insubstantial indicator to help one feel superior to his fellow man, to feel part of some community, some pack, like-minded and validated, that aids them in gauging their own worth on this planet, because they are too weak to stand alone.  I'm saddened to say that I understand, even though I don't like it.  It's part of the natural order to want whatever you belong to or believe to thrive, to be correct, and when your culture, or ideals, or beliefs, or way of life, feels threatened in the slightest, it's natural to want to supress those that threaten, or differ.  I don't think it's right, but I understand it.  The more I delve into other cultures, the more I try to really appreciate people for what they have to offer, to see the similarities instead of the differences.  I see us all sharing this time in space, this shared struggle to survive, to work, to provide for one's family, to have some fun, to be happy.  See the similarities and don't be looking for the differences, don't assume that your view, your way of life, your choices, while perhaps right for you, apply to anyone beyond yourself.  I'm frustrated today with my fellow man and hence the rant.  Conversations regarding the locals, their way of life, and a general lack of respect for people born with so few choices, so few opportunities, with so very, very little, infuriates me to no end.  If you open your heart a little, take a step back and see the world, really see it, and the people, and see what we share with one another.  Try to understand.  We often forget that our frame of reference is not the only one.  The arrogance sickens me.  George Carlin said it well; "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"  If you wish to believe that you are the standard by which all others are to be judged, fine, but please, keep it to yourself.