Othering

When I look around me, it seems “othering” has become

An all-pervasive, grave problem that must be overcome

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In a hyperconnected world we should have been more unified

Instead, the rise of social media has our differences magnified

How are we regressing towards being tribalistic

Our progressive civilization is acquiring traits atavistic

Intuitively I would think a shrinking world would mean

Greater exposure to cultures previously unseen

Which you’d think would lead to differences being erased

Instead, every day new differences are being raised

Each group sticks to its point of view

fervently

The opposite viewpoint people are not willing to see

This othering of those outside one’s group had become

A highly charged global, universal phenomenon

*

Of harboring thoughts of othering, I too am guilty

Though my ideal self would like the world to be one big family

I must learn to examine and recognize

My own unconscious biases and realize

When I start othering people, so that I can stop right there

Changing the paradigm starts by being more aware