This writing is in response to a controversial post made by a former Tribe Steem Up Member. I have decided not to mention him personally in this post because it doesn't really matter who said what, but rather the sentiment and logic that I wholeheartedly contest and challenge! The view that was taken in this post is quite common and one that is shared by an increasing number of people in Europe and around the world. I believe this viewpoint to be utterly flawed and demonstrates to me symptom of a greater problem. So i would like to take this opportunity to give my opinion and I’m sure the opinion of my other brothers and sisters who are a part of Tribe Steem Up. There are 8 pillars of Tribe Steem Up and I believe that the ideas and values I discuss today embody the spirit of these principals very well. Let me explain!

The post that was written was quite strongly worded, and was effectively centered around immigration and the mixing of cultures, in particular from Asia, Africa and countries with political or economic instability. The sentiment of this post put the blame of many problems in the world onto the immigrants, and also generalised everyone into categories of being a rapist, or a thief, purely based on their ethnicity! I don't like generalisations at the best of times, and taking them to the extremes of saying that an entire culture behaves one way or another is simply ludicrous and ignores the incredible talent and intelligence of people who come from afar with their own unique backgrounds. Many points were raised about how mixing cultures is doomed to failure because they clash in ways that are very inconvenient, and gave examples like the noise from Muslim Temples call to prayer, or that they lead to conflict etc.

I would like to answer SOME of the points made in this post, but also share with your a very different perspective that really tackles the real issue head on!

I would like to start by speaking about our ever increasing global population and climate change. Whilst our best scientists try to evaluate and predict the future of our climate, the truth is that no one knows for sure exactly what is going to happen to our climate in the next 20-100 years! Whatever the cause, there is a great possibility that our planet is going to see rains and floods as well as extreme temperature changes that make cause terrible destruction and displacement of millions if not billions of people. We do not know for sure, but this scenario is most defiantly on the cards! We live in a globally connected world, and we have now reached the point where borders and distance no longer matter in the way they used to. Our cultures are mixing both through the digital ecosystem as well as physically as people relocate around the world more than ever before. If there is an environmental disaster, we have to be ready to accept the consequences of that, and stand by our fellow brothers and sisters.. whoever they are and wherever they came from. It is our duty as human beings to have each others back in times of crisis. If Europe were to be wiped out by a freak storm, or nuclear power station meltdown we would surely do the same as immigrants do today. Escape a situation that is oppressive or dangerous and find a new home that you can live peacefully according to your own values and ideas.

Diversity is a great thing! Nature has learned to broaden her genetic diversity as far as possible through evolution and the creation of all animals, plants and life that we know of. Nature has learned that having as much genetic diversity as possible gives the best possible chance of survival of a species and of life because when there is a problem you are more likely to have something with a slight difference that allows them to endure or survive it. We know that inbreeding causes genetic weakness and often very serious health issues within a few generations. Mixing our genetic pool is a very good thing for us in terms of strengthening our Biological make-up and long term survival odds. That is just the Biological side of course. It is also true that mixing our cultures is extremely good for our overall knowledge and understanding of the world. There is nothing like bringing in a new perspective to a situation, and it can and often does give rise to better results because of the diversity in skills, knowledge and experience. It is worth noting that the CEO and leader of one of the Biggest companies in the world, Google, is Indian! The leader of Microsoft is also Indian! These people come from VERY different background than the average CEO does, and their position in these companies is testimony to what value they bring to the country they are now in.

So let it not be understated that there are too many people, yes some dubious characters, and some desperate and needy people .. but all need and deserve support, and let it be said that there are also highly intelligent and even wealthy people who are also immigrants in Europe and the west and have a LOT to share and give to the world. Many of them have lived and been in oppressed regimes or extreme poverty for their whole lives and have only dreamed of the opportunity to be able to speak freely and life a normal life without oppression and violence.

I would like to answer one point that was made in the post:

"The problem with multiple cultures is that differences lead to even more conflict in the nation! A nation that is divided is weak and easy to control, I really don't know why the elites are doing this, they have enough money and power.

"Can you imagine being a 2nd class citizen in your own country while migrants get more rights and help from society than you do?"

I have noticed a disturbing trend over the past few years, and this point touches on it. Whilst it may be true that nation that is divided is weak and easy to control you can easily argue the point in the other way. A subdued and passive society is even easier to control because they are just pacified and do as they are told. A divided nation speaks out, has demonstrations and riots and can become quite unruly very quickly. That is just a small point though. My main point here is that there is some illusion that the problem lies in us having differences and it is too hard to live with one another and too many conflicts due to our cultural differences. Let me ask you something.... If you are having a great month and are feeling really happy have you noticed how your perspective of everything changes? Have you noticed how things that may have annoyed you previously suddenly don't seem to touch you? Have you noticed how you want to give and share and help others when you yourself are doing well and feeling good? Have you noticed how deep down you can find great commonality and connection with people from any part of the world? Have you noticed how your mood effects your whole view of the world and perspective? Welcome to being human!

Build a wall too big and you will limit and isolate yourself!

Let me tell you I have noticed this very clearly, and herein lies the answer. People complain about 'them taking our jobs', and yet it's our government who fail us, not the population. It is our Governments who rape our society and leave the door open to immigrants to work and live like slaves for peanuts.. jobs that no nationalised people even want to do. It is our Governments who sap every drop of energy and money from the people, until they are desperate and miserable. They are fed a constant barrage of lies and deceit, ruin everything, and leave us to blame one another for our predicament. Let the scapegoat not be the Asians, the Arabs, the Jews, or the Muslims! Let the force of blame for the problems we have in this world lie squarely on the shoulders of those who have the power.

Have you ever watched Big Brother? I used to watch it, and I learned quite a few things whilst doing so! Here's how it goes! You put a bunch of people in a house together from a very diverse range of cultures and background and mix them up in a melting pot, trigger them, mess with them, and generally replicate what happens in the real world but in a small and intense way! As time goes on individuals are removed from the house one by one, until there is only one left. It is usually the person who is most different or unusual that is removed, until we end up with a much smaller group of like minded people. Here's the thing! As we remove the novelty, the individuality, the variety, things get progressively more boring! Spontaneity goes out the window, everyone has the same ideas, thoughts, and things start to get monotonous and boring. There is no one to stimulate the group any longer, and no one to blame for all the problems. As we remove people one by one, things get progressively worse, until at its extreme you are left with one person who is very lonely and bored. That result IS the result of this way of this way of thinking. It may be an extreme example, but I believe it demonstrates the path in which things will take if you follow this path of segregation and homogenisation. Just where do you draw the line, or end the cleansing? It may start with removing one culture but it will continue and permeate every aspect of a cultures behaviour and thoughts. At its extreme it will continue until everyone looks the same, sounds the same, and thinks the same predictable.. what a disaster!

Have you ever noticed how people seem strange when they are strangers? Have you ever noticed how humans are fearful of the unknown? Have you ever gotten to know and made friends with someone who was very different, and you would have never thought you had so much in common with? If you have travelled you will know that we are deep down all the same, but with different backgrounds, values and behaviours. When we are in fear we become disconnected, sceptical, and even paranoid of one another. Those people who have come to the West from afar will no doubt have lived through more fear and suffering that we can ever really understand. When they arrived they knew not exactly how they would be greeted, they only knew that they would be allowed in, hopefully ... if they survived the journey!

We are at the very start of this great shift and movement of people around the planet, and long may it live. I am SURe that if we WERE able to get over our preconceptions of one another and actually make the effort to get to know one another, that great changes will happen. I trust and believe we will get there, especially over a few generations and our cultures adapt. I have personally lived in many places where that happens and it is always very beautiful to see. India is one example of that, especially where i live now in the South of India. Kodaikanal is a beautiful mix of Muslims, Tamils, Europeans, Christians and Jews in a very small town. The temples play their call to prayer every day, and half the shops close for an hour or two when that happens. It all just works very peacefully and beautifully here, because the culture is rich enough to handle it. The tentacles of an oppressive system do not reach here as it does the big cities, where most of the problems lie.. because people live simple lives based on their own values and beliefs, they have a strong family unit and a real sense of community and belonging. When we have these things, we will not be so threatened by others. When WE have a strong enough identity, and are free from oppression ourselves, only then can we see others for who they really are!

 

Conflict is an opportunity for growth and self improvement. Even this conflict with a man who has such different opinions to me is an opportunity for us all to take a step back and think about our values and our ideals. It is an opportunity to crystallise our own thoughts, and to learn and integrate new ideas from others. It brings us the opportunity to proclaim our truth and reassert our values and why we hold them as sacred. Tribe Steem Up is a very diverse group of 200 people from all over the world. Although there are many differences between us, we are also united by our pillars and moral values. These traits are what can illuminate and guide us through murky waters so that we can find our real truth and learn to accept and celebrate our diversity!

We are like children thrashing around on our planet and learning step by step how to evoLve. In evolutionary terms we are still like babies, pooping in our own pants, and grabbing at anything that comes our way, without even understanding the consequences. I would say humanity is about 2 years old in the grand scheme of things ... and they don't call it the terrible two's for nothing! Although the changes may seem slow to us, they are happening and very quickly! We don't have to look back far at ALL to see things like REAL public segregation and slavery happening in the USA, apartheid in Africa, Nazi Communism in Germany, any many more besides! If we can take a step back and see things from a broader timeline we can actually see that we are making great strides toward unity and wholeness. The path may be long, and require great perseverance, patience, and none violent communication, but we are on that path. It may be hard to see when we look at the media, and those in power.. but let us not forget that power is always with the people, and the people are changing! The number of people who are waking up and starting to see the system for what it is, is rising. Our efforts to protecting the environment and all life on this planet are stepping up, and whilst you may not see it on the TV, more and more people are starting to care, and do something about it! We are reaching a turning point on many fronts and issues, and sit on the precipice of a cultural and technological revolution that will sweep through our entire planet over the next 25-50 years.

We can not today imagine what a smart planet could look like, a planet no longer based on money or centralisation of power. We can not imagine it yet, but that is what automation, AI, and technology will bring. Free unlimited energy is just around the corner, and computers are poised and almost ready to take over most jobs that today are performed by reluctant employees (slaves) in order to pay taxes and sustain a meaningless life and existence. The changes that will happen will usher in a new age of creativity and freedom. We will mix more than ever before, as transport becomes ever cheaper, faster, and accessible .. our motivations for our actions will be based on what we want to do rather than having to survive to pay the bills and buy food. So that my brothers and sisters is my vision of the future, and why I believe building walls around ourselves is just a relic of an old patriarchal way of thinking, based on fear and ownership, and serves no other purpose than to scape-goat our real problems onto a minority with no power or responsibility for the state of our countries and economies! That is why I am here on Steemit, heralding the potential of a bright new, decentralised future, in a world where we all share and give and get what we need, free from oppression, free from censorship, and ready to take over the reins from an old paradigm that is no longer fit to serve anyone except a very very very few who currently sit on a peak so high we don't even know who they are!

 

loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu
May All Beings Be Happy

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