Tribalism in America Pt I
Tribalism is a closed group held together by extreme loyalty. Each tribe is defined by attributes unique to the members: blood, nationality, religion, crime, politics, money, poverty, skin color, work, wealth, occupation, education, geography, language, nationality, etc.
Tribalism is essential to all organized groups, large or small. Every nation is a tribe. Loyalty is the primary attribute of members of a tribe. Some tribes are egalitarian, some totalitarian, and anywhere in between.
Tribalism is natural. We all like to belong. People join churches, fraternities, sororities, clubs, associations, teams, circles, unions, leagues, guilds, institutions, political parties, corporations, lodges, etc. Without tribalism sports could not survive, colleges could not survive, business could not survive, politicians could not survive.
Some tribes work within the laws but remain separate. Indian tribes are one example. Others are nationalities who remain separate and form cities within cities: Little Italy, China Town, etc.
Broadly speaking every competing group is tribal. States are tribal; Cities are tribal; colleges are tribal, high schools are tribal. We refer to rival schools or rival teams.
Traditionally American politics were divided into two semi-friendly tribes: democrats and republicans. As a general rule, they were fiercely competitive within the tribes but united against the opposing tribe. What was unique in America’s past was that though both parties were independent they worked for the common good and collectively believed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
That is no longer the case in America. Though they have cunningly preserved the names, we no longer have democrats and republicans. Those limp names are dredges of the past and will probably be voluntarily dropped in the near future.
We have one tribe made up of socialists, communists, and Marxists who want to destroy the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the traditional America and replace it with socialism and another tribe made up of conservatives who want to preserve the Constitution and Bill of Rights and balance of power. All democrats and the majority of republicans in Congress primarily belong to the left or liberal tribe. They haven’t yet adopted the name of socialists or Marxists or Communists but only because they are in denial or because it is not yet politically expedient. Bernie Sanders, a devout socialist, is the leader of the party. President Joe Biden and the other acknowledged leaders of the former democratic party, though they avoid the language of socialism—which President Biden refers to as “malarky” they have totally adopted the policies of socialism. The conservative party is made of a few former republicans and some independents. They are an overwhelming minority in Congress and have very little power. The socialists lean toward a one-world government; the conservatives want to preserve our sovereignty.
Tribes are a standard fixture in every government. Tribalism is unavoidable. Tribes came first, government second. Many tribes came to America seeking religious freedom.
Everyone belongs to a tribe; most belong to many tribes. One may belong to a family, a church, a religion, a club, a team, a corporation, a union, etc. The primary difference between a Democratic Republic and Socialism, Marxism, and Communism is that a Democratic Republic respects the rights of individuals and individual tribes while uniting them under a single government.
