*People are not naturally inclined to be in a state of conflict. There are many instances of people around the world getting along really well despite varying cultures, religions and races. However, people tend to grow apart as they grow older. Suddenly we don’t respect our neighbors. We don’t marry outside our race. We don’t invite people over for dinner.
The faces that were once familiar are now the enemy or otherwise something quite close. In these clashes between groups, empathy is seen to dry up and individuality completely vanishes – as does the trust. It is not even a thing among Americans only. Immigrants from far off places of the world find themselves alienated in the US.
This does not just occur in the US but is seen everywhere in the world. People are identity crazed. We have been wired since birth to be inevitably and unconsciously be separated from the ‘other.’ These traits are even seen in animals as they don’t mix within each other either. But do they form perception about each other and act accordingly? Well, we can’t be sure but do they suddenly decide to migrate because of a difference, even after they have lived on the area for many years? Certainly not! It is only possible in the United States of America to feel one with the human race and at the same time, divided between liberal blue states and conservative red ones.
One other thing that divides us from animals is our capacity to change perceptions. This is the only factor that gives us a little hope for a shift towards peace, justice and inclusion. No one imagines, of course, that this will be easy. Violent conflicts are getting worse around the world. But where do we start? It is probably a great idea to improve the communication between people and their community’s police departments. Governments all over the world should also try to train their communities for implicit bias. This treatment is being already tested in some parts of the world.
The very first step of this novel treatment would involve establishing great communication between social activists and the police departments. If the main problem is that the police is being deliberately racist, then approaching the issue with this treatment will bring forth an honest conversation, at the very least. The perception of us (a person considered to probably have a rap sheet) versus them (law-abiding citizens) can only by controlled by this conversational approach.
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