As old as time itself is the game of “divide and conquer.” According to St. Mark 3:24-25, “If a kingdom be divided against itself it cannot stand.” Neither can a house divided against itself stand and most certainly nor can a nation divided against itself. Yet we allow ourselves to become such easy prey by being so easily divided, controlled and subsequently conquered through our multiple prejudices—or “pride” if we chose to dress it up as such. Actually the only difference between the two is who has it! If it’s yours it’s prejudice–if its mine, its pride!
Take for example the term “ethnic purity” which could be considered racial prejudice or racial pride—again depending upon how it is used—and by whom. But then there is masculine pride (or the male ego) that is seldom viewed as prejudice by the sharp-witted yet scornfully labeled “male chauvinism” by others. Ironically many of whom are the same as those who take such pride in their respective sororities and innumerable other all-female business, professional, social, civic and other organizations and affiliates.
Regardless, however of whether it be sex, racial, religious, professional or otherwise affiliated, the same principal applies: “If it’s yours it’s prejudice; If it’s mine, it’s pride!”
Apply this formula to practically every stratum of society and you will have the nucleus of what continues to splinter mankind from personal to international levels. We continue to pit pride against prejudice when in most instances they are actually one and the same. Both could be most accurately defined as, “an emotional commitment to a falsehood or error that no amount of proof is likely to alter!”
Racial pride, regardless of color or race, is just such an emotional commitment, based solely on the circumstance of birth, an unsolicited choice by any of us. How sad to find yet so many who place so much pride in pure inevitability! We can no longer afford to continue along such fruitless paths as such a critical international political and world-health junction in time continues to gain ascendancy!
Our social and religious organizations and institutions have become so fragmented and multiple that some are forced to compete for survival, thus causing their primary purpose to become secondary. We are so people-programmed that we can easily be manipulated like puppets on the strings of greed, egotism, pride and prejudice, any one of which could render sufficient control of us and all of them combined render us completely helpless through self-destruction. Why are these cancerous attitudes and deadly diseases gaining such collective ascendancy? The answer is simple—everyone is trying to erase them in others—either unaware or unwilling to admit common responsibility! Should we not instead do more toward pooling strengths to minimize, if not eradicate weaknesses?
If we were only better at recognizing our own faults and shortcomings, solving our own problems and at taking the expert advice we so freely give to others, this world would be a rose garden! However, the intrinsic necessity of the spiritual revitalization of mankind is contingent upon a complete reassessment of values beginning on an individual basis with honest self-evaluation, self-awareness and self-discipline!
True indeed, “What the world continues to need most is Love ” and Example! Everyone wants to see examples but few indeed are those of us willing to be sacrificial examples¬ no matter how gradual the scale. Just remember: “It is still better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Likewise, that a house (or nation) divided against itself cannot stand.
