Unfortunately, we do not get to decide what everyone thinks. You say that there should not be a "'them' and 'us'," but some people decide that their "us" must oppose even to the death "them." That is what the Nazis thought, and acted on. Lots of folks have exclusivist cultures: Christians traditionally did, communists did and still do, and Muslims did and still do. If you are on the "them" receiving end, do you let yourself be rolled over, or do you defend yourself?
What a beautiful essay!
Unfortunately, we do not get to decide what everyone thinks. You say that there should not be a "'them' and 'us'," but some people decide that their "us" must oppose even to the death "them." That is what the Nazis thought, and acted on. Lots of folks have exclusivist cultures: Christians traditionally did, communists did and still do, and Muslims did and still do. If you are on the "them" receiving end, do you let yourself be rolled over, or do you defend yourself?