XENOPHOBIA
xenophobia | ˌzenəˈfōbēə, ˌzēnəˈfōbēə |
noun: intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries: the resurgence of racism and xenophobia. DERIVATIVES xenophobe | ˈzenəˌfōb, ˈzēnəˌfōb | noun (online dictionary definition)
xenophobia: n. The desire to run like your hair is on fire or egg your neighbor’s car because someone who looks, dresses, eats, or practices a different religion than you moved in down the street. (my definition)
[Sketch from Oxford University Museum of Modern History]
So why the sudden rise in white nationalism across the globe? Apparently, the situation has been decades in the making and it’s not as easy to answer as we had hoped. Princeton sociologist, Robert Wuthnow spend eight years asking this question, interviewing rural Americans across the country, and had this to say:
I think the concerns about moral decline often miss the mark. I think a lot of white Americans in these small towns are simply reacting against a country that is becoming more diverse — racially, religiously, and culturally. They just don’t [know] how to deal with it. And that’s why you’re seeing this spike in white nationalism.
Although Wuthnow didn’t have a hard and fast solution to the problem, he did offer a lot of insight.
Nor do I have a solution, but I will offer this observation. It has long been known in the scientific community that, in general, only the most culturally diverse species make it through eons of evolution. By increasing diversity you make the species more resilient and stable.
Back in the 17th century on the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar, there lived the famed, fanciful and now extinct dodo bird. Over time, because of the abundance of food on the island, the dodo lost the need to fly so it stopped using its wings and evolution, being what is was, the dodo eventually lost the ability to fly. When Dutch sailors appeared in the late 1600’s (first dodo mention was 1598), they began hunting the bird for food, their habitat was degraded and ultimately, invasive species moved in and the dodo was out (last known sighting was in 1662). The bird fell into mythological status until the remains of some specimens were found and scientists were able to determine its actual existence.
I think its important to note a couple of things: the dodo had all its needs met for food and shelter so it didn’t push itself to do things it used to know how to do like fly (important for us as a population growing older — keep doing stuff so you don’t lose your skills, people!), or develop any new skills. When the Dutch sailors arrived with their invasive species, the dodo could not fight them off and also could not run away because the flying thing was but a memory (adversity can sometimes lead to diversity).
Sure, life had been good for a while in their isolation on an island in the Indian Ocean with all the food, water and sunshine they needed, but by failing to diversify and inject some new skills into their lives with a healthy cross-cultural exchange, the dodo was not prepared for the invaders arrival and, as a result, faded into the oblivion.
The (most basic) moral of the story? Embrace other cultures or go the way of the dodo bird.
Today is Day 24 of the #AtoZ blog challenge. Two more days and I’m eXstatic.
pamlazos 4.27.19
Green Life Blue Water 
A lesson we must remember, indeed, especially in times like these. x
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That’s so funny that you are commenting on this as I am just in the process of putting this on Medium! Your psychic!😘
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(taps temple with index finger) I am, mwa ha ha ha! 🙂
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:0) xo
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It just comes down to fear. It’s happening all over this fear and unacceptance of diversity. I have neighbors all around me that think like this. I think these people want to go back to the 1950s. Maybe that’s why they have the slogan, “Make America great again.” The 1950s were not all that good.
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Yes, nostalgia is not always the truth and these people are afraid of the future. I wish people were more curious. Then they would be less afraid. Just like cats!
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Such a good parallel. Beautifully done.
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🙏🙏🙏, Cath.
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Insightful. We’ve been dealing with xenophobia in South Africa in a different way: usually immigrants are hunted, beaten, burned and other atrocities in the townships because they are “stealing” jobs from born South Africans. Sigh. We’ve had flare-ups (I even used it in a book) from time-to-time and sometimes the same tactics are used at Universities about language… Yet, when we bleed, we all bleed red.
Ronel visiting with the A-Z Challenge music and writing: Covers of My Favourites
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Oh my, that makes my stomach hurt, Ronel. 😩
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Perfect example of the fate of the dodo bird, Pam! Diversity brings new skills, new ways of doing things, new life. Continuity.
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Yes, Rosaliene – new life!
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Very true what you say Pam and the same day you wrote this post, we have had still another senseless shooting in a synagogue in Poway, California on the last day of Passover.
On a happier note, I have no doubt you are eXstatic to be done – it’s a long haul!
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Senseless is the right word, Linda. 😞
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I “like” this to acknowledge your answer Pam, but every day there is something else horrific in the world that leaves me shaking my head.
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😞 I know.
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Very insightful, and true. The opposite of accepting and encouraging diversity and inclusivity is of course inbreeding, which is always ultimately a disaster for a population, and seems like a physical manifestation of the deadening effects of xenophobia.
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Hopefully our eyes will be opened, Mari. 😍
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Perfect analogy with/to? the dodo Pam. Also people are not happy about change and embracing anything new, finding familiarity in the same old. Xenophobia is real concern here in SA – we have Zimbabweans, Malawians, Nigerians and many others crossing borders to come here and our locals do. not. like. it. Their ‘retaliation’ is very worrying and your post helps me to see this in a wider way ..
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It’s a global problem – everyone afraid of everyone else. It’s crazy, right, Susan?😩
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