It is one of the most common of all convictions that one is born to, and belongs to, the best of nations. The environment of one’s birth becomes one’s country, one’s people and one’s home! We are inclined to frown upon those of another ethnic heritage as “strangers” or “foreigners”, who are assumed less privileged than ourselves without our sense of “belonging”.
In truth, however, the foreigner or stranger feels much the same way about his country of origin, his ethnic heritage, and his relationship with us. He has the same sense of belonging and national pride about his country of birth that we have to ours.
In fact, then it does not matter, contrary to personal belief where one is born. Because of ones growing up in an ethnic environment peculiar to its race and nation, and knowing no other, it is ones only and therefore the very best. That does not stop us, however, from sometimes being attracted to different ways and customs, in particular to “clothing”, finding same fascinatingly exotic – like kimonos, saris, turbans and more “familiar” national costumes ( to mention a few).
Closer contacts with those foreigners or strangers bring one quickly to the conclusion that maybe – under the skin – we are not such strangers after all. Because in understanding and outlook, convictions and opinions, there is a closer affinity present than with many people of one’s own racial or national background.
This being the case, does it matter then, to which nation one is born, apart from the fact that we would prefer personal privileges in the form of material wealth to a country without it. Even though, would one care if one did not know any different?
We are conditioned by our circumstances of birth to look upon “foreign strangers” with reserved distrust and often harsh criticism for being ethnically different from ourselves, and we consequently “keep our distance” if they are among us. The next generation, however, will ethnically make them “one of us”, because of their new environment of upbringing, with all its customs and traditions, they know no other. Will we then overcome the awareness of the perhaps still prevailing colour of their skin, or accept them as one of us and reserve any further reservations?
With the influx of such newcomers and they’re becoming one of our nation, do we realise that we, through mixed, and resulting offspring, become a new and “other” race, influenced by entirely new blood and genes?
If skin colour and features are only difference as the possibility of the mental and spiritual “closeness” has already verified, its such a slight deviation from what our development would have been otherwise, really so important?
It is not such a frightening experience if one considers the ultimate future outcome, when we are all much the same and unconditionally accept and, hopefully, love one another as one heart and soul of a nation.
Author: Y.A. Eden (1928-2018)