The Dangers of Tribalism

In much of the world political identity is defined not by ideology or even religion so much as by tribal identity. It is a matter of clan, family, or tribe. Tribes often have less to do with ethnicity as by certain cultural markers -- language, religion, dialect -- but there is an agreed upon connection that binds them together.
When Kenya, a seeming bright spot in Sub-Saharan Africa, exploded into violence after the recent presidential elections the culprit was identified as tribalism -- as it was in Rwanda. The re-elected president and the defeated challenger are from different tribes. And often tribalism leads to a cycle of revenge related violence. You hurt me or my tribal-member and my tribe will hurt you back.. It is the same principle at work in Mafia and Gang life here, and that is not a good foundation for democratic action.
Our hope is this -- that Kenyans will look beyond tribe to see that together they are stronger than they are apart.

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