Identity most certainly has been the biggest issue in history. Almost all wars have been the result of identity. As we move forward into the future, our identities get more fractured and complex. If we were to write down all of our identities, we would probably come up with dozens. Our culture dictates that we must have our biggest bonds with those of the same identities. The ones that are different than us are held at a distance with suspicion, at the very least. One of the biggest problems with identity is, it’s dynamic, and for some it changes every day. We question ourselves and others constantly in a circle of uncertainty. Because it’s dynamic, you will never know all the identities of your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and even yourself. Did your identity change when you moved to a new neighborhood or dated someone new or did you do something that was different than your peers?
The fact is we are human first and that should be the only identity we should really focus on. Engage with people as a human first. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to not fall victim to our biases and prejudices and in all honesty, I think it would be impossible to be free of them but it’s not impossible to be mindful of the complexity of identity. Once you identify with someone on their other identities, you will compare and scrutinize theirs as well as yours till eventually unfair assumptions will be made. If you feel that someone is a threat to you because of their identity, deal with the threat and not the identity. Any threat that is immediate and putting you in danger at the moment is different than what your perception of a future threat based on identity is. Remind yourself you are a human first, as is everyone else.