There is a great irony emerging: the United States is becoming that which it stands against.

We are in a war against Islamic terror–a profoundly anti-modernist movement. The basis of this anti-modernism? Tribal culture. My sub-group versus your sub-group, my warlord versus your warlord, my self-contained universe determined to eliminate yours. Cooperation? The enemy of my enemy is my friend–until it’s just the two of us left to fight it out for the ultimate victory.

It is no accident that places where such tribalism has dominated are some of the poorest, most backward places on earth. It is also no accident that places where such instincts have been throttled back–like America, where the “melting pot” mentality held sway for most of our history–societal progress has been monumental.

So why are we trying to become more like them? Why are we so intent, for example, to bring the people of the Middle East together–even as we work intently to divide ourselves by ethnicity, gender, race, religion, economics and politics?

That is not to say everyone should be exactly the same. But there was a time in this country when differences were thought of as something to be reconciled. Now we “celebrate” them. We wear our “otherness” like a proverbial chip on our shoulder, daring someone to knock it off. We demand special rights and privileges for our sub-group, while we attempt to demonize others for doing the same. Those who think everyone should be treated equally are racists, homophobes, bigots, etc. who must be bludgeoned into silence, or “re-educated” into political correctness.

As I write this, the Iraqi government–dominated by Shiites–has voted to re-instate thousands of Sunni Baathists back into government jobs. This historic move towards national reconciliation was pushed by Ammar al-Hakim, the son and heir-apparent to the head of Iraq’s main Shi’ite political bloc. In other words, people who have been mortal enemies are attempting to iron out their differences–despite every tribal instinct honed by both sides for a millennia.

Here in America? Tribalism is in full swing. It’s black against white, straight against gay, Christians against atheists, liberals against conservatives, rich versus poor, etc. etc., take no prisoners, give no quarter. For our political class, winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing, even if it hurts the country. The melting pot? Burning on the ash heap of history.

Does it get more ironic than that?

atahlert@comcast.net

Have PoliticalMavens.com delivered to your inbox in a daily digest by clicking here