It was a fantastic weekend of sports here in Wales. Wales secured Triple Crown against England at Twickenham, home of English Rugby. Nathan Cleverly defended his boxing title and Cardiff City Football Club, fought courageously and admirably, dignity in defeat against Liverpool in the Carling Cup Final. The romance and passion of being part of something special, brought many in Wales or those associated with Wales together.
Incredibly, even those who don’t normally like rugby or football got into the frenzy. Perhaps, deep within us, we all still have this need to band together. To be part of a strong, enviable tribe, lest we become forgotten. Lest we become insignificant, alienated, shunned or disapproved. A pariah from our own kind.
So, although in a wider context, the passion and enthusiasm of many, helps perpetuate a sense of well-being, belonging and lifts the hopes of a community and/or a nation. The beating of this almost tribal like drum, can also be to the detriment of those who are misunderstood or not accepted . In a way, this brings back memories of awkward and painful memories of schooldays when you are either part of the ‘in’ group or just a nobody. Others talked about you, laughed at you or made you feel a little inadequate for all sorts of reasons. With holding approval was a powerful weapon. Wielded mercilessly.
However, in younger children and young adults, such tribal machinations are more direct. If you are not liked or accepted, no one would share toys with you or would have played with you. As a young adult, you would just not be someone the more savvy ones wanted to hang out with. It would have been painful and without a doubt cruel and perhaps may become a source of personal insecurities that we carry on throughout our adult lives. Not quite knowing or understanding why.
In the adult world, such these machinations have a more sophisticated word. We simply call it ‘politics’. Sometimes, we call it ‘bullying’. All depends on the context of the relationships, the power base and the roles at play. It is as if, there is almost basal nature, where individuals just form little herds. This is us, that is them or the other. People herd together to show support for a cause. The question is, do each and everyone exercise independent thought before subscribing to a common cause ? Or do each just herd because it’s strength in numbers? People also herd together out of ‘joint anger’ or shared misery - self inflicted, swayed by the persuasion of the more influential members regardless of logic or reason or maybe, just enjoys peddling out misery?
Then as the tribe or herd gets stronger, the will of the group just takes on a life of its own and unfortunate for those for whom the tribe herds together to impose their wishes, their demands and expectations. Regardless of any logic or reason that is available to dispel such onslaughts, the battle will be a losing one. The voices of many drowns out the voice of reason of one or the few. No one likes to be labelled a bully, but this can not be anything else when one or a few is up against the voice, the actions or inaction of the many.
It is in the stories of individuals, minorities and the few who have had the courage to stand apart and be true to who they are despite being alienated and unaccepted by others, we find some hope and inspiration for the human spirit.
Perhaps, there’s yet the need to take up refuge from the world and that maybe it is possible to dance to one’s own tribal beat.
Incredibly, even those who don’t normally like rugby or football got into the frenzy. Perhaps, deep within us, we all still have this need to band together. To be part of a strong, enviable tribe, lest we become forgotten. Lest we become insignificant, alienated, shunned or disapproved. A pariah from our own kind.
So, although in a wider context, the passion and enthusiasm of many, helps perpetuate a sense of well-being, belonging and lifts the hopes of a community and/or a nation. The beating of this almost tribal like drum, can also be to the detriment of those who are misunderstood or not accepted . In a way, this brings back memories of awkward and painful memories of schooldays when you are either part of the ‘in’ group or just a nobody. Others talked about you, laughed at you or made you feel a little inadequate for all sorts of reasons. With holding approval was a powerful weapon. Wielded mercilessly.
However, in younger children and young adults, such tribal machinations are more direct. If you are not liked or accepted, no one would share toys with you or would have played with you. As a young adult, you would just not be someone the more savvy ones wanted to hang out with. It would have been painful and without a doubt cruel and perhaps may become a source of personal insecurities that we carry on throughout our adult lives. Not quite knowing or understanding why.
In the adult world, such these machinations have a more sophisticated word. We simply call it ‘politics’. Sometimes, we call it ‘bullying’. All depends on the context of the relationships, the power base and the roles at play. It is as if, there is almost basal nature, where individuals just form little herds. This is us, that is them or the other. People herd together to show support for a cause. The question is, do each and everyone exercise independent thought before subscribing to a common cause ? Or do each just herd because it’s strength in numbers? People also herd together out of ‘joint anger’ or shared misery - self inflicted, swayed by the persuasion of the more influential members regardless of logic or reason or maybe, just enjoys peddling out misery?
Then as the tribe or herd gets stronger, the will of the group just takes on a life of its own and unfortunate for those for whom the tribe herds together to impose their wishes, their demands and expectations. Regardless of any logic or reason that is available to dispel such onslaughts, the battle will be a losing one. The voices of many drowns out the voice of reason of one or the few. No one likes to be labelled a bully, but this can not be anything else when one or a few is up against the voice, the actions or inaction of the many.
It is in the stories of individuals, minorities and the few who have had the courage to stand apart and be true to who they are despite being alienated and unaccepted by others, we find some hope and inspiration for the human spirit.
Perhaps, there’s yet the need to take up refuge from the world and that maybe it is possible to dance to one’s own tribal beat.
