Us vs. Them

We are 99.9% the same at the level of our DNA. Yet one of the most powerful and damaging legacies of the .1% illusion is the habit of dividing the world into “us” and “them.”

This mental sorting — once a survival reflex — has become the most pronounced manifestation of genetic discrimination. It turns tiny, adaptive differences into imagined boundaries, and imagined boundaries into real harm.

An Ancient Reflex

In small, early human groups, quickly sorting friend from stranger could mean survival. Any marker — accent, clothing, ritual — could signal belonging or danger. This in‑group/out‑group reflex was once adaptive, but in today’s interconnected world, it often misfires, turning harmless differences into imagined threats.

How Division Scaled

  • Stories and Myths: Narratives that glorified “us” and diminished “them.”
  • Institutions: Empires, states, and religious authorities codified hierarchy.
  • Pseudoscience: The invention of “race” to justify power and exploitation, mislabeling tiny genetic variations as destiny.

When “Us vs. Them” Leads to War

Throughout history, the “us vs. them” mindset has fueled countless conflicts. Sometimes the dividing line was drawn along religious beliefs — wars fought against those outside one’s faith. Other times it was language, culture, or ancestry. But historians note that beneath these banners, the most common drivers of war have been resources, territory, and power[source].

Religion and ideology can intensify the divide, making it easier to rally people to fight. Yet the root mechanism is the same: defining a group as “them” and believing their loss is our gain.

The Mechanics of Division

  • Dehumanization: Language and imagery that strip away empathy.
  • Fear and Scarcity: Zero‑sum thinking that frames others as threats to survival.
  • Repetition: Hearing the same falsehood until it feels familiar — and therefore “true.”
  • Isolation: Physical or social separation that keeps stereotypes intact.

Widening the Circle

History also shows that “us” can expand. People change when they meet as equals, work toward shared goals, and hear each other’s stories. Truth‑telling repairs reality. Fair rules restore trust. Culture teaches new defaults — belonging instead of suspicion.

  • Humanizing Contact: Cooperative goals with equal status.
  • Shared Truth: Public acknowledgment of harm and its causes.
  • Fair Rules: Rights, representation, and accountability for all.
  • Culture and Story: Art, education, and rituals that reinforce unity.

Invitation to Act

The “us vs. them” reflex is the most visible way the .1% illusion takes hold — but it is not inevitable. We can notice it, name it, and choose to dismantle it. Healing from genetic discrimination means replacing false boundaries with shared truth.

  • Personal: Map where “us” ends in your life. Add one relationship across that line.
  • Community: Build projects with mixed teams and shared wins.
  • Civic: Support policies that expand participation and fairness.

Imagine if the circle of “us” expanded to include everyone alive today — over 8 billion human beings. In that truth, there is no “them.” The resources we fight over would be seen as shared, the security we seek as mutual, and the future we build as belonging to all of us. This is the 8‑billion‑plus person truth: our survival and thriving depend on recognizing that humanity is one family.

See also: Myth of Biological Race · Acceptance of Truth · Healing (coming soon)