In every way I hear you. And I wish it were different, but this goes to the heart of what I have often written elsewhere: the human race suffers from two great and insidious addictions which overwhelm all else:

1. The need to be right

2. The need to be superior

You know precisely what I mean. These two sicknesses inform all our shit, our hate, our -isms, wars, cruelty, slavery, abuses, our vicious wielding of religion as a justification to do harm to anyone who isn't one of "us," whoever the fuck "us" happens to be.

Which is why I am no fan of religion, nor am I a fan of much of anything that anyone can weaponize to justify doing harm.

I hear you. I have no answers. But I will share a quick story. This time last year I was in Central Kenya, exploring the Ol Pejeta Conservatory. I was writing stories about what they were doing in the local Kikuyu farms and communities that surrounded the conservatory. I spent time with farmers, and children in the schools, and patrol guards and those training the dogs to catch poachers, and the horse guides.

Not long ago I was on the phone with a woman whose accent was very close to what I recalled from that time. I ventured to inquire, and she recoiled. When I calmed her down, and explained my interest, she relaxed. Turns out she wasn't Kikuyu, but her tribe was one of many living very close by and intermingling with the Kikuyu, so the language was very similar. She was as delighted as I was to share some information about her homeland, and my great pleasure in having explored it. Most people who have moved to America from Africa do not know Americans who have been to and appreciate their homelands. It's my consistent experience that this is a source of great pleasure, not only that I have seen where they are from but I have also fallen in love with the place.

While I am well aware of the issues you identify and am fully aware of what it will take for any of us to bridge the great divides informed by ignorance and unreasonable hate and judgement, I remain committed to operating from a place of openness, sharing and acknowledgment. I try to find other ways to create the question, because the end product is worth it. Every connection made is worth while. For when I stop looking to connect out of concern or fear of connecting I become part of the problem at the other end of the spectrum. That doesn't serve either. Of course I know it's a loaded question. However sometimes it's not loaded with what people fear it is, and that road offers opportunity. I am sensitive to your point, probably far more than most, but that doesn't change my desire to create connections where I can.