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Message Subject The enemy of my enemy is my friend...
Poster Handle Anonymous Coward
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People in general share certain commonalities (the desire to live, to persue what makes life enjoyable, and to not be harmed). Unity under the "Common Threat" was born of that reason-commonality.

Maybe it would be easier to explain it with a hypothetical situation.

Imagine an apartment complex full of people, each with their own families, ideals, creeds, etc. Many of these people are familiar with each other. Some are even friends and enemies. All of the occupants of this complex share one thing in common, they live in the same apartment complex.

One day, a gang attacks the complex. The complex is on fire shooting and cries of despair and confusion can be heard inside the complex and on the streets. The members of the complex each go about trying to save their home, some even helping neighbors, some running out to safety and to seek help. All of the apartment dwellers shared commonality, but in this instance they were under common threat and reacted to that common threat.

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 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 67806333


Yes exactly.

It has been suggested that the only thing that may ever unite Man as a whole, is that which immediately threatens us as a species.

Portrayed in movies, like Independence Day and Armageddon.


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 Quoting: Seer777


The desire for survival (or that of others)has been a great motivating force throughout know history. It seems to be the easiest to understand aspect of human society, or at least the most commonly recognized one.

I don't believe humanity will ever be completely united under threat of survival, as I've seen too often the reactions to such threats and history and my own life.

Unity will have to come from another commonality, in my opinion, one not born of fear or threat of harm.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 67806333


True.

What is more common than our Humanity? Our planet perhaps.

I like that. Any thought on what that may or might be?
 Quoting: Seer777


Well, as we are human, I don't believe that the unifying force which could unite us all will be separate from our commonality as humans. In my thought meanderings, I believe it will have to do with the fact that we share this common ground (and what it means to be human).

I expect, that the uniting force will have something to do with human discovery, hope for our own happiness, and something that inspires people to want to persue improvement of human life (but not due to a threat of harm).

Right now, in virtually all aspects of society some threat is used as a motivating force for discovery, hope of happiness, an inspiration for change. For example, in my understanding, new developments in medicine and energy are born out of threats.

Disease or threats of contagion are great motivators in medicine (not to mention financial implications, but that's another discussion). Likewise, in the energy fields developments are usually born out of limitation of resources or some implied threat of inaccessibility.

What if, discovery and motivation came not of necessity (or threat of harm), but out of the human instinct to explore and better themselves? That is the sort of thing I am expecting will unite us. Maybe it is simply the hope that such a thing is possible will be the key.
 
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