"It Takes a Tribe"

In David Berreby's essay "It Takes a Tribe", Berreby states that "human beings will give a lot, including their lives, for a group they feel part of- for "us", as in "our nation" or "our religion". They will also harm those labeled "them", including taking their lives" (120). I strongly agree with this statement because every human being looks to find an "us" that they can belong to. In creating an "us", you also create a "them". No matter the size or power of a group, there will always be a rival, someone to defeate, or someone to disagree with. Humans do this throughout their lives, through school, work, and social groups. It is the phenomenon that creates prejudice and starts wars. David Berreby's analysis of college life exemplifies the "us" versus "them" mentality that people carry. Although students are new to a school, they immediates become apart of the group and begin to hate the "them", usually a rival school. In life, this can be seen in wars, such as World War Two, in which Hitler turned Jewish people into a "them" and turned a nation on its own kind. Society would be a much more peaceful place without this way of thinking. Although it helps to unify people, it can easily cause violence and hatred.