On Identity, Amin Maalouf

On Identity, Amin MaaloufTo Be and Not To Be. In this go for, Amin Maalouf, discusses wizard of the most vital vox populis of the self identity, in an analysis of historical and present-day(a) contexts aiming to reveal the misconceptions and abuses of this mode of recognition. Whether national, religious, ethnical or other, identity has been the prominent agent and more than than often the instigator of serious upheavals in the military man. He examines how we induct come to define ourselves and how plastered modes of naming plenty be dangerous. either time identity is determined on the basis of a superstar form of affiliation, danger arises, since this often leads to fanaticism, whose various shades appeargond throughout invoice and continues to exist in time. He attributes this to an ill understanding of identity and an superfluous paranoid attempt of its preservation.The devil main themes of this work, religion and globalisation, are corollary treated. The origin ator provides a clarification of how these two affect and form one another. He addresses the matter of religion, by trying to deduce how it came to emerge as the central proponent of identity in present times via a scope of questions, attempting to understand its signifi stoolt widely distributed reemergence. He proposes somewhat answers, attributing this phenomenon to the descent of communism and Marxism, for instance, and how this is a answer to their emphasis on secularism.The author opposes the primacy of any good-hearted of religious affiliation and c alones upon a new element of association. He advocates the musical interval of church and identity, and affirms that this type of identifying affiliation ought to be replaced with a more charitable-centered one. He does not take a stance against religion per se, for he individual(prenominal)ly, as he explains, does not oppose religious affiliations and recognizes the perpetual deduction of their nature. But as mentione d earlier he condemns the distraught angle of inclination of wither identity sight to one form of association. This regression of identity generates what he c in alls killer identities.I conceive there exists another, similar form of regression, which he did not mention, one which I would call guilt identities .This is common among members of historically or currently exploited groups, who fuck off developed a tendency to abuse such(prenominal) associations. Some Palestinians still do apply and check scholarships that were only(prenominal) assigned to their nationals at various higher educational institutions, for instance, when in fact they can afford to pay for the whole student body. another(prenominal) example of this would be the Jews redundant reference to the Holocaust. This abuse and manipulation of history, I incur to be highly despicable and disrespectful, for the only Jews that dumbfound all the right to refer to it I think are the ones who survived it. Similarl y some African Americans use sla truly or racism to justify their personal failure, which is absurd for while racial discrimination can definitely be the case in some instances, major inequalities that exist and persist are be clear of class and lack of opportunity.Then the author turns to the issue of globalization, describing the power of its disseminating nature. In this discussion, he explains that the soil for the reemergence of religion lies in its power to gratify two of the most basic human yearnings, the need of belonging and that of spirituality. At the kindred time, he argues that because of this religion is being ascribed as the antidote to globalization.The author presents a very sound analysis of religions ascent. Howalways, his condemnation of the primacy of its affiliations appears simply irrational, for religion, corresponding everything else, has its extremities, alter from fanaticism to apathy. It is these that tarnish its name, and it is these that should be condemned. Although I do acknowledge Maaloufs typeset and his attempt to reach a much more profound and umbrella link of association, such as military personnel, I still do find it rather idealistic, almost utopian. For even though it is the only common mark across the globe, humanity has seldom succeeded in uniting nations history is a vigilant witness of that.In spite of its significance, commonwealth have neer treated humanity with high regards. I cannot conceive of a reason that would inspire them to acknowledge it now. I do agree that this human notion Maalouf proposes would be an ultimate global bliss, yet I do not think that the world is ready for it, given the state of chaos it is in now due to political systems, materialistic notions or simply apathy. This is only why I think that religion, when taken for what it rightfully is, as strange to a set of dogmatic customized interpretations, would serve as an absolute unifier, which ever religion it might well be I am no fanatic myself to state that my faith is the confessedly one. We do not have to all ascribe to the same one (while that would be ideal, I am seeking to be reasonable). I know what faith is able to do to ones perception of life, and I do not think seeing the world through ones religion of choice turns a person into an extremist. Religion, when taken for what it really is, is the belief in being a part or pertaining to something big than ones self, a system of tolerance and preservation of the most basic rights and dignity. It can only gratify the human in you and not the opposite. We are all in need of that kind of touch to our souls, otherwise our lives would be like frameless pictures, dull and fragile.In addressing the tangible battle between identity and globalization, the book demonstrates how this clash has constantly been disregarded as a normal reaction to change and hence not in fact been taken seriously. It advocates that we as individuals ought to take this with real concern, since we are to the most part, subconsciously engaged in it. Knowing who we are and where we stand is something we have come to take as evident, a conception that is shaken often times when an incident occurs, importantly altering things and putting us on sides we did not know existed. It is this very specific state of consciousness that this essay is aiming to stir. The author explains that ones heritage can be divided into two types, vertical and horizontal, and affirms that our horizontal heritages have more affect on us than we realize. That is to say, when considered objectively, one actually has more commonalities with his propagation than with his ancestors. This point is worth contemplating deeply, I conceptualise, since we do, by convention or denial, tend to primarily, if not exclusively, identify ourselves by our vertical heritages.This notion of heritage incorporates the true essence of identity for flock tend to often times take on that identity is somethi ng fixed that you get at line and anything past that would be treated as treason. In fact, it is the actual opposite of that identity is a constant state of evolution. The vertical heritage is what is bestowed upon us at birth and then everything else one encounters in his life give build up ones horizontal heritage.These levels should be recognized and understood so one could have a solid and healthy perception of himself for as Maalouf stated it is obligatory at this point in time to draw attention to the disconnectedness that exists between what we are and what we think we are (Maalouf p.86)In their judgment of globalization, people should not forget that like any other culture medium, it is inherently unbiassed and holds the potentiality of both good and bad in it. Any medium is in a state of neutrality until used, and hence any condemnations of globalization would not only be groundless but ridiculous as well. The author attempts to demonstrate the potential good that gl obalization can bugger off he believes that such a phenomenon can help create a universal identity. He explains this by asserting that the only primary take in of identity that should be grasped is humanity and that this is the only type of affiliation that would never shrivel the concept since it is what we all have in common, regardless of our differences. Hence, I believe, the paranoid notion that by accepting this undeniable bond, people exit risk becoming less of the individuals that they are is absurd. This specific type of marriage ceremony is not exclusive in nature and therefore cannot possibly cause any sort of loss.This globaphobia, I believe, stems from basic human insecurities, for fear of the unvalued instigates fear of the other, and fear of a universal identity is in earth a cling to existence. People will always try to steal themselves in order to prove their presence. When a group of different people meet, they usually identify themselves by nationalities , and when a group of the same nationalities meet, identification becomes on a regional basis and when those of the same region meet, it boils down to areas and neighborhoods. These sub-levels of identity go even deeper, since every individualis unique and will continue to defend that singularity whenever a presumed threat is perceived.Hence, although the human universal identity that Maalouf is advocating might seem to be too unrealistic a demand from the world at present, it seems to be the more objective coming to any chance of peace, for nothing is more certain and real than humanity in its true form. Everything else is in the realm of terms and actions where intentions and motives rule, giving the outside(a) arena a complex and slippery base. Humanity, on the other hand, is the only part of us that is irrefutable for one cannot merely pretend to be a human being (One could argue that history has produced examples of certain exceptions to that, such as seemingly inhumane tyrants practicing brutal depravity on the human race, but these are of no significance to my argument).This human connection, that Maalouf advocates, I believe is indeed the deepest of connections, whose depth emanates from the fact that it shatters all trivial ties and is subtly effortless. It is an susceptibility we all possess inherently by virtue of birth. And I believe that the reality of this was so adequately presented in this book. On Identity has undeniably enhanced my understanding of what identity really is, and has acquainted me with a parallel of new theories as well, all while bringing into my consideration certain elements that I so plainly regarded as evident, I would definitely propose it ,it was a pleasure to read.