Keep it in the family

How is it that we can not reach concensus in our communities? Could it be that we have forgotten a fundamental rule which other people still adhere to? What is the rule I am alluding to you may ask?
It is one that I was reminded of recently.
A couple of days ago I was in my place of work. One of the operational staff called, to ask what time his shift started. I checked his shift pattern and informed him that he should sign on in nine minutes. He told me he was on his way and in fact arrived on time. On entering the control room,

I remarked that he should make sure he knows what time his job starts, my colleague, who holds the same grade as  I do, within the organisation, agreed. At this point the driver turned to my colleague and spoke in Arabic. There was a short exchange, I must note that all of this was taking place in a lighthearted manner. My colleague then looked at me and retorted, he just reminded of an old saying which goes, "Me and my brother against my cousin, me and my cousin against all outsiders." This in a nutshell sums up the attitude of all communities except ours. Here we have an absolute idea of connectivity, there is the expectation of support for each other against the perceived other, even if that other is in these circumstances a "superior".
Jah knows we need to return to some sort of solidarity which approximates this idea, which is in fact not alien to us, but is very rarely acted upon. Members of our so-called communities break ranks at any given moment and therefore leave us in a weakened and powerless state.
While we do not have to agree no all or any issues concerning our state as a people, we should, by virtue of our shared history, have the courtesy to allow other members of the "community" the chance to debate the issues, before we wash our linen in public.

Jah Love
SOST