Bad unity

Liba Hopeson *

A church at Teinem Village, Ukhrul District, Manipur in March 2018 :: Pix - Lamdamba Oinam

Emanuel Cleaver says there is more power in unity than division. It is an irrefutable statement. The importance and goodness of having unity is often talked about. When a problem arises, we often say it's a consequence of disunity. The saying, 'unity is strength' is true. In order to have a strong society, unity is pivotal. If unity is important and good, then why does the writer write about bad unity? Is there any bad unity? I believe there is. It is detrimental.

At times I hear people say that the community of a certain village is very united. They say both in good and bad matters, the villagers are united; they are really good. For instance, when there is any clash or quarrel between those villagers and others, all the villagers can amalgamate and vehemently fight with the opponents. Here, they mean that even if they are wrong, they could combat collectively.

And astonishingly, people talk about their goodness of unity. It's a bad unity. For, how can something which is bad or wrong become good? How could you say that even when doing a bad thing, they are unified and endorse it? I have heard about some villages and tribes listed in the category of 'united' even though they do wrong thing. It used to bemuse me. An action which is bad cannot be good. This is logically wrong. This kind of concept encourages and proliferate inter-villages feuds, tribalism and communalism.

There is another very traditional view of unity, and it's very common in villages and tribes. It occurs often during political elections and also other times. For the upliftment of the village, or for village development, the concept of 'village unity' permeates in the villages.

Prior to elections, village meetings are held and resolutions such as 'every villager must vote for the political candidate from the village', and 'all the villagers must not assist any other candidates' are taken. Such decision is binding, with even warnings and intimidations to the trespassers. Indeed, those who go against such wrong village rules and regulations are castigated, condemned, fined and penalized.

This kind of unity is destructive. It is a violation of individual's right and freedom. I strongly hold that such unity generate disunity between villages and tribes. Thus, you are thwarted from visiting an MLA or Minister if you did not vote for him/her.

One is an MLA or Minister of only those who voted him to power. In the post-election, filthy practice of segregation based on party-centric policy ensues. And sadly, this is spawned by strong unity of one political party.

This kind of unity is cancerous and it needs to be discarded. But who will take the lead? Those who initiate or try to do away with this kind of unity will be reckoned and labeled as traitor or offender. Yes, reformation has never taken place without confrontation.

If a strong traditionalist reads this article, he would be even unhappy with me for airing this view. But, we all need to strive to get out of this malpractice. It is true that globalization enormously broadens our mind.

Staggeringly, it also narrows our mind. How? Prior to globalization, humankind in the world tried to connect and open up. After the dawn of globalization, and with the advancement of science and technology, we are so closely connected. We are like living in a village, a global village. Thus, exchange of cultural ideas and practices takes place extensively.

Now, the world is so opened up that many villages and tribes are apprehensive about losing their unique identity, culture, traditional values, etc. Yes, the significance of preserving and promoting one's culture and identity cannot be refuted and brushed aside. But, while doing that, many become parochial in their outlook. They get trapped and inebriated with their village and tribe's welfare.

The fidelity to one's tribe and community become utterly intense that many tribes' men have forgotten that the world is big and we need to have unity not only within one's tribe, but between tribes, communities and societies. This is the negative effect of globalization. It has constricted our minds.

Once, in a meeting, we were deliberating about whether or not we should strengthen a particular organization that existed in my village. I shared my view saying that having a small organization is good, but not always. I expounded the demerit(s) of having too many small groups in the villages: when our societies are fragmented into so many small groups, we fail to have a large outlook, and thus fail to have unity in a wider level.

My point was that when we're obsessed in thinking and working about small groups, we often forget other people. He gave a beautiful reply. What I stated was true, he said, but if a small group is not strong, we cannot contribute to the larger group(s). There was truth in his statement.

But, what is worthy of consideration is the intention or purpose of strengthening our organization or association or club. I think, many a time our goal of bolstering our organization(s) or association(s) is not for a higher cause; say to contribute to tribe, district, state or nation.

But, our focus is limited only to a small group(s), say to our village or clan. Why we do what we do matters. While trying to foster our clan or village, we become close-minded and prejudiced. Some unity thus can be damaging.

Finally, similar to the first viewpoint, I intend to address another bad unity. It's a religious one – denomination and church unity. Though this is a religious issue, I feel it apt to address here. Many missionaries have expressed the difficulty of proclaiming the Gospel because non-Christians know that there are too many denominations and appallingly, we are disunited.

Once, a guy quipped on the social media that the Churches urge and pray for all the Naga factions to come together, but the Churches do not have unity. Of course, unity does not mean uniformity, many misconstrue. But, the inability to love and respect one another is a big stumbling block for the Christian Gospel.

Many are yet to realize or know their neighbor. The commandment to love your neighbor as yourself does not mean only the individuals in your own denomination or church. Whether wrong or right, when you have argument with other denominational group(s), you defend your own denomination. Members of one denomination take a strong stance even if they are wrong. This is another bad unity.

I think we Christians do not grow because we do not dare to critique and evaluate our own denominational beliefs and practices. Many a times, we are more concerned about what the Church tradition says than what the Bible says. Many think that only members of their denomination will get to heaven – this is one of the most pathetic hopes of humankind.