Why it is so hard to unite

"The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here we go again on the question of unity. The latest is the Doha Debate focus on Arab unity after the Gaza siege. The question of Arab unity echoes in Morolandia with the call for Moro unity. The perception is unity at best is in disarray and quite possibly non-existent.

But I can't help letting it go away without throwing a word or two into the discussion. Astonishingly, it is a common theme atTausug Net (TN): Why can't we unite? What's holding us against it? Why it is so difficult? When are going to do this? How can we unite?

More often than not, we approach the question of unity by looking at what's currently going on - the wrangling of our leaders and the divisions in our ranks. But I think this does not lead us to the answers that have eluded us. What we are currently looking at are merely symptoms of the problem, not the problem itself.

I think the best way to approach this question is by whay of discerning what we understand of unity and its characteristics. It is equally important to understand why there is a need for unity. Without this viewpoint, our's would merely be just angst, lip-service to an important question of socialization and existence. In the words of Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, former Qatari ambassador to th US, perhaps far from being dead, unity may not have existed in the first place.

Key elements of social cohesion - A society in which everyone (1) respects the law, (2) respects one another's human rights and values, and (3) shares a commitment to keep social order. - Vukuzenzele (May 2007)

There is also the sociological persepective to the same question. Perhaps, Ibn Khaldun's Asabiyah is a good starting point for discussion on social cohesion. Social cohesion in concept and practice are two different things. However, a degree of social cohesion can still be achievable. Individuals should understand that social cohesion sometimes comes at the expense individual gains and selfish interest. Social cohesion (therefore our unity) comes at the start as a desire and commitment to common goals. But such commitment should be tapered with psychological ad materials gains, too.

The material gains as an aftermath of unity or social cohesion is best realized in a particular political atmosphere - the presence of a fully-functioning democratic system. A perspective that is echoed by both sides in the latest Doha Debates.

Let us be honest, people's commitment to unity depends on psychological and materials gains. We may have psychological gains, that is why we are anxious at instances of disunity in our lives and in our society; but such psychological gains should graduate into material gains. This is why we see betrayal in our midst at the first instance of material gains.

Paul Bryant, American football coach, tells us that in order to win, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first -- ahead of personal glory. Therefore, social cohesion comes at a price, the freedom of individuality and selfish gains. If we are not prepared to trade in our individuality and selfish gains, the road to social cohesion or unity will be a dream away.