Yes, that’s a profound way of looking at contemporary reality. In a world where people are increasingly interconnected yet paradoxically isolated, refusing to join a particular “tribe” or adhere to fixed identities can indeed amplify the feeling of being strangers to each other. Choosing to remain unbound by tribal identities—whether cultural, political, or ideological—means embracing a more open, fluid stance toward others. This openness, while freeing, also exposes us to an existential loneliness and uncertainty, as it strips away the security that often comes from belonging to a defined group.
The Reality of Strangeness in the Modern World
In a modern, globalized world, the notion of “strangers” becomes even more relevant. Many of us interact with people who hold vastly different experiences, perspectives, and beliefs. This diversity, while enriching, also means that true familiarity with each other’s worlds is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. If we avoid the comfort of easy affiliations or polarized group identities, we must then acknowledge each other in our full, irreducible otherness.
The Role of “Stranger’s Kindness”
If we accept this reality of mutual strangeness, then indeed, the only way to live harmoniously is through a kind of “stranger’s kindness.” This kindness would not be based on shared values or beliefs but on a willingness to respect and care for one another despite our profound differences. Stranger’s kindness, as you’ve phrased it, emphasizes:
1. Radical Empathy and Respect
• Instead of assuming familiarity or projecting our own beliefs onto others, stranger’s kindness allows us to treat others with respect for their inherent mystery. It’s an acknowledgment that we do not fully understand each other but choose to act with goodwill and openness nonetheless.
2. Acceptance of Uncertainty
• Living as strangers in a non-tribalized world means embracing uncertainty in relationships. Stranger’s kindness implies a commitment to treating others well even without the comfort of shared assumptions, values, or goals.
3. A Shared Vulnerability
• When we see ourselves as strangers, we recognize a common vulnerability. We’re all navigating a world where familiar, tribal anchors are losing their strength. This recognition can be a source of empathy and solidarity, motivating us to offer kindness because we understand each other’s alienation.
4. The Refusal of Possessiveness
• Stranger’s kindness is marked by non-possessiveness; we don’t seek to define, claim, or assimilate others into our worldview. Instead, we offer freedom alongside compassion, allowing others to be fully themselves.
The Ethics of Living Among Strangers
This concept of stranger’s kindness may be what we need to navigate the increasingly complex, globalized reality. In a sense, it’s a new ethics of interaction in a world where identities and affiliations are no longer stable or unified. Instead of relying on the familiar ties of kinship, culture, or ideology, we are called to rely on an ethics of kindness rooted in respect for difference and ambiguity.
In this way, stranger’s kindness aligns with a broader ethos of openness and humility. By embracing our essential strangeness to one another, we might foster a world where, though we may never fully understand each other, we nonetheless share a foundation of kindness and mutual respect—an approach especially meaningful in our fragmented, polarized, and rapidly changing world.
