I read a very interesting article on the BBC News App this morning: '10 Reasons Why We're Not a Divided Nation' by Lucy Rodgers. At a time when we're bombarded with messages of a binary divide - Remainer / Leaver, Republican / Democrat, Android / iOS (apologies, that's a debate my nephew and I continue to have) - it's great to see journalism that focuses on What Unites Us .
You see, in spite of its recent dominance of our newsfeed, to Divide & Conquer is not a new concept. Julius Caesar's "Divida et Impera" strategy sure did divide Rome "and all Gaul" itself. His fellow countryman and politician - Machiavelli - relied upon the art of manipulation to spread a narrative of fear and division. While an Old Testament example describes the exploits of Tukulti-Ninurta, who conquered and annexed the nation of Babylon, becoming the first ruler to use the title 'King of Kings'...
...maybe that's the key flaw in the implementation of Divide & Conquer; reigning an empire built on fear and bad faith seems an ambition of the individual or, at most, a select few. When Machiavelli wrote, “One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived” surely, he understood that the deception only created a fictional reality...deluding himself that his empire was everlasting.
Divisions are an illusion, instead we simply have difference. There is no 'Us and Them', there's only us - with a diversity of insights, ideals and ideas. Collectively, we appreciate new discoveries, traditional values, caring for one another and protecting what is most precious...whether that's the changing climate, a chocolate-covered digestive, both or neither! Ultimately, Machiavellian teachings will always be trumped by the wise words of Marley: "One love. One heart. Let's get together and feel alright!"
What is Imagimont?
I'm Jo, a Freelance Learning Experience Designer at Imagimont Ltd. With a creative flair and commitment to engagement, I manage development projects that align to the organisation’s culture, values and business strategy. Partnering with internal stakeholders and external providers, I deliver blended learning resources fully accessible using multimedia at the point of need. My commercial awareness, UK Regulatory Compliance expertise and 10 years’ experience as a People Development Specialist ensure that learning initiatives evolve as quickly as service expectations.
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