Religious Wars: Causes, Examples, and the Possibility of Peace

 

"Religious War" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Religious Wars: Causes, Examples, and the Possibility of Peace

Throughout human history, religion has been one of the most powerful forces shaping societies. It has inspired art, law, charity, moral systems, and community. At the same time, religion has also been linked to some of the bloodiest conflicts the world has ever known. Religious wars are often remembered for their violence, intolerance, and lasting damage. Understanding what religious wars are, why they happen, and whether they can ever truly end is essential if humanity hopes to build a more peaceful future.

Sunrise Crab - PC Wallpaper

 

"Sunrise Crab" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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A Healthy Nation is a Wealthy Nation

 

 "Health Walk" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

A Healthy Nation is a Wealthy Nation

From the pines of Abaco to Inagua’s salt-white plain,
A message echoes o’er the blue, a chorus to maintain.
For the strength of our archipelago, the power of our name,
Lies not in gold or silver hoards, but in the human frame.
A nation’s purse is empty if its people’s pulse is weak,
So let us find the vibrant life and the wellness that we seek.

The Fuel of the Islands

In a land of sun and soil, we must choose what’s on our plate,
To turn away from processed bins and change our heavy fate.
Less of the grease and salty flour, the sugars that deceive,
And more of what the Bahamian earth is ready to achieve.
Bright scarlet tomatoes, the pigeon peas and rice,
Fresh citrus from the backyard grove—a natural paradise.
We swap the soda for the well, the bottle for the glass,
Let clear, cool water be the tide through which our spirits pass.
Two liters for the thirsty soul to keep the kidneys clean,
The purest drink for island folk that the world has ever seen.

The Rhythm of the Body

Our bodies were not built for chairs or lounging in the shade,
But for the movement of the surf, for the progress we have made.
Go walk the length of Goodman’s Bay or climb the Queen’s Staircase,
Let exercise become the norm, a steady, healthy pace.
And when the orange sun descends and moonbeams start to creep,
Honor the temple of the mind with seven hours of sleep.
In silence, cells begin to mend and weary muscles grow,
Restoring all the energy the morning needs to show.

Butterfly Hibiscus

 

"Butterfly Hibiscus" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Butterfly Hibiscus" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 3328x4608

EABIC Bahamas - Black Christ Mass Celebration

 

Black Christ Mass Celebration

 

7 Golden Candestick(Priests) on Melchesidec Alter

 Entertainment by Daniel #1 Band

 Free Admission, food & refreshments

 January 7, 2026 | 8pm - until

 Bobo Camp, Fire Trail Rd, Bahamas Branch

2025 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade: December 25th, 2025

 

 

 

 2025 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade: December 25th, 2025 

 

Related article: Boxing Day: Meaning and Origins

Boxing Day: Meaning and Origins

 

"Boxing Day in The Bahamas" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Boxing Day: Meaning and Origins

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas, and is a public holiday in many countries—especially those with historical ties to the British Empire, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Caribbean. Wikipedia

The name Boxing Day may seem strange at first, but it comes from a centuries-old tradition of giving “boxes” of gifts, money, goods, or charity to those in service roles or in need. In earlier times, aristocratic households gave servants and tradespeople gifts or gratuities—sometimes in decorative boxes—on the day after Christmas. This was both a form of gratitude for their service and an opportunity for workers to visit their own families after working on Christmas Day itself. Encyclopedia Britannica

Another linked tradition stems from the practice in Christian churches of placing alms boxes for donations to the poor; these boxes were opened and distributed on December 26, which is also the feast day of Saint Stephen—Christianity’s first martyr, known for his service to those in need. Wikipedia

Over time the holiday evolved. In some countries it became associated with sporting events (e.g., football and cricket matches in the UK and Australia) and, in many places today, major shopping sales. In others—particularly the Caribbean—it became a day for vibrant cultural celebrations rather than simply a day of rest or commerce. Encyclopedia Britannica

MaCaBrLi Family Christmas Dinner 2025

 

 

 

MaCaBrLi Family Christmas Dinner 2025

 

Shot and edited by ©A. Derek Catalano.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S9+

Software: VideoPad Editor

Free MIDI music

Happy Boxing Day 2025

 

"Happy Boxing Day 2025" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Merry Christmas

 

"Merry Christmas" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Christmas at Pompey Square 2025

 

 

 

I shot a quick video at Pompey Square last night. - ©A. Derek Catalano

Free MIDI music. 

 

Related video: Rawson Square Christmas 2021 

On the Way!

 

"On the Way!" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Peace on Earth: A Vow Beyond the Season

 

 "Peace Tree" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 Peace on Earth: A Vow Beyond the Season

Part I: The Midwinter Hush

Upon the weary world, a silence falls,
A velvet hush within the winter night,
No trumpet blast, no frantic bugle calls,
But soft reflections of the candle’s light.
The snow descends to blanket every street,
To mute the heavy tread of marching feet,
And for a moment, under starry skies,
The anger sleeping in the city dies.

We speak of "Peace on Earth" on this one day,
When pine and holly decorate the door,
We put the armor of our grief away,
And vow to study violence no more.
It feels so simple when the choir sings,
And when the bell inside the steeple rings;
A truce is called in every human heart,
And enemies agree to stand apart.

The hearth is warm, the cider mug is deep,
The children dream in innocence and trust,
The promises we made, we try to keep,
And brush away the cynicism’s dust.
It is a golden hour, fragile, bright,
A single candle conquering the night,
Where neighbor smiles at neighbor in the cold,
And kindness is the only hand we hold.

Don't Be A Grinch

 

"Don't be a Grinch" - Adobe PS and AI

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Shore Village - PC Wallpaper

 

 

 "Shore Village" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Shore Village" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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The Bahamas as a Republic: Possibilities, Challenges, and Prospects

 

"The Republic of The Bahamas" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

The Bahamas as a Republic: Possibilities, Challenges, and Prospects

 

Introduction

The Bahamas is an independent nation that gained sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1973. While independent, it remains a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch serving as head of state, represented locally by a Governor-General. From time to time, public discussion arises about whether The Bahamas should transition to a republic. This essay explores what a republic is, the advantages and disadvantages of republican systems, examples of successful and unsuccessful republics, and whether The Bahamas could realistically become and thrive as a republic.

---

Definition of a Republic

A republic is a form of government in which the country’s head of state is not a monarch, but is either elected by the people or appointed through a representative process. Sovereignty rests with the citizens, and political authority is exercised in their name.

Most republics operate under a written constitution that outlines the structure of government, the separation of powers, and the rights of citizens. In many republics, the head of state is a president, though the role may be largely ceremonial or may carry significant executive power, depending on the system.

It is important to note that being a republic does not automatically mean having a president with sweeping authority. Many republics retain parliamentary systems similar to constitutional monarchies, differing mainly in how the head of state is chosen.

Green Turtle Cay New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade

 

Green Turtle Cay

New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade

 

January 1st at 2:00PM

Starts at the Basketball Court

 

Celebrating the Origins of Junkanoo-

FROM WHICH WE CAME 

Let Them Talk

 

"Talkin' Bad" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Let Them Talk

In every town and every street, where idle minds and shadows meet,
There lives a breed of restless soul, who makes the lives of others whole—
By picking at the fraying threads, by planting seeds in neighbors' heads,
By weaving webs of "did you hear?" and whispering in a willing ear.
They gather 'round the morning brew, with nothing better left to do,
Than catalog a stranger’s sin and let the weary games begin.

They watch the way you walk the road, they weigh the burdens of your load,
They measure out your every step, and count the secrets that you’ve kept.
With eagle eyes and sharpened tongues, they draw the air into their lungs,
To blow a spark into a flame, and tarnish every honest name.
For in their world of gray and small, they love to watch a giant fall,
To find a crack within the glass and watch the fleeting shadows pass.

It matters not if truth be told, for stories turn from lead to gold,
When polished by a bitter heart that’s mastered every cruel art.
They’ll take a word you said in jest and put it to a grueling test,
Until it looks like something dark, a jagged stone, a burning spark.
They judge the clothes upon your back, and find the virtues that you lack,
While sitting on a throne of straw, identifying every flaw.

Sunset Cliffs - PC Wallpaper

 

"Sunset Cliffs" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Sunset Cliffs" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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The Authentically Bahamian Christmas Festival 2025

 

The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation,

the National Junkanoo Committee,

and the Tourism Development Corporation

proudly present

 

THE AUTHENTICALLY BAHAMIAN

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

 

December 18 & 19

9:00AM – 4:30PM

 Pompey Square, Bay. St,

Nassau, Bahamas 

Come and experience Bahamian Christmas treats,

costume-building competitions, skits, handcrafted ornaments,

and the vibrant energy of Junkanoo.

Miracle on Gully Wash Road - A Christmas Story

"Gully Wash Road" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Miracle on Gully Wash Road

The house leaned a little to the left, like it had grown tired of standing straight. One shutter hung loose, knocking softly against the wall whenever the breeze came through. The roof had been patched so many times with bits of tin that it looked like a quilt sewn by different hands, none of them matching. But the house was still standing, and that counted for something.

Inside lived the Rolle family.

Marcia Rolle woke before the sun most mornings, not because she wanted to but because worry didn’t allow sleep to linger. That morning was no different. She lay still for a few minutes on the thin mattress she shared with her youngest daughter, Leila, listening to the sounds of Over-the-Hill coming to life. A potcake barked somewhere down Gully Wash Road. A truck rattled past, its engine coughing like it needed medicine. The roosters that belonged to nobody in particular crowed as if they owned the place.

Marcia swung her feet to the floor and felt the cool concrete beneath her toes. The house had no tiles, just bare cement worn smooth from years of sweeping. She stood quietly so she wouldn’t wake Leila and padded into the kitchen, which was really just one corner of the living room separated by a sagging curtain.

She opened the fridge and stared.

Colorful Regatta - PC Wallpaper

 

 "Colorful Regatta" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Colorful Regatta" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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"Social Media Abuse" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

The Bahamas and Responsible Social Media Posting

 

Introduction

Social media is where we speak in public, but often without the checks that used to come with publishing on paper or on live broadcast. In The Bahamas — as in many countries — that matters because what you publish online can have real legal and personal consequences for you and for the people you write about. This introduction sets out why responsible posting matters, what “libel” and “slander” mean in plain terms, whether social-media authors can be arrested in The Bahamas, how other jurisdictions (notably the UK) have treated social-media speech, and how Bahamians should tailor posts to balance safety and free expression.

Why responsibility matters on social media

A social post can spread faster and farther than a whispered rumor. It can damage reputations, stoke panic, incite harassment, or expose private information. Because social media posts are public (and easily archived and copied), an offhand claim or a nasty meme can follow a person indefinitely and be relied on by others as if it were fact. That permanence + public reach is why many countries treat defamatory publications seriously — and why you should be careful about what you say and how you say it online.

Christmas Party Over-the-hill 2019

 

 

 This is how we do it over-the-hill, Nassau, Bahamas. 😊

Christmas in the Garden

 Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve presents

CHRISTMAS IN THE GARDEN

 

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025

11:00AM - 3:00PM

Banks Road, Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera

 

FREE ENTRY

Photo with Santa & Friends

Christmas movie, Games, Crafts, Giveaways & so much more!

Refreshments will be served. 

 

For info contact: (242) 332-3831 or lwallace@bnt.bs

Visit: www.levypreserve.org

Tropic Sunset Seascape - PC Wallpaper

 "Tropic Moon Seascape" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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 "Tropic Sunset Seascape" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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Christmas Tree Lighting Service - Harbour Is.

 The Harbour Island District Council

along with the

Harbour Island All-Age School,

The Green School

&

The Community of Harbour Island

presents

 

DECK THE SHORES

"A Night of Lights & Love"

 

A Christmas Tree Lighting Service

Celebrating the King of Kings!

 

Wednesday, December 17th, 2025

6:30PM

Bay Street, Harbour Island. 

What Is Trust?

"Trust" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

What Is Trust?

It is the invisible thread that binds,
The quiet peace a worried spirit finds,
A bridge of glass across a canyon deep,
A promise that the soul intends to keep.

It is not built of stone or steel or wood,
But forged in moments generally understood
To be the small, unnoticed, fleeting things—
The safety that a simple silence brings.

It is the hand you hold within the dark,
The kindling waiting for the crucial spark,
The knowledge that you need not check the lock,
The solid ground beneath the trembling rock.

Fishy Fishy - PC Wallpaper

 "Fishy Fishy" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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 "Fishy Fishy" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3972

Royal Bahamas Police Force Christmas Beat Retreat 2025 - December 14th, 2025

  

 

Royal Bahamas Police Force Christmas Beat Retreat 2025

December 14th, 2025

Christmas Past  & Present

The Damaging Impact of Jamaican Culture on The Bahamas

 "Jamaican Influence" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Yardie Imperialism and the Bahamian Identity Crisis: The Double-Edged Sword of Jamaican Musical Hegemony

Abstract - The cultural relationship between Jamaica and The Bahamas is one of profound intimacy and stark imbalance. For decades, the sonic landscape of The Bahamas has been dominated not by the indigenous rhythms of Rake 'n' Scrape or Goombay, but by the thumping basslines of Jamaican Roots Reggae and Dancehall. While the former provided a shared language of black empowerment and Pan-Africanism, the latter has introduced a set of behavioral norms, linguistic shifts, and social values that arguably threaten the distinct cultural fabric of The Bahamas. This essay examines the mechanisms of this cultural transfer, arguing that the dominance of Jamaican popular culture acts as a form of "soft imperialism" that displaces local identity, fosters imported social pathologies, and relegates authentic Bahamian artistic expression to the margins of its own society.

Foreign Cultural Influence

 

"Stop Twerkin' an' Start Workin'" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Foreign Cultural Influence

 

Have we noticed that foreign reggae music has infiltrated and become a big part of our Bahamian culture for many years now?

 

There's a Christmas event happening now on the basketball park by me. They started off by playing a half-dozen Bahamian songs then they switched to hardcore dancehall reggae and that's all they've been playin' for the last two hours. How da hell we get like dis an' what could we do 'bout it?

 

Beware of other cultures taking over.

 

Related article: The Damaging Impact of Jamaican Culture on The Bahamas

Related article: Report on Bahamian Culture

The Nativity

 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

 "The Nativity" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Seaside Christmas - PC Wallpaper

 "Seaside Christmas" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Cat Island Flour Cakes

 Cat Island Flour Cakes - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

My son Christopher Catalano brought me back some of those World Famous Cat Island Flour Cakes from his visit to Cat Island. Never had them before. So delicious. The perfect blend of flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.  😊

Derek 

Related article: An In-Depth Look at Bahamian Cuisine

Related poem: Grits in da Mornin'

Unto Us

 Emmanuel, our God has come

UNTO US

 

A DRAMATIC MUSICAL 

 

Sunday, December 14th, 2025 at 6:30PM

Calvary Bible Church

62 Collins Ave.

Nassau, Bahamas

 

Celebrate the joy of Christmas with us! 

Inclusion

 

 "Inclusion" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Inclusion

In every room where people meet,
Where voices cross and glances greet,
There’s space to notice who’s not heard,
Whose quiet fades without a word.

Inclusion starts with simple things:
A widened door, a chair that swings,
A hand held out before it’s asked,
A shared load when the road is masked.

It’s choosing not to turn away
When someone moves a different way,
Or speaks with pauses in their tone,
Or stands apart but not alone.

It’s making room at every start
For those who carry unseen parts,
The weight of worry, fear, or doubt,
The stories they don’t hand right out.

Afro Moon - PC Wallpaper

 "Afro Moon" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Education: Boys Behind Girls

"Up and Coming" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 

Education: Boys Behind Girls

 

Why are Bahamian boys significantly falling behind girls in reading and writing proficiency?

Research on the wider Caribbean (including The Bahamas) suggests a mix of social, cultural, pedagogical and systemic factors that help explain why boys often lag behind girls in reading and writing. Here’s a breakdown of the main explanations researchers identify.

What do we know: the pattern holds in the Bahamas & Caribbean

• In the Bahamas specifically, reports show that girls consistently outperform boys in English-language (reading/writing) subjects in the BGCSE exams. Bahamas Local

• More generally across the Caribbean, studies find that though access to education is roughly equal for boys and girls, girls tend to do better academically — especially in language, reading and writing — while boys underperform, repeat grades more, drop out more often, or enrol less in secondary and tertiary levels. Inter-American Development Bank

• International evidence shows this is not unique to the Caribbean: globally, in many education systems, boys tend to lag behind girls in reading and literacy. UNESCO

So the phenomenon is well-documented. The big question is why.

Hibiscus - PC Wallpaper

 "Hibiscus" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 5376x3072

 "Hibiscus" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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There is Always Opposition

 

 "Opposition Tug-Of-War" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

 There is Always Opposition

No motion starts without a force,
No river runs a straight-line course,
For every step that you intend,
The universe will make you bend.
It is the law, ancient and deep,
That promises no easy sleep;
From atoms spinning in the void
To empires built and then destroyed,
In every breath and every plan,
In every heart of every man,
The truth remains, distinct and clear:
The Opposition is always here.

I. The Physical Weight

Observe the stone upon the hill,
It sits in silence, cold and still.
To move it requires strain and sweat,
A physical and heavy debt.
For Gravity, that jealous king,
Lays claim to every living thing.
It pulls us down, it holds us tight,
It creates the heavy, weary night.
To stand upright is to defy
The very earth, the very sky.
The friction on the moving wheel,
The rust that eats the strongest steel,
The wind that beats against the face—
Resistance fills all time and space.

There is no vacuum perfect, pure,
Where unstopped motion can endure.
The air itself is like a wall,
Waiting for the weak to fall.
But mark this truth within the gale:
Without the wind, no ship can sail.
The very force that stops the way
Is what allows the bird of prey
To catch the draft and soar on high,
To pin its wings against the sky.
The plane requires the drag to lift,
The opposition is the gift.

Moonrise Sea - PC Wallpaper

 "Moonrise Sea" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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 "Moonrise Sea" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 5376x3072

Battle of the High School Pop Bands 2025

Battle of the High School Pop Bands

 

Monday, December 15th, 2025 at 5pm

Rawson Square, Bay St.

Nassau, Bahamas

 

"Glowing Blue Hole Island" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

The Island That Rose and Fell

Dr. Reisha Albury had spent half her life studying the ocean around Andros, and the water still surprised her. Some days it felt like a patient teacher. Other days it acted like a trickster that waited until she felt confident, then swept the board clean. Then the earthquake hit—a soft, almost polite tremor felt from the Berry Islands to the Exumas. She never experienced a quake in The Bahamas before and knew of none on record.

But a week later, when fishermen radioed in saying a new island had appeared twenty miles off Andros, Reisha closed her notebook and took the report seriously.

Boaters could be dramatic. A patch of sandbar could feel like an island if you wanted a story to tell at the bar. Still, the way two separate crews described it caught her attention: “A real island. Big enough to stand on. Smells like wet stone.”

That last part stuck with her. Sand doesn’t smell like wet stone.

By noon she’d arranged transport, packed her diving gear, and loaded the small research skiff with enough equipment to satisfy the most skeptical funding board. She didn’t invite anyone to join her. She wanted first sight for herself.

Tropic Shore - PC Wallpaper

 "Tropic Shore" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 5376x3072

 "Tropic Shore" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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The Darkness of Xenophobia

"Alien Xenomorph" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

The Darkness of Xenophobia

 

A chilling fog that shrouds the open mind,
A baseless dread of those we fail to find
Familiar in their custom, speech, or creed,
This is the fear called Xenophobia, indeed.
It is the hatred born of ignorance,
The sudden shiver at a foreign glance.

The Definition and Its Roots

It is not simply bias or dislike,
But deep revulsion striking like a pike,
Against the stranger, alien, or new,
A desperate drawing up of walls by few.
It is a mechanism, harsh and crude,
That sees all difference as an ill-intent, construed
As menace to the safety of the known,
A seed of malice that the heart has sown.

Causes: The Seeds of Anxiety

The fear takes root where understanding's slight,
And thrives upon the absence of the light.
One cause is economic anxiety's strain,
The false belief that gain requires loss and pain.
A local culture fears its way of life,
Will be consumed within a global strife,
And turns upon the newcomer in need,
Mistaking fellow humans for a greed.

The rhetoric of politics provides the fuel,
When leaders preach exclusion as a rule.
They paint the "other" as a cunning foe,
Distorting facts to make the hatred grow.
A lack of contact seals the hardened case,
When no shared meal or laughter sets the pace;
The human face, behind the veil unseen,
Remains a monster on a distant screen.