. . . for most of us there was a central, unavoidable problem- the world was populated by people who were unlike us . That explained so many wars- particularly religious ones; that explained persecutions and injustices; that explained simple everyday irritation with one's fellow man: They were just not like us.
The quote from Alexander McCall Smith's "At the Reunion Buffet" highlights a fundamental issue of human coexistence: the presence of diversity among people. This difference can lead to significant conflicts, such as wars and religious persecution, as individuals or groups fail to understand or accept those who are not like themselves. The author suggests that this divergence in identity fuels many societal problems, reflecting a deep-rooted need for belonging and kinship.
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