Shortcut to the dead end

Not enough time or patience,
To visit places or relish different cuisines,
To read books or appreciate art from around the world,
To learn the myriad languages or grok diverse cultures,
To understand belief systems or analyze thought processes,
To make a distinction between sense and sensibility.

So, we assume an oversimplified narrative,
Boxing people into stereotypes,
Magnifying the differences,
Amplifying the biases,
Crushing our ability to reason,
Energizing our latent insecurities,
Crystallizing them into a mixture of anger and fear,

We strive to protect ourselves,
To guard our culture,
Exposing the worst human instincts, 
Sacrificing ourselves at the altar,
Of an utterly unnecessary war, 
that will have no winners!