Understanding and tolerance of other cultures is not a weakness, not a sign of inadequate patriotism, not an indication that we are rootless “citizens of nowhere.” In reality, it reflects our preparation for the world of tomorrow, where we will become ever more mixed as peoples, even as we study, value, and preserve our collective cultural heritage.

The world is not there yet. Therefore, we need to take smaller, easier steps, where there is room for all as we develop a better understanding of one another. The strengthening of proximate communities will not just allow a diversity of views, including the most tribal and the most cosmopolitan, to exist. It will also allow us to preserve direct social interaction, which may well be where more of the jobs of the future lie, as automation depletes jobs in sectors that produce commercial goods and services.