BEHIND US AND THEM
The concept of Slovenia has existed since around the 6th century , but its ethnic lands – be it through the domination of powerful monarchies or as the result of a movement for self-determination – always formed a part of something bigger , the two best-known examples being the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Yugoslavia , respectively . Because of this heritage , the geostrategic location as a gateway from the southeast to western and northern Europe , and a variety of other reasons , including historical , religious , ethnic , socioeconomic , political , climate , etc ., its territory has seen a lot of people come , leave or – especially over the recent years due to instability in the Middle East – just pass through .
The exhibition Us and Them without Frontiers is all about movement of people in both directions – in and out of the countries . If anything , migrations are not a new phenomenon , they have been a part of human history since ancient times . Which is good . Just imagine the world had people never left their homelands . No exploration of foreign lands and civilizations , no dissemination of knowledge , no exchange of ideas , no collaboration , no scientific and technological milestones and breakthroughs . No nothing . A truly miserable place .
So why do we insist on using the terms such as “ us ” and “ them ” or “ ours ” and “ theirs ”? What does it mean , and feel , to be Slovenian or American , a migrant or an immigrant or any other word ( some nice , some not so nice ) that we use to describe the migration of people ? How come that intelligent and reasonable beings keep failing to realize that nothing lasts forever ? In fact , what is claimed “ ours ” today could easily become “ theirs ” tomorrow .
Migrations have an undeniable and permanent influence on society . They did prove to be a good thing in the past , just think of the “ no nothing ” world . What changed ? Why are many hesitant to the notions of “ foreign ”, “ different ” and “ unknown ”, which are often associated with
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