The world’s first cities, according to the Book of Genesis, were built by Nimrod, a “man of might,” after the flood that wiped out nearly all of humanity. They were spectacular — likely vibrant and filled with an innovative spirit. But this progress was wrecked by a group of travelers that had come from the east. Their mission was to get rid of what they considered to be the messiness and unpredictability of the cities — to establish a singular identity and a universal culture.

The group was triumphant. They had built the Tower of Babel. All forms of “otherness” were eliminated. So, their edifice might instead have been termed “The Tower of Conformity.” Fast-forward several thousand years, and we have our very own tower.