I don't think we'll be able to break the cycle until we encounter aliens and there's a whole new spectrum to use as a measuring stick to label outsiders. The cy

I don't think we'll be able to break the cycle until we encounter aliens and there's a whole new spectrum to use as a measuring stick to label outsiders. The cycle persists because of how different the outsiders are compared to "us" insiders. The human animal is like many animals, matching patterns in past experience and applying labels to those patterns in order to survive. Religion and superstition are fine examples of this behavior. As is racism and classism and politics, etc. I don't think this will change unless the pattern-matching, label-applying biology/behavior is eliminated, e.g. the human animal is changed into something that isn't human, or through semantics, e.g. unless the human animal is presented with something so extraordinary and counter to the status quo that the definitions are changed.