Fear of the unknown is a common and natural human reaction.

Instead of following the president's footsteps and leading with fear, the credit union industry should take the opportunity to practice empathy, build bridges and explore untapped markets. Avoid the trap of the "us" versus "them" mentality.

In college, I did an internship at a television station in Ghana. During my travels throughout the country, I visited an outdoor market in Kumasi, one of Ghana's largest cities. As I made my way through the winding isles of the bustling market, I turned a corner and came across a young child who jumped and began screaming when he saw my white face. The child didn't hate white people; he just hadn't seen many before. A perfect example of how, from a very young age, we fear what we don't know – we fear the unfamiliar, those who aren't like "us."