We talked in a previous article about the importance of diversity in human life as well as in building societies. We said that research has indicated that diverse groups are characterized by higher intelligence as they go beyond traditional ways of thinking, focus on gathering facts, and discuss the evidence and assumptions they have, which makes them more objective in making decisions. Without doubt, taking advantage of the diversity of societies is not easy, as it requires awareness and study of the possibilities of applying it for their benefit. Besides, we featured some important facts about diversity.
On the other hand, the causes of conflicts that lead to the disintegration of society must be avoided, including:
• Ignorance: People often notice that those who fight and quarrel for something do not fully understand the reality of the disputed matters, so each of them adheres to their point of view, without trying to find common bases to build upon or create solutions to what they disagree about. Ignorance may be a lack of awareness of the rights of others that must be put into account, or a lack of sufficient knowledge of others in order to judge them properly. Hence, rumors rear their ugly heads, playing a major role in pushing some of them to adopt reckless behaviors that have a negative impact, especially at the societal level. In order to avoid ignorance and lack of awareness of facts, attention must be paid to all means of raising the awareness and educating the members of society.
• Intolerance: Being fanatic about a person or an idea plays a dangerous role in the spread of disputes between members of the same community, whereby each party turns away from the facts, or part of them at best, in order to achieve the gains they seek. Fanaticism also leads to the rejection of the other, or rather the denial of diversity altogether! I think that the conscious conversation and the proper presentation of the concepts of religions are essential to rectify the course of thinking, recognizing that no human being possesses full knowledge, yet all of us strive to approach it.
• Injustice: One of the most difficult things a person may go through is to have a sense of injustice, which leads to many people losing their objectivity and displaying unbalanced behavior. Justice is the way to get away from prejudice, and a fertile ground to study matters objectively and positively. In general, justice and peace are companions on the path of life – we will dwell on that when the time comes.
• The Other: Some people insist on not accepting the other, so it becomes difficult to accept diversity in society! These people think that others are inferior in terms of capabilities, intellect, or culture, indifferent to their God-given humanity. However, those who reject others should learn the common concepts endorsed by religions, as recognizing the common virtues and behavior among human beings, such as doing good, kindness, tolerance, and compassion is necessary to break down the many barriers that separate people of the same nation, and create a veracious and positive human mental image of the other.
The inculcation of the concept of diversity needs education, with the aim of creating a tolerant organizational culture that accepts others and respects their privacy, while instilling the concept of humanity that denotes love, friendliness and compassion. I would like to quote the late leader Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” The meaning of true freedom that does not violate the rights of others should be made clear among human beings, in addition to recognizing the value of diversity since religions have accepted diversity and pluralism, as mentioned in previous articles, and linking the value of diversity with the needs of society.
In a nutshell, introducing the concept of diversity and coexistence with the other for the sake of the peace and nation-building will not be achieved by words, but by hard and painstaking work for the advancement of societies and nations. In addition, the essence of religions that respect humanity should be highlighted through resolute measures that affirm our pursuit of peace, construction and happiness for all along the path of life.
Indeed, the talk about “Beautiful Egypt” is endless.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
