“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, but let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.” ‐ Bahá’u'lláh
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"Cultural Diversity as the Path to Peace"
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“If I am red; and you are yellow, let us unite and be ORANGE!” this is the one line I will always remember from my inspiring friend Yama Meerzada of Afghanistan. Amidst all the suffering around me, I have also witnessed miracles. Miracles of how love, forgiveness, kindness and acceptance have healed hurting souls and resolved wars in the grassroots level. Among these miracles is the beautiful friendship between two of my most awesome friends Elay Oren from Israel and Suhair Alami from Palestine. They both lost loved ones because of the war between two nations. And yet despite the inter-generational pain and hatred, Elay and Suhair have chosen to end the cycle of hatred between two peoples starting with the cultivation of their own friendship. We are the new generation of world leaders. We do not use only our minds in international relations for peace, but we also blend and connect from our heart as friends.
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Peace policies are vital in ensuring that more and more world leaders will advance a higher level of consciousness by promoting global dignity and human rights. However, two of the most potent ingredients to attaining peace that goes beyond policy are intercultural friendships and interfaith marriages.
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Having grown up as a world citizen and being a Filipino with Malay, Chinese, Spanish and Norwegian descent, it becomes virtually impossible for me to harbor prejudice. I am a part of all that I have met and being good friends with at least a hundred different nationalities makes me personally commit to serving humanity not just from an intellectual level, but with a more spiritual and emotional depth. This spiritual and emotional depth in one’s commitment to serving humanity makes it possible for the young global leaders of today to promote peace with the practical
“Heart and Smart” approach advocated by world leaders John Hope Bryant and Prince Haakon of Norway.
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Intercultural friendships formed through groundbreaking initiatives like the One Young World Summit in London this February 2010 is an example of events that leaders from all countries must support or replicate in order to sustainably foster cultural diversity as the path towards peace.
Interfaith activities through art and dialogue are also wonderful to experience, and we could all seek — and better yet, be the ones to organize ourselves — such interfaith events in our own communities.
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The youth of today should also break away from the fetters of racial and religious prejudice when it comes to choosing their friends or partner for life. Interfaith marriages have their own sets of challenges just like any other marriage under the same religion. People who brave to unite in friendship or marriage regardless of culture or creed are powerful catalysts in weaving the world order into one beautiful, strong and harmoniously colorful human fabric.
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For the young generation of leaders today to bring about an ever‐advancing human civilization, we must understand that UNITY is not equal to UNIFORMITY for unity necessitates diversity. Transforming our own personal attitude towards cultural diversity is at the very heart of the success of attaining world peace.
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As a Filipino, I have learned to use humor to deal with racial prejudice. As a believer, my chosen religion is
Baha’i Faith. In some countries
Baha’is are systematically persecuted by the government because of their chosen faith – a clear violation of human rights. When I was younger, whenever I encountered racial or religious discrimination, I cried and got angry; but now that I’m older, I’ve learned to let go, pray and use good humor to overcome ill-feelings towards those who “know not what they do.” I seek justice only through peaceful and loving means. It’s not easy, I know. But it just doesn’t make sense to do unto others what you would not want them to do unto you.
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We must learn to overpower strong feelings of hate with stronger feelings of love; and we must learn to overcome thoughts of war, with stronger thoughts of peace. Ultimately, the path towards peace begins with transforming our individual hearts and minds by learning to embrace the beauty of cultural diversity.
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Let deeds of peace, and not merely words of peace, be our adorning.
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Unity in Diversity
Love and Light,
Andrea Toledo
Ambassador from Philippines
For the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations
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youth, faith and what?!
Janice Mustafova
danielburitica
Ayah Al-Fwaress
raisingvoicepk
tolagenius
I don’t have extreme words to express my feelings, but I love to live and create an environment for all the human beings to live in peace and unity, the meaning of Orange is not only to be united but to feel each others emotions and respect all human beings.
As said by Mawlana Jalaludin Rumi, “Come, come, come again, whoever you maybe come again, even though you may be a pagan or fire worshiper, our hearth is not the threshold of despair, come again even if you may have violated your vows a hundred times, come again, COME AGAIN!!!!”
I am from a country which has a rich history, I am from a country where new born babies are familiar with the word WAR but still they smile and love spread love.
I am from a country in which bloodshed has been experienced in the name of Tajik, Pashtoon, Uzbek and Hazara (Casts), but still they make family relations with each other, I am from a country which is located in the heart of Asia, and believe me if the heart doesn’t function properly then the whole system collapses, I am from AFGHANISTAN.
Please help the next generation of Afghanistan have the opportunity to learn and be educated, support the peace mission in Afghanistan and condemn those who misuse the name of religion or faith in the name of gaining power to lead the next generation of Afghanistan. Please promote the real image of my religion (Islam) and do tell them that Islam doesn’t allow killing of innocent lives, it is the religion of peace and unity.
I admire youth such like, “Andrea Toledo” who likes to hold command over stars, I support this campaign.
One Young World, One Young Leaders of Tomorrow!
Regards,
Yama Meerzada
OYW Ambassador from
Afghanistan