Article:
ISSUE No.1 DECEMBER 2006

Inter cultural Understanding
THE MISSION OF THE 21ST CENTURY

In a world that is caught in the grip of conflicts, the UAE in general and Dubai in particular can be described as a peaceful meeting point of various cultures, beliefs and attitudes. People from East and West live together sympathetically and harmoniously, although they come from different nations and were raised up with different concepts of culture and religion. We want to say with the loudest possible voice on behalf of the larger silent majority of the West and of the East that people of the world are not to be taken hostages by extremists on both sides of the globe. We make it very clear that we do not look at realities with a lop sided vision or approach issues with a prejudiced attitude.

 

It is wrong to speak of an Islamic or Christian nation because the basis of social formation and genesis of nations has never been religion. Although religion has always played a role that cannot be neglected in the shaping of social organization and human ethics, it has always been common living on a piece of land which guarantees social interaction at all levels, that has always been the natural basis of social formation of nations worldwide. It is wrong to label people by their spiritual conviction; they can only be labeled by their acts or contribution to the universal human civilizations. The legitimization of bigoted hatred, from what ever quarter it originates, remains a source of discord. In this regard no extremist on both sides of the globe can claim innocence, legitimacy or revelation. Faith is a human necessity; religion is a socially interpreted system.

An exception never negates the rule but confirms it. In this context human understanding is the rule and extremism, under whatever colour or shape or for any reason, is the exception. A country like the UAE which is very much Arab and very much Muslim, yet it is a country which is very much international having 125 nationalities living in absolute harmony and serenity while every individual or community leads its own lifestyle.

It is not unusual to see a national lady with a Burkha walking beside another European lady wearing a mini-skirt, while laws prohibiting wearing veils have been enforced in certain European nations. It is not that we are speaking in support of one side against another. We do understand and appreciate that every society or community has the right to be whatever it has been shaped to be, but understanding and respect should be mutual. The mixture of cultures and attitudes is a healthy phenomenon which has contributed to the enrichment of the societies through physical interaction by adding always a new colour to the universal human evolution of civilization.

However the prevailing conflict of today is due to a politicized and biased portrayal of realities by the mass media. This aspect has always been important, but in today’s world it is becoming more crucial than ever because of the fast tempo of life and non-stop flow of information. In conclusion, what we would like to say, that in a world which has lost its soul and which is the product of a human evolution stretching form the “Hunters Society” through the various stages of the agricultural society, up to the industrial and globalized social structure, in such a world, it is important for human societies to acquire a new human soul or else they will become mere conglomerations of robots.