Unity in Diversity

The political and social climate that prevails in the world today emphasizes difference, disunity, and destruction rather than the qualities of unity and productive and constructive energy that are required to sustain human societies. Unity in diversity is the highest possible attainment of a civilization. This attainment is made possible through passionate concern for choice, in an atmosphere of social trust.

My heart always smile to the thought that what the world needs now are different, innovative solutions to old dilemmas. It is not our differences that create dis-harmony. Rather it is the large unwillingness to accept, honor and celebrate them. It’s apparent that in honoring the richness of our differences, that we will be able to invoke the positive changes that the world craves at this pivotal moment.

The use of the phrase unity in diversity is not a new phenomenon. Its roots reach back to hundreds of years. To establish a universally recognized concept of unity, there is need for an acceptance that universal principles exist. The values of universal brotherhood, love for one's neighbour, and the golden rule of treating others as we ourselves would wish to be treated are just some of the ideals that are common to all cultures. They have fostered social union and amity between people for countless generations, inspired great works of art. Today's world would indeed benefit from a profound affirmation of these essential spiritual truths.

This ethic of thinking and acting has profound geographical, ecological, social, philosophical, and spiritual implications. During most of recent human history, the primary way in which regions have been perceived has been derived from the political boundaries that have been established. However, as ecological awareness has developed, there is an increasing perception of the difficulties posed by such often arbitrary determinations of territory. 

Research in both the action-oriented and philosophical streams of environmental studies is resulting in increased knowledge relating to the physical foundations of human existence and the impacts of human attitudes and activities on the planet. The heightened awareness and sensitivity to the ecological factors of the human-environment relationship reveal the need to broaden our concept of territory beyond the politically created boundaries that currently denote the international social and economic climate.

Religion, as the most powerful of cultural expressions, is also the greatest source of conflict. If it continues to be a source of disharmony among human beings, the planet would certainly be better off without it. However, religion continues to be a powerful force in human existence; it is destined to endure in one form or another. Therefore, an even more intensive examination of religion might be necessary to reveal the sources of the tensions between different religious groups. It is just possible that the evidence will offer not only a resolution to the problems that continue to perpetuate the fragmentation within and between national communities but also a source of inspiration to unite the global family through guidance for each individual at the interpersonal and community levels.

If humanity is ever to find peace with itself, it will come from a massive transformation in the way humans relate to one another both individually at the family and local community level.

The message is clear when we examine the geographic scale of human awareness and action to deal with the environmental crisis. Not only must we learn how to think globally and act locally but we must also learn how to think globally and locally and act globally and locally.