We are all One, let’s live as One
- February 12th, 2010
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I came across an article in the Straits Times on 10 Dec 2009 by a writer, Navi Pillay who is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and these are a few of the extracts (in italics):
“Old and new forms of discrimination and intolerance continue to divide communities all over the world. Sentiments of xenophobia are on the rise. They are often manipulated for demagogic purposes or sinister political ends.”
“Discrimination can take many forms, covert or blatant, public or private. It may appear as institutionalized racism or ethnic strife, or manifest itself in episodes of intolerance and rejection that escape scrutiny. Its victims are individuals or groups that are most vulnerable to attack – all those that, due to their race, sex, language, religion, political or other beliefs, national or social origin, birth, status, disabilities and sexual orientation are perceived as different.”
“Discrimination is often multi-layered. Groups that are marginalized on the basis of their origin or status encounter further curtailment of their rights when they attempt to have the access that international law entitles them to housing, food, health care and education.”
These thoughts made me wonder how much I am doing to ensure that I break down all barriers of this great divide, and how much I am being to everyone to take away the invisible wall that has been erected over the years. These words made me stop to feel how I may have unconsciously contributed to a world of discrimination, even though I may oppose to it.
“History has proved time and again that, when discrimination, inequality and intolerance are allowed to take root, they may shatter the very foundations of societies. History has proved that these abhorrent practices have no beneficial aspects whatsoever. Discrimination undermines the social and economic cohesion of societies. It saps their resources. It squanders talent. It marginalizes productive individuals and groups, and depresses their creativity and initiative.”
Though we may know of discrimination around the world via the media, and have voiced our disapproval of the injustice done to these people but the question is whether we notice any difference in our own backyard. Sometimes, we tend to want to remove the speck from another person’s eye without first removing the log that is blocking our own vision.
There is no need to look too far for the answers.
Take a moment to reflect over how we regard one another – people who are not family members, friends and colleagues, and people who are members of the same fraternity and organization; how we acknowledge the workers in the streets; how we respect people’s choices which are different from ours; and how much we have created a chasm between ‘us and them’.
Take notice too of how we have divided the world into a series of binary oppositions that privilege one side over the other, how we have created the illusion of dualism – thinking we are separate beings.
Make a shift now, and make a difference – not just for yourself but also for the world. We are all One, let’s live as One.
