As we celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity this week, the writer explains how embracing our diverse cultures can enrich humanity and foster global unity.
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As we mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May, it is an opportune time to celebrate the beauty of our diverse cultures and recognise the richness they bring to humanity.
In a statement entitled ‘The Prosperity of Humankind’, the Bahá'í International Community says: “The immense wealth of cultural diversity achieved over thousands of years is vital to the social and economic development of a human race experiencing its collective coming-of-age. It represents a heritage that must be permitted to bear its fruit in a global civilization” and “Since the body of humankind is one and indivisible, each member of the race is born into the world as a trust of the whole. …The principle of collective trusteeship creates also the right of every person to expect that those cultural conditions essential to his or her identity enjoy the protection of national and international law”.
It is the diversity of cultures and colours that gives our world its beauty and vibrancy. The natural differences in temperament and talents among individuals, as well as humanity's varied and rich experiences, cultures, and viewpoints contribute to the human family's progress and well-being
Diversity is woven throughout all of creation and is evident everywhere in nature. A flourishing garden, for example, is made beautiful not by one flower species and colour, but by the harmony of flowers of many colours, types and fragrances, alongside trees of different shapes and sizes.
The following quotation from the Bahá’í Writings illustrates this: “Consider the flowers of a garden: though differing in kind, colour, form and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their charm, and addeth unto their beauty. Thus when that unifying force, the penetrating influence of the Word of God, taketh effect, the difference of customs, manners, habits, ideas, opinions and dispositions embellisheth the world of humanity”.
What is currently causing division, hatred, warfare and bloodshed in many parts of the world is prejudice. Prejudices of all kinds – of race, of class, of ethnicity, of gender, or religious belief – continue to hold a strong grip on humanity. Prejudice comes from the belief that one group or culture is superior to another.
“The reality is that there is only one human race. We are a single people, inhabiting the planet Earth, one human family bound together in a common destiny, a single entity created from one same substance…”, says the Bahá'í International Community.
The recognition of the oneness of humanity helps us overcome not only various prejudices that we may have, but to even go beyond intermediate concepts of tolerance. While tolerance is an important stepping-stone to humanity's long-desired goal of building a unified world, it is not sufficient for eliminating such deeply-rooted problems as racial, religious, or ethnic prejudice. There is a need for change in attitudes, and an active effort towards establishing genuine unity among the people of different cultures and backgrounds.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord”.
* For feedback please contact: secretary.nsa@bahai.org.za or (011) 801 3100. Websites: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Pretoria News, IOL or Independent Media. –