Unity in Diversity
“I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!” exhorted the man who initiated the change to the mindset of the people of
America
in 1963. The man was none other than Martin Luther King Junior who delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech on 28th of August 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial,
Washington
D.C.
Now, King’s brothers and sisters are united hand in hand with their ‘masters’ building the nation. No longer do you see prejudiced eyes lingering or hear discriminating slurs on the streets of
New York
or other cities in
America
, compared to the 1960s. Even the ‘white men’ have realized that segregation serves no purpose. In the Theory of Utilitarianism by Jeremy Bentham, everyone is made equal and one person may rely on the other for support. Therefore, no one should be left out in the cold. This theory also suggests that the factor of utmost importance is that everyone is kept happy.
The key word is ‘happiness’. When everyone is happy, peace and harmony can be maintained across all boundaries. A tiny red dot of an island on the map below Peninsular Malaysia is a good example. Although
Singapore
had racial disputes throughout her history, the citizens have come to terms with the fact that the disputes have led them nowhere. A country with no natural resources simply has to rely on its manpower to boost its economy and defence. This is precisely why National Service plays an important role in integrating men from various races. Differences are cast aside in order to work together in protecting the beloved motherland. Even though
Singapore
has four major races and religions, it shows that its citizen can unite. The
Singapore
pledge that every Singaporean knows by heart, binds its people together. ‘Regardless of race, language or religion’ as quoted from the pledge, serves as a reminder for every citizen that every member of the society is vital in the country’s progress despite their individual differences.
Let us take a look at unity on a macro-level on a more global scale. I cite the post-events of the tsunami, which hit parts of
Asia
like Aceh and
Sri Lanka
. The catastrophe took away lives totaling almost 200,000; with many more still missing. People are left homeless as rubble now replaces the site where homes used to be, and the threat of a plague outbreak due to decomposing bodies not retrieved by relatives; are a few of the many problems left behind after the tragic incident. However, the people of
Asia
did not just sit still upon hearing of the disaster. Upon reading, hearing and seeing the calamity, everyone across the globe rose to contribute manpower, food, medicine and even cash to assist the affected areas. These were good Samaritans who sincerely helped strangers who were in need. They helped because it was humane to do so. Thus, despite diversity there is still unity. In a blink of an eye, the colour of the skin, difference in religions or even the barrier of languages is no longer an issue. Humanity overcomes personal differences.
What happens if ‘unity’ does not exist in the dictionary? I believe that it will then spell chaos and anarchy which will engulf the world. Destruction will be everywhere and ‘mercy’ will no longer mean to forgive but to put the life of a miserable person, to an end. This is just a dark picture that might loom over the world. Long gone will be the laughter and smiles of innocent children playing along the roads of peace if unity goes extinct.
History might repeat itself. For example, 800,000 people were slain in the civil war of
Rwanda
just because a tribe, Hutu, lead by former President Juvenal Habyarimana wanted an ethnic balance in his country where the Hutus were 85 percent of the population. Hence, on 6th of April 1994, he ordered the massacre of the remaining 15 percent of the Tutsi tribe. The genocide in
Rwanda
was one of the greatest crimes against humanity in the second half of the twentieth century.
Hence, unity is definitely a must to practise in order to maintain peace which will lead to economic and social stability in a country, if not the world. Unity is not the sole responsibility by a government or any organization. Unity can only be a success if every individual puts their right foot forward and executes it with their heart. Unity does not come automatically. Like a plant, it needs to be sown on fertile land, nurtured by various nutrients from different fertilizers and nourished by the pure water of virtue. Only then will it grow beautifully, heading up to the rays of life. Trees will flourish and flowers will bloom, thus making a stronghold on the soil with its roots. If these different roots from different plants do not hold the soil together, then the soil will give way and landslides will occur, destroying the soil and the plants living on it. This analogy is similar to unity in diversity.
If people do not unite due to differences in race, religion and even political agendas, then peace will be very hard to come by. Let us hold hands to the song of ‘We are the World’ so as not to let what had happened in Rwanda, the genocide in Germany during World War Two or the massacre in Yugoslavia be repeated. Let us unite, as people of this world.
END
Done by: Mohamed Hizammuddin Bin Mohamed Yusof
Edited by: Suhainis Binte Samsi
Date: 29.01.2005
No. of words: 960
