Agree to Differ

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Image: WAY

Cultural Night: 14th MIYD youth participants and volunteers

weakness and accommodate them accordingly. They can also

imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and unconditional love.

In addition, the youth can have friends from different parts

of the world to enable the exchange of issues and events in

their different environments. Furthermore, they can take

their studies seriously in order to get good grades so that in

future they will be highly placed individuals, among the deci-

sion makers in their different countries. Youth participation

in decision-making processes was the topic of a WAY MIYD

in 2004. Participants discussed how the youth can be more

involved in decision-making processes in their societies and

the dialogue resulted in a declaration and recommendation to

public and private sectors and others.

There are also some projects that youth can start in other

areas to achieve dynamic and harmonious multicultural socie-

ties.

WAY always encourages the national youth councils to

set up projects that will help to achieve cultural diversity. This

includes setting up volunteer programmes that will help the

youth to serve their society.

Some projects that can help to achieve cultural diversity

include:

• Setting up a library for young people where they will

have interesting literature, biographies and educational

materials to read so as to be acquainted with other

people’s cultures, beliefs and histories.

• Organizing a strong children’s parliament that can

monitor the signing of treaties of peace and enforce heavy

fines and sanctions against troublemakers.

• Starting a monthly magazine that would have prominent

citizens of the world as columnists so as to share their wealth

of experiences with the youth. Articles for publication would

be accepted from youth across the globe.

• Forming a network of young people to encourage solidarity

and promote social interaction and peaceful coexistence.

The diversity of cultures, races and religions of the world is

so rich and attractive that if it is appropriately harnessed and

appreciated, the world will be a peaceful place to be. I will end

with some quotes from great people about cultural diversity.

The youth need to learn from them.

“We may have different religions, different languages,

different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race.”

– Kofi Annan

“We live now in a global village and we are in one single

family. It’s our responsibility to bring friendship and love

from all different places around the world and to live

together in peace.”

– Jackie Chan

“No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle

of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole

of nature and its beauty.”

– Albert Einstein

“We must learn to live together as brothers, or we are going

to perish together as fools.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr

“There is not a liberal America and a conservative

America – there is the United States of America. There

is not a black America and a white America and Latino

America and Asian America – there’s the United States

of America.”

– Barack Obama

gree

iffer