Thursday, June 12, 2008

Challenge of diversity

I'm done with my English class for this semester. Yesterday I had the final examination. The exams was actually fun especially when it came to the essay part. The question asked whether a multicultural society would gain more in terms of development than a monocultural one would do. And of course I'd say multicultural society would progress better.

"O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware. " (Al-Hujuraat: 13)

But a multicultural nation will not succeed just because it has a diverse society. Challenges of diversity are there and these challenge can simply turn the country upside down if not well met. What are the challenges? I would like to comment on one of them. A society of different beliefs and traditions is fragile. Naturally, human beings are more attracted to differences and contrast than to similarities and matches. Differences are there for us to enjoyed and our likenesses in humanity are there to connect us. The differences can only be enjoy with respect and positive mindset. And our similarities can only connect us if we think about them and appreciate them. The truth is we are a lot more alike than we are different but many of us do not realize this. Learn about ourselves and others to understand and appreciate what God has created.

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