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Contest Winner: United We Stand (by Renee Rouse)

A few staff members from the United Nations Association in Canada - Toronto Region Branch and Five Minutes to Midnight recently had the opportunity to judge a writing contest held for Truth-Compassion-Tolerance Day on May 13, 2004 in Toronto. The writing contest was open to high school and post-secondary students. One of the winners, Renee Rouse, attends Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School and is in the twelfth grade. Special thanks go out to Marcin Kozakowski, Rawi Samman, Aida Ibraim, Tracy Tsui, and John Zhang for their work on the contest.

Throughout history, the global community has often ignored the cries for help of the persecuted. The recent marking of the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda is a haunting example of how humanity failed to respond to intolerance. Repeated injustices should not have to occur before the world takes notice. In order to make the world a better place, we must validate the value and dignity of every human being, respect each other’s differences, and rebuke all acts of intolerance. A change is desperately needed in the way we treat one another, or our future will be bleak.

A crucial part of improving tolerance is through the realization that every person is sacred. Humans are dignified and moral beings, no matter what race, sex, age or creed. Mahatma Gandhi said, “We are tarred with the same brush; we are all members of the vast human race.” The message of individual worth helps to eliminate the notion that one person is far superior than another. We possess our own set of principles that guide our meaning of life, making us each unique. Instead of division where there is diversity, we must join together. The strength of unity is powerful. Humanity can rise in victory if united, or collapse in defeat if divided. Tolerance can only exist if we come together and recognize the goodness in one another.

The basis of most world religions is that we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Since Christianity is based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Islam is based on the idea of Brotherhood, Buddhism follows the Noble Eightfold Path and Hinduism focuses on oneness, respect for each other’s ideologies should be simple. Unfortunately, even striking similarities in worldly beliefs has not established harmony. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Humanity will only be able to achieve tolerance by leading by example. We cannot succumb to the pressures of retaliation. We must transcend history by promoting compassion and acceptance for diversity in a peaceful manner.

Blood continues to stain the land of many countries in the name of religion, politics or freedom. Each horrific image on television and every gruesome detail in the paper recreates the dire situations surrounding our fellow brothers and sisters. With the click of a button or the turn of a page, we silently impose these unbearable realities. Martin Luther King Jr. declared that, “An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.” More responsibility is needed for fairness in all parts of the world. In the refusal of acknowledging sufferance, we commit the social sin of ignorance. Ignorance impedes resolve. We must defend the opposition to oppression, and implement actions to promote global tolerance. The severity of intolerance has no degree - from Apartheid in South Africa to bullying in the schoolyard - each act is detrimental to humanity and must be considered unacceptable by social standards. Society has a moral responsibility to rectify all injustices towards its members and the world as a whole

It is our duty to preserve the sacredness of being human. By striving to ensure the wellness of others we are effectively applying the basic principle of justice, which entails speaking out against injustices and seeing that they are not repeated. Humanity must unite as one to eliminate discrimination and uphold the values that we cherish. Through respect for one another and the rejection of all unjust acts, we are each contributing to the common goal of making our world a better place.

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