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Author Richard Sidy

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DEPARTMENTS

DIPLOMACY
A hopeful approach for the future of international relations.

HELP FOR TEENS
Redirect teen rebellion towards idealism and self improvement.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Read excerpts from unpublished book: Science, Religion and the Search for God —Bridging the Gap.

POETRY
Poems of society, the human condition, and spiritual discovery.

TEACHERS' RESOURCES
Our student activities and curriculum materials instill an environmental, cultural, and global perspective, and integrate various academic disciplines.

Unity in Diversity

The human spirit strives for peace and freedom while the body yearns for security. How can these be achieved in a competitive world where people follow leaders who say, "you are either with us or against us?" While that was an understandable rallying cry in the dark ages of religious, economic, and territorial tribalism and isolationism, it is an anti-survival curse in the modern age. Is it really possible that any one political, economic or religious viewpoint is the only right one? If so, life for so many in the world would be unfriendly, confusing and precarious, and contrary to the wisdom of revered teachers throughout history in every culture.

When we develop the consciousness of unity in diversity we will discover how rich we are, and also how much we share and owe to each other. Gratitude for those who have helped and enriched humanity charges our psyche with energy, with a positive outlook and optimism about the potential of human beings. When people develop such a state of mind they will not feel threatened by cultural, racial, or religious differences. They will not imprison themselves by fear or by the desire to dominate others. They will live with a sense of belonging to a human family who's differences are worth respecting and protecting.

Only diversity can insure our survival and tap the built-in wealth of our shared biological and cultural heritage. Humanity as a whole shares one territory, and shares a common fate. We are all threatened by the same "enemies" - environmental degradation, intolerance and hate, and small-minded leaders with faces pinched by fear or bloated by selfishness. Cultural, political and religious fanaticism threatens adaptation and peace in human society just as decreasing bio-diversity threatens eco-systems. Healthy natural systems depend on unity and diversity, and human-made systems are not exempt from the laws of nature. All diverse parts of a system must work together.

Unity in the context of problem solving is to stand together with a shared sense of purpose. The consciousness of unity promotes agreement on basic principles and on desired outcomes in terms of quality and purpose of life. These elements are the universal rights of peace, respect, and security, and the ethic of reciprocity. They are expressed in every world teaching in some form as the "Golden Rule." This consciousness also recognizes that diversity adds to human experience and that appreciation of uniqueness enhances life. We have the power to solve our common problems cooperatively if we choose to do so, using the full range of human individuality, experience, expertise, sensibilities and ideals. The common good is best served when human genius and ingenuity are used to promote unity with respect for diversity.

The extraordinary gift of creativity is the ability to use all we have for an unlimited variety of applications. For example, language can sing, explain, tell a story, be poetic or scientific. It can give comfort, build bridges, express love and thanksgiving. On the other hand, it can argue, lie, exaggerate, seduce and divide. The quality of life is decreased and put at risk only when some gift is used destructively and selfishly. All beneficial human art and invention have come from uniting diverse elements for a constructive purpose in order to improve life.

Human experience has been made richer by peoples of all cultures through their creativity. Music, dance, works of art, architecture and literature have brought pleasure and beauty. Philosophical writings by seekers of wisdom and by healers have brought insight and knowledge. Heroic acts have inspired greatness in others. All creativity and all ideas expressed by human beings belong to all human beings as our common heritage.

Who wants to live one's life in the self-made prison of isolation, fear and misunderstanding? The alternative is to embrace diversity as a source of making human society more enjoyable and fit for peace and unity. This requires that we forgive the negative legacy of selfishness and pain inflicted on each other in the past. When we realize that we are united in our global destiny, we may become wise co-builders of the future using the beneficial legacy that history has stockpiled in the diverse treasury of collective human experience and creative potential.

© 2005 Richard Sidy