I have just come back from an unusual, possibly unique, meeting. Iraqis from Iraq and England came together with some Israelis and Palestinians, the latter from both Gaza and recognized Israel. The gathering took place on neutral ground, in Cyprus. The dominant Shia tradition was present at a distinguished level, while the Sunnis had to rely on a spokesman, who has lived in Jordan for some years.
The Israelis were both rabbis. Such religious leaders have shown great courage in standing up for justice and humane behaviour. They cannot , however, speak for the majority of their population.
We developed good friendships and propose two clear messages:
All of us have a responsibility to reduce, and if possible to overcome, fears which are very real in countries experiencing violent conflict.
Secondly, we should do everything possible to correct the many errors that still exist in the school text-books and teaching of many states. These promote false stereotypes and cause prejudices, which keep conflicts going from generation to generation.
On item one, on the agenda, people hungry and in poverty are surely those most in fear.
On the second item ,I was reading the other day of the stories which occur in all three of the Holy works of the Abrahamic tradition. The fact of the Maryad in the Quran I really am ashamed to say I did not know.
Keep up the good work.
Israel is a stage name for the USA. It is funded by and used as a tool by its paymasters. All the talks in the world will not change that or change any tactics in the area. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded as the most recent events in Europe proves beyond doubt. The word pawns springs to mind.
”we should do everything possible to correct the many errors that still exist in the school text-books and teaching of many states”:
”Sri Lanka needs A UNESCO supervised revision of school text books by a panel of internationally renowned Sri Lankan scholars so as to minimize prejudice against communities and ‘build the defences of peace in the minds of men’.” – The Lalith Weeratunga Presentation, Dayan Jayatilleka, 28 January 2014, http://groundviews.org/2014/01/28/the-lalith-weeratunga-presentation/
‘’Education must rise on the agenda of peace building. We know the wrong type of education can fuel conflict. The use of education systems to foster hatred has contributed to the underlying causes of conflicts, from Rwanda to Sri Lanka, but also in Guatemala and Sudan’’ – Why education matters for global security, Irina Bokova(Director General, UNESCO), 1 March 2011, http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5680782-182/story.csp
Good luck, Lord Hylton & other optimists. All the 7.4b inhabitants of the planet too.
Extremely unfortunate what Buddhism is doing in Myanmar & Sri Lanka:
http://theworldoutline.com/2013/09/sri-lanka-myanmar-face-buddhist-extremism/