ROTARY – pages 38-45 – 1/ To know and understand each other to co-exist and build peace- 2014
MUSLIM CHRISTIANS DIALOGUE FOR A BETTER WORLD
The mobility of people is a right that is now considered primary in every corner of the planet, and how it involves the necessary creation of intercultural relationships is certainly one of the hottest issues of the moment; Rotary International is well aware of how important this issue is and addresses it through the “Service for Peace. Dialoguing to live together, what rules? In order to live together in a fruitful dialogue, we need to know each other; knowledge starts with truth, respect for others, and the ability to overcome prejudices. Rediscovering one’s identity, a term that is sometimes used inappropriately, is a fundamental affirmation to make oneself known and understood, never to prevail, to bring one’s presence and knowledge across continents. Consider the immigrant first of all as a man with his own dignity, rights and duties. This is the starting point of the small contribution to the understanding of the Arab world, an important component of immigration in Italy, to reach a real and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Cultural differences give rise to closures to the host society
Recent events, in Italy and elsewhere, have highlighted behaviours originated by immigrants of Arab origin, not ascribable to other immigrants, behaviours which at first sight are incomprehensible, but which have their origin in the social structure of Arab countries. In fact, the Arab, whether Christian or Muslim, is accustomed to living in a mono-cultural environment. Emigration confronts him with diverse environments; the apparent absence of God in the West frightens him and drives him to shut himself away. The Muslim Arabs react by turning to the Islamic centres, which have been proliferated thanks to the financing of Arab countries, thanks to the economic crisis; Islam thus becomes for many young immigrants the only clear reference point both on a cultural and religious level. The same happens for Christians who turn to their churches, with the difference that their religious root is common with that of the majority of Italians. The Muslim religion, because of the frustration caused by its impact with a new type of mentality, represents an easy opportunity for identification and strong cohesion. Despite national frontiers, the concept of the umma (community of Muslims) predominates in Muslim philosophy “a watchword launched by some authoritative voice at the right time can compact and lead back to close unity” (Card. Martini). In this context, Italy lacks a policy of acculturation that accompanies the immigrant in his or her insertion into Western society, preparing an adequate integration policy to accept the new citizens. The discourse is different regarding the idea of the “Ius soli”, that is, those born in Italy from foreign parents, from the citizenship inherited from parents to the Italian citizenship automatically recognized to those born here, it is good to establish the rules of the proposed automatism.
The religious factor, human rights, educational actions in countries of emigration
To understand the differences in attitude of Muslim immigrants compared to others, I highlight the religious factor. In the country of origin, Muslim law affects the lives of families and people. By way of example, non-Muslims are not allowed to marry a Muslim woman, to inherit from a Muslim, to practice certain trades, to enter the highest state offices; children are not allowed to choose their religion, the identity card shows the religion they belong to from birth, they are automatically Muslims with no possibility of choice if one of the parents is or becomes Muslim. Women in general are discriminated against not having the same rights as men. A situation that creates prejudices and legal and social discrimination against women and all non-Muslims, including indigenous Christians, causing their emigration to more hospitable countries helped in this by the globalization of information and mobility. An exodus of considerable proportions is leading to the extinction of some communities that have contributed to the wealth and splendour of Arab civilization. I stress the deafening silence in which the uprooting of the Eastern Churches in their countries of origin is being perpetuated. A radical change is needed in the formation of citizens in order to make everyone understand that they are equal, that violence is intolerable, and as such it must be promptly removed and eradicated. And we need to encourage high visibility public meetings on the subject, especially where there are more closures and where an opposing mentality is more spread.
Europe and the Middle East in turmoil
A large majority of Arabs live in extreme poverty, because the demographic development is not accompanied by adequate economic growth. Of course, Europe has an interest in a stable Middle East, but such an objective is only possible by promoting technological development, ensuring the flow of oil and raw materials, curbing emigration, creating a climate of trust and cooperation between the people, realizing the security of the agreed and recognized borders. The Middle East is in turmoil, solutions are in order: peace, prosperity and democracy. At a political level, it is important that the West, in technological or market exchanges, knows how to unite or subordinate cultural exchanges with reciprocity criterià, especially for the people’s base, effective promotion in the country of the values of civil and religious freedom, for everyone, without any discrimination and that, in this regard, there is an intense monitoring work. “We must ask the Arab world to work on education, the media, textbooks in schools and even invite to this line of education and peace, the imams who have in their hands the formidable instrument of sermons in mosques, where it would be appropriate to also proclaim the verses of the Koran that underline God’s will towards religious plurality and the commitment to compete for good in God’s Mercy”. It just so happens that the biggest violence happens on a Friday when you leave the mosques. The best response to extremism is to create a united international front based on universal standards of freedom of belief and religion. And so, inter-religious dialogue remains a commitment reserved for the elites. Instead, a way should be found to pass this heritage, I repeat -modest, as well, but still existing- from the top to the street, and above all to the field of teaching in schools, in universities to administration and the formulation of laws.
The Virgin Mary
The devotion of Muslims to the Virgin Mary is widespread among Muslims. In the spirit of a spiritual dialogue between two great religions of the Arab world, the Lebanese Parliament has established March 25th as a national holiday, the day on which the Catholic Church commemorates the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary. Unlike those who want to reduce Islam to a political system instead of considering religion as the only and true relationship of the person with God, I am convinced, as was Louis Massignon in Cairo, that Islam, understood according to its spiritual tradition, can offer precious resources to be spent and shared to build, together with Christianity and Judaism, the global culture of peace and fraternity. We must work to ensure that Muslims are able to grasp the distinction between religion and society, faith and civilization, political Islam and Muslim faith. It was Cardinal Martini himself, who encouraged dialogue between different cultures and religions, who put into communication realities that have many things to say to each other.
Rotarians united for a better world
Rotary International and its Foundation promote worldwide service campaigns for a better world, are widely publicized, and we all recognize the benefits of our actions. I would like to highlight the role that each of the more than 34,000 clubs around the world plays in helping others, the impact on quality of life, and the commitment to bringing different cultures together. Service actions undertaken by the club individually or jointly with a club in the service-recipient area are the seed that sprouts the fruits for the benefit of the men and women in the affected community. The local fruits expected from the actions of individual clubs add value to Rotary’s worldwide service programs. In fact, giving money remains a sterile act if it is not accompanied with a Rotarian heart and spirit, has a positive impact on the beneficiaries and adds value to the service provided. It is a first step in Service to Peace. If all Rotarians were aware of the tangible benefits of a specific service, it would be a driver for further action by local clubs to promote the image of Rotary. For example: it is well known that women’s submission and illiteracy hinder the harmonious development of a social core; implementing a Rotary literacy project in a specific area promotes the promotion of women by providing them with the tools to enter the world of work, leading to their economic and cultural independence and making them aware of their dignity as the first step to claim equal rights. In this itinerary, women take a leading role to change current prejudices and obtain a common ethical charter against injustices due to discrimination and religious fanaticism, leading the way for the economic development of the societỳ in question and social peace. Another example is the strengthening of international friendship through service between two Rotary clubs that have the same ideal and have decided to organize a summer camp at the beach for less fortunate children; many of them have never known the sea and live in rural areas without clean water. The results have exceeded expectations, and I mention a few in order to motivate other Rotary friends. Staying in a healthy environment by teaching hygienic and sanitary ways to prevent disease has created the desire of families to have access to clean water and basic sanitation; prevention of infection and disease through medical check-ups has made the family environment healthier; holiday conviviality has reduced gender inequality and misunderstandings due to differences in beliefs, the first step toward better social conviviality; and it has made the less fortunate children happier.
In conclusion, I would like to say that we all belong to the human family and attach the greatest importance to the dignity of the person with the conviction that we are rediscovering human values. We Rotarians turn the wheel between religions, politics and decision-making powers; we are the protagonists of service projects characterized by quality, friendship, efficiency and gratuitousness that lead to peace; only by building peace in hearts do we lay the foundations for an authentic integral humanism.
The battlefield is man’s heart
(Fedor Dostoyevsky)
Giuseppe Samir Eid
Free web translation from the original in Italian
The published articles intend to provide the tools for a social inclusion of the migratory flow, shed light on human rights and the condition of life of Christians in the Islamic world from which the author come from. Knowledge of the other, of cultural and religious differences are primary ingredients to create peace in the hearts of men everywhere, a prerequisite for a peaceful coexistence and convinced citizenship in the territory.