plu•ral•ism
[ploo
r-uh-liz-uhm]noun
Pluralism can be defined as the capacity to see those from different backgrounds as equals.
How many off us can say that we value people of other races, religions, ethnicities, and beliefs in the same regard as our own? Kudos if you do but I am sure that for most people this is highly unlikely. Maybe its not your fault. A pluralistic outlook on life is not a skill that we are born with. Experience tells us that people are not born with the innate ability nor wish to see others as equal members of society...but this is no excuse. The struggle for people of different races, beliefs and religions to coexist within society is a battle that we have been faced with since the beginning of time and it has taken a huge toll on mankind. This age old problem is now boiling at the surface due widespread globalization which leads to a loss of cultural diversity.
The daunting question: How do we maintain our cultural identities and promote equality?
According to His Highness The Aga Khan, Pluralism is a value that must be taught and it should be integrated into a students education. In His address at the Peterson Lecture His Highness says "Together, we can help reshape the very definition of a well educated global citizen. And we can begin that process by bridging the learning gap which lies at the heart of what some have called a clash of civilizations, but which I have always felt was rather a clash of ignorances. In the years ahead, should we not expect a student at in Atlanta to know as much about Jomo Kenyatta or Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a student in Mombasa or Lahore knows about Atlanta's great son, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.?"
However it is important to remember that Pluralism is much more than accepting diversity, tolerating other cultures and knowing facts and figures. There are four key points to remember.
1. Pluralism is the energetic engagement with diversity. Relationships must be built.
2. Pluralism is actively seeking to understand. Questions must be asked.
3. Pluralism involves sticking to your commitments. Hold on to your differences, identities and culture, not in isolation but in relation to one another.
4. Dialogue is key and conversations must take place. This does not mean that everyone agrees but pluralism involves the commitment to engage in conversation.
Our culture, beliefs, traditions, and values make us who we are. Lets work together to live in society where everyone belongs and feels equal.
