|
Speech of Dr. Ahmed Kamal Aboul Magd
( Commissioner for Dialogue between Civilizations of Arab League )
Page (4)
4.
Last, but not least, is the most unfortunate recent weakening
and decline of the U.N. and the role it plays in solving
regional conflicts. This weakening is also linked to the growing
omnipotence of the one super power dominating the international
arena in our time. Example of such decline in the role of the
U.N. are its failure to send a fact finding committee to
investigate the serious violations by the Israeli government of
the basic principles of Humanitarians International Law in the
City of Jennine and some other Palestinian cities. Another
example is its failure to sanction the worldwide apposition to
the invasion of Iraq, for lack of any evidence presented by the
one super power and its British ally. This anger and
condemnation of said invasion by a large part of public opinion
is again a witness to the regrettable decline in the
effectiveness of the U.N. in handling regional conflicts.
In conclusion to my presentation and in line with the whole
rationale and purpose of the present conference, I want simply to
refer to the specific case of Dialogue between Japan and the World
of Islam. Like many other researchers in the field of
intercultural relations and their impact on peace, I am of the
firm opinion that no cultural cooperation is possible without
mutual understanding between the followers of different cultures.
It is high time for all to abandon the old biases and prejudices
based on generalizations, wrong assumptions, untenable analogies
and the use of stereotypes as representing the whole of other
cultures. In the particular case of Islam, as a faith, a system of
law, a code of values and ethics and a whole way of life, very
much has been said and written portraying Islam as a threat to
modernity, progress and a culture of peace. It is high time to
give up images and impressions and to learn more about Islam as
represented by it main stream, and not by the narrow margin of
subcultures whose interpretation of Islam and much of their
behavior are diametrically apposed to the principles and spirit of
Islam as derived from its authentic sources and terms of
reference. Two such often discussed examples are the status of non
Muslims in a Muslim community, the other and most relevant to the
present conference is Islam's view of violence, war and bloodshed.
Without much deviation from the main theme we are addressing this
morning, I would like to make two important statements :
Page1
Page2
Page3
Page4
Page5
Page6 |
|
