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| Commonwealth Day Message from Director of the Commonwealth Foundation |
Press Release
March 8 2007
The Commonwealth: Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding
2007 Commonwealth Day Message from the Director of the Commonwealth
Foundation.
Over many years, the Commonwealth has remained relevant in changing times by
responding to those who belong to it today. This has been guided by the
shared commitment to the most precious of human values, which include an
appreciation of our many differences, and respect for each other. This
achievement is all the more remarkable given the sometimes troubled history
that bound our predecessors together long ago, including slavery and
colonialism.
Our governments listen more closely and act more supportively towards each
other. Our civil society organisations grow and prosper because they
actively seek opportunities to work together, recognising that they are on
strong common ground. As individuals, we participate voluntarily out of
interest, enthusiasm or a sense of responsibility rather than compulsion.
Today’s modern Commonwealth emerged after the Second World War and has grown
in numbers and relevance since then. We have continued to welcome and
accommodate peoples in all their rich diversity.
But some of our communities are once again being tested by conflict. These
days, the sources of division and aggression tend to come more from within.
They may be between faiths, political groups, or between rich and poor.
There are other fault lines too. Their common denominator is that people are
willing to take extreme action, because they feel powerless, ignored,
humiliated or abandoned.
Everyone who is committed to the Commonwealth has a responsibility to
reflect and ask themselves searching questions. What sort of communities do
we want the young people of today and tomorrow to live in? What are the new
paths and new solutions that will draw people together positively?
Faith is a great source of inspiration and of solutions. Whether one is
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, or a follower of another faith, they all say
powerfully and persuasively in their writings that human life is valuable
and should be protected, that neighbours and friends should be cherished.
In the Commonwealth, we share a language. Yet, underneath that, we all have
a number of identities that define who we are and where we feel we belong –
to families, to communities, to cultural and indigenous groupings, to
nations. Whatever those many layers of identity, we are all human beings
above all else, and we are all Commonwealth citizens.
In 2007, in what we think and say and do, let us remember those common
foundations and seek practical ways to reinforce them. One of the surest
will be to show others around us today more respect and understanding than
yesterday, and more again tomorrow.
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