Respecting difference, promoting understanding -- the crucial way in resolving conflicts

Peace, it is an ever-lasting theme for the entire world, and it is especially a tough target for the Mid East. Undoubtedly, Mid East has been the most turbulent district over the world since World WarⅡ. From the Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War to Iraq War (Second Gulf War), Israeli--Palestinian conflict, for decades, millions of innocent Jews, Muslims have become the victims of ethnical conflict. Millions of people lose their families, properties and homeland.

Recently, new contradictions broke out in the Middle East. Turkey, as a country has long been seen as an ally to Israel, has a subtle change in the relationship with the Jewish state since the beginning of this year. Prime Ministers of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Israel had a drastic dispute over the event that Israel's war against Islamic militants in Gaza in the World Economic Forum held in Switzerland in January, 2009. Last week, Turkey canceled a military exercise named Anatolian Eagle because Israeli pilots were to have participated in. Then a TV show that described Israeli soldiers as cruel and repressive adds to tension between Turkey and Israeli.

The source of the conflicts, without question, still is the Ethnic problem. As the complexity of the whole event, I try not to make comments without adequate knowing about the situation. In my point of view, we are in the midst of an evolving global community where it is increasing important for people to recognize our common humanity. People universally prefer health to disease, safe places to crime-riddled ones, and peace to war. In our pluralistic democracy it is crucial to find ways to unify people from diverse backgrounds. Otherwise, ethnic, religious and political factions’ conflicts will not be put an end.

Respecting difference, promoting understanding – it is the core ideology in the pursuit of peace and security of the people, although there are still tensions, misunderstandings and fractures in almost all societies. There are many districts divided by conflict, people of different faith, ethnicity and political persuasion who do not easily side by side. Most of them are a lack of knowledge and understanding.

What countries and international institutes should do is to educate people about different religious, cultures and so on. Only educating people about diversity can produce a unifying effect – by promoting understand and appreciation among people from all backgrounds.

Toward the same end of achieve a better, more peaceful world, people from different backgrounds should understand each other, and figure out a national balance between them.