PEACE IN PLURAL SOCIETIES — Reflections

The fact is that cultural differences are not a matter of differences only between two communities. Such differences are to be found among, and between, different sub-groups in each and every community, too. It is impractical, indeed impossible, to do away with these differences. That is why it is not necessary to change religious teachings in order to promote unity and harmony between different religions. For this, the only necessary thing is to promote among the followers of different religions the understanding of ‘Live and Let Live’. Some people still advocate an experiment that has already proven to be a failure: what they call ‘Social Engineering’. Through this, they seek to respond to the fact of cultural diversity among different communities by calling for the restructuring of the communities’ cultures so that the wider society is free from cultural differences and all citizens of the state have one and the same culture. There is only one way to solve the issue of religious differences, and that is: ‘Follow one, and respect all’. No matter what name it is called by, the result of the effort to manufacture and impose a single culture on people remains the same — utterly useless. It is tantamount to nothing less than what could be called ‘cultural bulldozing’. No matter what it is termed — ‘social engineering’ or ‘cultural nationalism’ or whatever — it remains thoroughly impractical and unrealistic. And to pursue anything impractical from the point of view of natural laws is simply a waste of time. In this regard, my difference with the ‘cultural nationalists’ or ‘social engineers’ is not on an ideological, but, rather, practical basis. I do not say that their aim is wrong, but, rather, that what they want to bring about is simply impractical and impossible to achieve. Supposing it becomes possible for everyone in the country to start speaking one language, to follow one culture and to have the same traditions and way of life, I would say, ‘Yes, it should certainly be so.’ But the fact remains that in line with the laws of nature and history, this sort of uniformity is simply impossible. It has never been possible in the past, and nor will it be possible in the future. Cultures develop according to their own logic. It is simply not possible to sit in a cabin and invent a culture of your liking and then go about imposing it on every community in the country.