VALUES FOR LIFE International Essay Contest

One Voice about One World

by Miss. Rosemary Owen
Grade 9, Cuyahoga Falls High School
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

In a world where genocide still occurs based on racial, ethnic, and religious boundaries, it is hard to imagine a world in which multiple cultures live in harmony. Even in the United States, “The Great Melting Pot,” differences in skin color, ethnicity, religion, and even political views, lead to violence, racial slurs, and hate crimes. However, if some basic characteristics of most societies could change, would it not be possible for a multi-cultural society to exist in harmony?

One aspect of society that would need to change to create a successful multi-cultural society is the amount of religious and ethnic tolerance. Tolerance is one moral that is not embedded in most people’s social consciousnesses, yet it is essential to any community with more than one culture. Tolerance is important because when there is tolerance, there is a low margin for hate, and hate is the biggest problem in society today.

A society with a strong sense of community is also a must for any multi-cultural society. A strong community is one in which individuals work toward the betterment of the society as a whole, not just for the betterment of their own personal lives. Strong communities are important because they are supportive of every individual in the group, and in turn, less likely to be divided along cultural lines. A society that is tightly knit will likely flourish.

One of the most important qualities of what a multicultural society should be is peace. In any civilization that does not want to be torn apart by petty differences, peace is necessary. In the modern day world, people say that world peace is a goal worth working toward, and yet, violence is still portrayed as being an acceptable social staple in movies and on television. Organizations like Amnesty International and the United Nations have made great strides in keeping peace between cultures, but everyone is needed to pitch in to this worthy goal. Peace is not something to be casually pursued as one might pursue the ice cream vender on a hot day, nor is it that simple. As my gym teacher would say, “you gotta want it.”

Another trait about most cultures that would need to change is the classification of different people based on skin color, religion, and gender. If one opens a copy of Gray’s Anatomy, one will notice that the book is not divided by religion or ethnicity, because people are all the same on the inside. According to Genocide Watch, the organization responsible for preventing genocide, the first step of genocide is classification. A society that does not classify individuals can unite as one whole group, one big community, rather than a whole lot of different groups living on this tiny blue marble we call “home.”

Supportive figures are important to achieving a peaceful society as well. Whether mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers, or even a loving guardian raises them, children can benefit from loving care. Children with supportive caregivers know that they are loved, and are more likely, in turn, to love those around them. Even our television media shows us that those people with a supportive family or guardian always end up the heroes, the winners, the big dogs on top. No matter what happens to these people, they make it through and refuse to sink down below their own moral standards. That is why it is important for everyone within a community to have a supportive figure.

One last quality a peaceful multicultural society would need is a strong and unbiased government. The world has seen time and again what an unstable and single-minded government can do to a country. Effective and fair government is a must in any peaceful society because of what a government does: it makes and enforces the laws. An effective government should keep its people safe, informed, and, of course, at peace. Therefore, government is an integral part of a peaceful society.

A peaceful multicultural society is definitely possible, but it would take lots of hard work and dedication of its people to accomplish. Petty differences have divided our world in the past, and now is the time to make the change. Others such as the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa have started the ball rolling, but it is up to this generation to keep the kindness and equality spreading. I joined Key Club in our school, I try to write to places like the United Nations when I can, and I stay informed about current events around the world. I am working towards doing more for my community, and I try to persuade others to do the same. It is not always easy, but it is fun, and I get to meet new people who share interests with me. If everyone pitches in, united by common values, it can affect the future in pleasantly unexpected ways. Can a truly peaceful society ever be created? Sure, but “you gotta want it.”

Essay Home