Mark Abouzeid, My Enemy, My Brother
“If we begin to see each other as we are…brothers, all striving for the same things and with the same problems…then maybe we can begin to put an end to this madness. We are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, bosses, employees, emigrants, lovers and, most of all, children.
As long as we highlight differences in our cultures, traditions and lives, then a true dialogue can never begin. However, once we show respect for the traditions, history and lifestyle of other peoples, then we can truly begin to talk about the numerous problems we all face.”
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
“The intangible cultural heritage (ICH) – or living heritage – is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity. The depository of this heritage is the human mind, the human body being the main instrument for its enactment, or – literally – embodiment.
ICH is the composite of the practices, representations, expressions, as well as the knowledge and skills, that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage. More precisely, a cultural heritage that:
- is transmitted from generation to generation;
- is constantly recreated by communities and groups, in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their history;
- provides communities and groups with a sense of identity and continuity;
- promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity;
- is compatible with international human rights instruments;
- complies with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, and of sustainable development.”
Anna Lindh Foundation, Ideas and Ideologies
In the ideological battlefield, cultural diversity is often used as an instrument of political struggle which has degenerated in open xenophobia, populism and different forms of extremism, converting certain communities or cultures in a target. This trend has to be challenged, together with intellectuals, writers and leading figures who contribute to shape public opinions in the region.