Chairman's Message
For an overwhelming mass of mankind around the globe, faith remains an essential foundation of life. It anchors us in times of stress, uncertainty and is a binding force for engendering amiable communities.
The vast majority of people of faith live in harmony with their neighbors, whatever their creed. But within each religion, a restless minority is bent upon to assert dogmatic doctrines through hatred and extreme violence. This misguided lot lashes out at the right of all to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
We live in times of turmoil and change - economic, environmental, demographic and political. This continuing evolution brings both hope and uncertainty. Our job is to ensure that hope wins, and our task shall see fruition if the purveyors of all faiths collaborate in common goal.
We are here to preserve the heritage and teachings of all major religions against the rising tide of intolerance. It is imperative that the progressive majority stands up and be counted in negating the forces of extremism. There is no way to peace; peace is the way.
At UNITE's upcoming International Interfaith Conference in November, we seek to learn, share and inspire in order to unify faiths and cultures. Religious and cultural leaders have a responsibility to speak the language of harmony and respect within and outside their communities. By sustaining dialogue is to appreciate the otherness of the other. Dialogue is never a concession, but always a tool for mutual understanding.
We must also reach out to young people with a message of hope. Youth is too often marginalized, jobless and faces an unknown future. Sadly, youth voices are usually drowned in officious, highbrow machinations of their elders. And resultantly, in some cases, they succumb to the lure of fanatics offering a sense of cause, community and yes, supposed utopia. We need to lay bare these false premises and jointly deliver a forcible counter narrative.
This cannot be achieved by words alone. Young people need jobs and a rightful stake in a future that resonates with their aspirations. UNITE's goal is to utilize their energy and zest for ushering in a better world that champions respect, admiration and celebration of diversity in all its forms. To do that, we need the engagement of all stakeholders - including young people and communities of faith.
Let us not forget that what separates us is minuscule compared with what unites us. Working together, we can achieve all our goals for peace, prosperity and physical and spiritual well-being.