Our world is wreathed in conflict. Blood feuds have raged for generations all over the globe and there seems to be no stopping them. Racism has yet to fully recede from society and holy wars in the Middle East seem only to be getting worse. War is tearing families apart, but you have to wonder why. Mankind is an incredibly diverse race. Looking at the vast range of customs found among our race it's often hard to recognize that we are all the same species. However fascinating this diversity is, it has fragmented man into hundreds of warring subcultures. All are similar in some ways, but all strive to distinguish themselves. However, inevitably a subculture's quest for its cultural identity will clash with the beliefs of another and only one can be right. But who's to say which one? One thing is for certain; conflict is a direct result of contrast.
All conflicts are caused by conflicting values. Whether it's an argument, a war, or even a tough decision, a conflict just represents two opposing forces trying to prove their beliefs. Two forces each representing a different point of view, and in our society it's impossible for both to be right. It is difficult for us to comprehend the beliefs of others. After believing in a set of values for a lifetime, foreign beliefs seem alien and impossible. A belief system builds a wall around us, preventing us from seeing through it. It filters everything we perceive, telling us what's right and what is wrong and while it can change, it takes time. We all have our own unique set of beliefs, some are common universally, but many concepts are impossible to understand to those who haven't grown up with them. So, we fight over difference in beliefs and we are unable to comprehend new values. If we can't understand what we're fighting over, how can anyone ever win?
Throughout history human beings have had a need to find those who share their beliefs. The need to find someone who you can relate to is as prevalent in today's society as it has ever been. This need is the foundation for every culture in existence. A culture, in its simplest sense, is a group of people believing in a set of concepts. As cultures form they force beliefs onto the children born into them. Those who do not accept them are socially exiled. These exiles form the beginnings of new cultures, with a loathing for the society from which they were birthed. While these new societies may not be visible on the surface, they are there. A culture doesn't need to be a nationality or a skin color; it can simply be a group of people with a different point of view. The two cultures can work as one community, but beneath the surface, conflict brews. This is how the world grew, each new culture spawning more, with each new society breathing life into new conflicts. Conflict is born from conflict.
In a world where our differences tear us apart, how does Canada remain peaceful? We are the only nation in the world to officially endorse multiculturalism and this has yet to result in a major conflict. Yet how? When across the globe nations are torn apart by two cultural groups fighting for control how can a country with so many be so tranquil? Canada is a nation of immigrants. People flocked from every corner of the globe to the promise of a new beginning in this new land. They viewed Canada as a fresh start, and a chance to erase the weight of the past. Canada became a home to people from every walk of life with every cultural background and while they lived in one community it looked impossible for them to interact as one. Their customs and languages were as varied as they were and communication was nearly impossible from group to group. However, we grew beyond that. As a nation of immigrants our people had severed many of their roots and to survive they needed to grow new ones. They learned to understand each other without needing to become the same. While never erasing their past the people of our country worked together as one culture, reveling in their diversity. Unlike so many other nations we have found peace, not through assimilation but from diversity itself.
Human history is little more than a narrative of mans conflicts, a tale of our tribulation and success. Each tale told by a different soul, each from behind a different veil. It's these veils that raise us above being just a species of apes to becoming a society. While diversity creates conflict, it has also created mankind and conflict itself is essential for our society. If we are to ever find peace we must to accept each other for who we are and realize that we may not always be in the right. Look through the veil, embrace diversity.
