Religious divisions will work against social cohesion

Nov 15, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I refer to an article published in your Nov. 12, 2016 print regarding Social Cohesion. I support Dr. Hinds’ recommendation on a few strategic plans he mentioned in this article. What was not mentioned is the input from religious groups which is why I support him. Besides the barrier and division of ethnicities there is also a huge barrier and division of religious systems. These two major identities will work against social cohesion. We believe religion is about good against evil, but the actual work has always been my belief against yours. This is a major problem.
I must mention that Guyana is a secular state and we should never forget that. On many occasions governments took advice from religious groups and even made official recommendation to religious groups. This is against the Constitution of Guyana. A public figure should not interfere with religion or religion should not interfere with government officials when making decisions for the nation.
Race and religion should be personal matters and personal issue of identity. The nation is free to practice both, but you should not in any way try to impose on another person by way of your identity. We know your identity by way of culture, appearance and tradition but I want you to give me a chance to see beyond that, I can relate to you not your identity. I want to know you.
The Ministry of Social Cohesion may need to think of formulating policies to make race and religion a domesticated system rather than a public one. If television was not so costly people would buy one every day, that doesn’t mean they are not angry of other’s race and religious imposition. A cohesive community or nation must develop a cultural method and ambience of discussing issues concerning education, sports, health, family planning etc. I don’t want to know which god you believe in or where did your ancestors came from, that is your personal matter and should be kept at home. I am sharing this Universe, the trees and the animals with you not your race or religion. Let us make and live in this Universe of ours by way of cohesiveness, end the divide.
I have just started a foundation called “ECOLOGICAL WELL-BEING”. My main focus is to END THE DIVIDE by creating an awareness of treating every living organism as one life. The trees, the animals and human beings are just life; we are all made from the same five elements of the Universe. Some of the main foundations of the divide have started through race, politics, history, religion and education. Because of these impositions in our upbringing, we perceive through our five senses everything in comparison. As we compare we divide and this is because of the identity that will follow by these impositions.
Dr. Hinds mentioned one of the important channels for assisting in ending the divide is the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Please see before these impositions how a child don’t care whether you are black, Muslim, rich or even the devil, they love to play with the devil. Cohesion ends as soon as you finish high school because the impositions of identity start taking its form. We must start educating our children about the immensity of understanding what life is as one. I have a structured plan in this aspect compatible with the UN SDG’s on well-being.
The Minister is quite correct on the difficulty she is facing; this is because of the identity problems mentioned by Dr. Hinds. The older folks would never attempt to go in this direction but the youths are more than willing to try this way of cohesiveness. If the government is really concerned in making this happen the youths should be the main target group for the implementation stages and five years are too short for this implementation.
It should be a fifteen year plan. The educating and implementing aspect should start with the youths and trickle down to the children in schools, the results will be reflected by the new generation. Please note I am concerned for the well-being of all living organisms. Gender equality can be a new form of divide if the educational aspect means dominance; end the divide.
Vishnu Bhagwandin
President of ECOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

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