Monday, Jul 07, 2014
Sharjah: The role of intercultural dialogue in maintaining stability and enhancing cultural communication was the topic of discussion at the third Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) Ramadan majlis.
The majlis, which was attended by Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of SMC, hosted a panel of ministers and intellectuals from around the Arab World to discuss humanity’s need for intercultural dialogue.
Dr Lana Mamkegh, Jordan’s Minister of Culture, pointed out that multiple identities stemming from different sects and ethnic groups should be a reason for solidarity and harmony and should not necessarily lead to disagreement and conflict. “Dialogue shouldn’t be looked at as a goal, it should be a tool that we use to enjoy each other’s diversity. We should first start practising healthy dialogue in our homes, because there is a gap in the way children are being raised inside the home,” she said. She explained that peace and solidarity among Arab communities have deteriorated in the background of the recent political instability, which escalated sectarian tension and political division.
Zeyad Baroud, Lebanese former Minister of Interior and Municipalities, agreed that dialogue is an important tool to manage multi-ethnic communities. He added that one major problem in Lebanon is the existence of radical groups that do not accept others, pointing out that the four decades of suffering in Lebanon was due to the absence of the culture of dialogue.
Another speaker at the session, Turkish author and columnist Elif Safak, also said that only culture is able to achieve a real intercultural dialogue and global convergence. She explained that the Arab region should invest more in libraries and books as real understanding of other groups of people and communities comes through reading different literary and cultural works.
She expressed frustration over the unfair misconception of Islam as a religion associated with extremism and violence. “The problem of extremists is their absolute belief in the existence of a single identity for all human beings, a belief that ends any possibility of a dialogue as you cannot sit at the same round table with someone who denies you,” she said.
Representing the experience of the Arab Thought Forum (ATF) in promoting intercultural dialogue, Dr Al Sadeq Al Faqeeh, Secretary-General of ATF, highlighted the conflict and turmoil that has taken place in the three decades since the ATF’s inception. He underlined the increasing importance of dialogue as an indispensable need and solution.
“Intercultural dialogue is instrumental to confronting negative concepts and theories such as cultural invasion, cultural penetration, or the clash of civilisations.” He said that these theories have turned cultural identity into a primary source of conflict, while dialogue serves as the foundation on which cultural relations are built.
The next Sharjah Ramadan Majlis will be held on July 9 under the title ‘Cross Spaces Dialogue.’ The session will focus on the Clusters of Light epic, a theatrical blockbuster which marked Sharjah’s inauguration as the Islamic Culture Capital 2014.
By Jumana Khamis Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
