Mancham calls on world leaders to “destroy the inner-walls”
Seychelles' founding President James R. Mancham delivered a keynote address at the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin on Sunday November 9 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the breaking down of the Berlin Wall which had divided east and west Berlin before the reunification of Germany.
Mr Mancham said that the physical destruction of the wall was symbolic of a desire of the German people, and in fact of all European nations as well as other nations of the world to live in a world without walls.
Unfortunately, he said, many who supported the breaking down of the wall did so with their minds and bodies but not so much with their heart and souls.
He said that the Germans had to be congratulated for achieving national unity despite their ideological differences.
He recalled the visit of J. F. Kennedy to Berlin during the Cold War when he called on the then Soviet Union to assist in the breaking down of the wall.
“Did John F. Kennedy, at that time foresaw the situation of today where most US embassies worldwide operate behind concrete walls?” Mr Mancham asked.
He said that after the breaking of walls it was only logical to expect that we would enter an era of building up bridges. But instead we are seeing a world of hatred, fanaticism and increased terrorism.
“It is in appreciating the ugliness of the truth before us that we should recognise the value of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in emphasising that there is no lasting victory when it is imposed through the barrel of the gun,” Mr Mancham said.
He said that the most negative feature of today is the lack of trust within nations and between nations. In this context, he was extremely worried about the increasing competition between superpowers to project an image of military superiority.
“The world has enough aircraft carriers, submarines, missiles and other weapons of mass destruction which could all be used in furthering catastrophic conflicts between nations and internationally,” he noted.
“All the money being spent in further research in the field of military predominance and superiority should be diverted to the research of how we can build more trust and understanding in a world of diversity,” he suggested.
"What the world needs today is education for all because it is only education that will defeat ignorance upon which extremism is born which itself brings about fanaticism,” Seychelles' founding President said.
Mr Mancham said that the physical destruction of the wall was symbolic of a desire of the German people, and in fact of all European nations as well as other nations of the world to live in a world without walls.
Unfortunately, he said, many who supported the breaking down of the wall did so with their minds and bodies but not so much with their heart and souls.
He said that the Germans had to be congratulated for achieving national unity despite their ideological differences.
He recalled the visit of J. F. Kennedy to Berlin during the Cold War when he called on the then Soviet Union to assist in the breaking down of the wall.
“Did John F. Kennedy, at that time foresaw the situation of today where most US embassies worldwide operate behind concrete walls?” Mr Mancham asked.
He said that after the breaking of walls it was only logical to expect that we would enter an era of building up bridges. But instead we are seeing a world of hatred, fanaticism and increased terrorism.
“It is in appreciating the ugliness of the truth before us that we should recognise the value of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in emphasising that there is no lasting victory when it is imposed through the barrel of the gun,” Mr Mancham said.
He said that the most negative feature of today is the lack of trust within nations and between nations. In this context, he was extremely worried about the increasing competition between superpowers to project an image of military superiority.
“The world has enough aircraft carriers, submarines, missiles and other weapons of mass destruction which could all be used in furthering catastrophic conflicts between nations and internationally,” he noted.
“All the money being spent in further research in the field of military predominance and superiority should be diverted to the research of how we can build more trust and understanding in a world of diversity,” he suggested.
"What the world needs today is education for all because it is only education that will defeat ignorance upon which extremism is born which itself brings about fanaticism,” Seychelles' founding President said.
Forrás: www.nation.sc