Stitching the seams of Diversity
Nerida Langley, Flinders University

Australia is a land of immense and sweeping beauty; a richly-diverse country of expansive deserts, sprawling beaches and rugged mountain ranges.  Our varied landscapes, from lush forests to barren plains, are sewn together with fragile stitches to create a country that is truly unique.  This patchwork of land is a direct reflection of our cosmopolitan society which is made up of many cultures, religions and traditions brought together by threads of national pride and tenets of equality and respect.  The beauty of our society, as with our land, lies in this strong diversity.

However, in recent times the strands that hold us together have frayed.  World events have caused us to mistrust our neighbours and stigmatize minority groups.  Riots have broken out, exposing intolerance and hostility.  Religion has become a divider, splitting the seams of unity.  Consequently, pictures of hate and anger are flashed onto our screens and splashed across our papers.  Confronted by these worrying events it is difficult to know how we can best move forward as a nation.  How can we grow together in peace and harmony and respect the diversity that is Australia?  This is certainly not an easy question to answer.  To seek some insight I turn to the wisdom of three prominent figures throughout history.  Each of these individuals represents a different religion, highlighting the value that is inherent within every philosophy, belief and culture.

One of the most renowned Christians Mother Teresa, once said ‘if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other’.  In a society that is becoming increasingly separated it appears that we have forgotten one another and our similarities in favour of a focus on seemingly insurmountable differences.  We label people according to their nationalities or religions, forgetting that diversity is an important part our culture.  Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and the Baha’i faith are all represented throughout Australia, as are 270 nationalities.  The differences between these groups often cause fear, disrespect and contempt, sentiments that are based primarily on misunderstanding.

As an alternative to this intolerance the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Laureate and Buddhist leader suggests, ‘you can develop the right attitude toward others if you have kindness, love and respect for them, and a clear realization of the oneness of all human beings’.  Instead of framing our fellow Australians as ‘others’, we must acknowledge and respect differences which are, essentially, minor, remembering that we are all one.  To do this, we must firstly understand our differences, recognise the value of diversity, and be taught to cultivate respect and kindness.

While these aims may be just and noble, they can sometimes seem far from realistic.  How can such values be effectively instilled within Australian society?  As Mahatma Gandhi, Indian leader, pacifist, and dedicated Hindu claimed, ‘If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children’.  We must teach children about the range of religions, cultures, and nationalities that make up our nation so that fear and discrimination can no longer blossom.  We must teach children about the mixed foundations upon which our country is built so that diversity can be appreciated and enjoyed.  Finally, we must teach children the qualities of respect, compassion, and tolerance so that our differences can be celebrated wile our ‘oneness’ is also recognized.

Considering the wisdom of these three leaders, my proposal for moving forward in harmony is that these concepts of respect and acceptance be taught in a designated subject in every school through Australia.  Such a subject should inform children about the differences that are commonly misunderstood and, therefore, feared.  Subject matter could include the history, practices and beliefs of the world’s religions and cultures so that unfamiliar traditions are better understood and tolerated.  For example, if the meaning behind the Muslim Hijab was better understood, perhaps individuals wearing these symbolic garments would be less stigmatized.  The course should also encourage children to develop the qualities of compassion and tolerance, because surely these skills are as important as Maths, Science and English to our future leaders, and to the future of our country.

With political focus currently on an ‘education revolution’ and the consequent proposal of a new, national curriculum, there has never been a more appropriate time to introduce a course that addresses the problems of discrimination and intolerance that are emerging in Australia.  If introduced, each such lesson would act as another stitch to strengthen our diversity and create lasting harmony.  To move forward together we must teach our children that, although the fabric of each culture and nationality within Australia is different, every remnant of fabric is equally important in creating a quilt that is as unique and beautiful as our great land

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