Can humanity live together in peace despite our vast
differences?

We've got differences in race, language, religion,
ethnicity, political affiliation, and more that can
cause conflict.

We have groups that see other groups as being lower
in their self-made hierarchy. Groups that believe in the
old saying, "Good fences make good neighbours", or it's
better when "Birds of a feather flock together".
There's less conflict amongst them.

How can we bridge the differences and learn to live in peace?

Or, is segregation the answer?

Is it even possible in the age of globalisation?

Dear Foxy,

Global peace is not possible at our age.
It is simply unnatural, how more so when there are so many, way too many, people on this planet.
Expecting it would only bring on unquenched frustration.

This however, does not prevent us from finding inner peace,
then creating islands of peace around us.

The problem might be you Foxy.
Not you personally, but a collective of people in the West that think like you.
Let me ask, did you not write this 2 days ago?

"Trump simply can't be elected. He just can't.
Imagine what would happen to the Ukraine. To China's
attempted influence in the Pacific. To the Baltic States
and other former Soviet occupied lands. To giving Israel
a freer hand. And the list goes on."

You once started a thread commending the virtue of tolerance, did you not?
I counter-argued for 'intolerance', saying you wouldn't let a pedophile babysit your kids.

"Trump simply can't be elected"
- Everyone says 'democracy is so great';
Next minute, they're saying 'the outcome is unacceptable'

"Imagine what would happen to the Ukraine."
Yes. Imagine what would happen if the U.S overthrew the elected government, put a regime in place that supported alignment with the EU and NATO.
- a million dead?

"To China's attempted influence in the Pacific."
If China gains any influence in the Pacific, it's because nations are choosing to do business with them in a way that benefits them both.

"To the Baltic States and other former Soviet occupied lands."
The Baltic Chihuahuas...
Yes, what'll happen when the West makes you the next Ukraine?
You all seem to have it in for Putin, it's like you all have a form of collective PTSD, maybe a bit like the indigenous Australians.
The US can harness your anger, make you do stupid things.

Here's the Estonian Prime Minister saying Russia should be dismantled.
http://x.com/eeldenden/status/1792880764498935872/video/1
Maybe if the chihuahuas keep ankle biting, they might eventually get kicked?

Trump pulled out of the IMF treaty, and after you killed Russians on a beach in Sevastopol, Russian people are so angered they're talking limited nuclear strikes on NATO member states.

"How can we bridge the differences and learn to live in peace?"
- Stop thinking in terms of 'good guys and bad guys' regarding the Wests adversaries, this will only lead you to war.
Try to think in terms of mutual interests and compromise.

Hi AC,

We live in a complex world. And there probably are many
more differences between us as there are similarities.
Our differences in race, language, religion, ethnicity,
political affiliations, and more - cause conflict
between us - making tolerance difficult at times,
especially when our personal and our family's lived
experiences also influence our thinking.

My family has lived experience with the Soviet Regime as
have the Baltic Nations. And for that reason - we look
at what's happening in the Ukraine, and Putin with different
eyes to you. That may make us "intolerant", but it comes from
actual lived experience and the suffering of our people over
the decades.

Hi Yuyutsu,

Thank you for your advice.

Creating peace within ourselves - is certainly a good
start. But it takes a strong person to be able to
succeed and not pay attention to the many negative
influences around
us that we have to deal with on a daily basis.

Look at the huge influence the media plays in our lives.
Instead of reporting on the news - the media drives it.
What they cover and how they cover it often determines what
people think and how they perceive issues.

Look at what we saw regarding Laura Tingle's comment on racism.
At how Senator Fatima Payman is being portrayed. The media
currently is not reporting Biden's a loser. they are making
him one. And the list goes on.

Our elections are based on how voters understand situations
and evaluate candidates. This in large part is shaped by the
media. Whether we like to admit it or not - it becomes
difficult to bridge the gaps between us - when the media has
an agenda of its own.

I remember growing up in Sydney and making judgements
about other people's habits, customs, clothes, and
ways of speaking and values. I did this to people who
were different from myself. It wasn't until I got to
know some of these people that I began to realize that
the world did not come with only one "truth" or only one
"reality."

It was only much, much, later that I began to see that
what I saw as Truth was very often a social construct and
that this Truth differed across cultures.

I guess my education was slow - and this sometimes happens
when you're confined only to one single culture. It becomes
incredibly hard to see that one's way is not the only way.

Travelling overseas helped free my mind. The rest followed.

Also, I was in hospital not so long ago which had very
diverse staff and patients. I learned having a sense of humour
really helped - and I learned a great deal. Especially not to
pre-judge people.

Dear Foxy,

It seems that you just answered your own question better than I could:

Since you want peace and media is not a peaceful influence, it is best to cut down its use.

I don't even know who that Laura Tingle is, which you mentioned:
fortunately I never had a television nor ever missed it. Most Australian news I get from the ABC on my car-radio while driving. You don't really need that much, just enough to be aware of legislation changes so you don't get in trouble with government, to be able to make reasonable financial decisions and to learn a bit about advances in medicine, in case you may be able to help someone with a health problem, that's about all you really need from media.

Yes a strong person may be able to an extent to shield themselves and avoid negative influences, but a wise person does not become exposed to them in the first place.

Hi Yuyutsu,

I do try to cut down on media influences. However, it's
becoming increasingly difficult having friends and family,
especially grand-children, who want to discuss things that
are happening on the news.

Anyway, I do try - by being selective in what I read and
who I listen to. The Murdoch Press I try to avoid.

As for wisedom? The older I get, the more I realize how
much I still have to learn. I don't think that's being wise -
but honest. Also, being on this forum helps me - reading
diverse opinions provides food for thought - unless of course
they're ignorant.and piss me off (smile).

Journalist Bernard Keane writing in "Crikey", asks:

"Why has Fatima Payman elicited such a ferocious reaction
from our mainly white media and political class?"

He tells us that the reason "points to the liew behind
"social cohesion." Keane also says that it's not only the
Murdoch Press, News Corp, doing it.

He tells us that the young Senator seems to have unleashed
something ugly lurking in our communities.

He also blames the Labor Party - which he says seems to be
demanding homogenity and punishing dissent.

Keane says that it seems anyone who protests whether
lawfully or unlawfully against war crimes in Gaza is framed
as being outside "Australian values and norms." Not to
mention - is engaging in hate crimes and anti-Semitism and
is against Australian democracy.

This is concerning - because it once again widens the gaps
between us.

There's more at the following:

http://crikey.com.au/2024/07/08/fatima-payman-racist-media-politics/

There are many ways to bridge the gaps between us:

The love of books should be encouraged in children.
It can become a lifelong passion. When I ran Storytime
for children at our municipal libraries - I always
provided a wide diversity of stories from different
cultures - including of course the classics.

You can capture the hearts and minds of children when
they are tiny - then as they get older, and older, they'll
end up reading to you. Kids can get quite spellbound -
depending on the story.
Especially if you do dramatic readings with all the voices.
Kids will love it.

Stories open up different worlds. And hopefully minds.

A gap that is deliberately kept wide by those who don't share effort can never be closed no matter how much they tell us it should be closed !

Indyvidual,

Perhaps you're right Indy. Especially with older generations
who are more set in their ways. Our hope lies with the younger
ones - who may get more exposure to different worlds and
realize that despite our differences we do have many similarities.

Finding things in common may help build bridges.

Dear Foxy,

«I do try to cut down on media influences. However, it's
becoming increasingly difficult having friends and family,
especially grand-children, who want to discuss things that
are happening on the news.»

What counts is that you are trying.

About grand-children, they look up to you for education and personal example - as an adult and elder, you carry the burden of responsibility, even if it is difficult. Over the years they were accustomed that grandma likes to talk about the news, perhaps they even listen to the news because they think it pleases you, so the first time you tell them "this is not important" they might not believe you, it could take several attempts before they do.

Hi Yuyutsu,

My grand-children ask me questions about what they hear on
the news - and also what they hear at school. I try to
explain things to them as best as I can.

You and I both know that although Australia's political
leaders often talk about our country's multicultural
credentials and they make sweeping statements about our
unmatched success in diversity - we both know that the
reality is somewhat different.

National survey results show that 11% of respondents have
self-identified as "prejudiced" against other cultures.
A further 25% neither agreed nor disagreed.

We do have legislation like the Race Dsicrimination Act
and we have formally abandoned the White Australia
Policy, yet racism still remains an every day experience
for many non-white Australians.

And, it's something that I can't ignore when my grand-children
ask questions.

A few years ago the Australian Human Rights Commission found
of 2,490 most senior positions in the country - 76% had
Anglo-Celtic backgrounds, 18% had European backgrounds,
less than 5% had a non-European background and 0.4% had an
Indigenous background.

COVID brought out many incidents of racism against Asian
Australians, particularly Chinese Australians including
vandalism and racist slurs.

We haven't been able to develop a credible strategy to address
the root causes of racism. Whether it's against Indigenous
people, refugees, temporary migrant workers, students, or
other minority groups.

Many Australians remain incapable of even talking about the
subject of racism in our midst. Let alone discuss what
should be done about it.

Have a look at what the popular topics are on this forum and
which are avoided or labelled with derogatory terminology.

The best that seems to be on offer regarding many complex
issues is - segregation, and cutting immigration to certain
non-white and non-Christian types,

That's why explaining things to my grand-children to me is
important. As is seriously trying not to prejudice them
in their thinking. Trying to keep a balance, and remain fair.
So that they will eventually be able to think for themselves.

Yuyutsu,

Education is key. As is teaching them to respect others
and their religions, race, languages, ethnicities, and cultures.

Yuyutsu,

For a bit of light relief:

I just saw on the internet a child's t-shirt on
which was written:

"Be careful what you say to me
My Granma is Crazy
And I'm not afraid to tell on you."

Dear Foxy,

You should surely teach your grand-children the eternal truths,
doing your best so that they grow up to be of moral disposition and good character.

Teach them that all people are made in the image of God, regardless of ethnicity etc.,
yet it is not your roll to know in detail and inform them what government is presently doing, or whether it is successful or not,
thereby wasting your time and getting unnecessarily agitated -
all your grandchildren need to know from you is that there exist people who do not respect others and their ways,
that there will always be people like that, yet they should not follow their example.

If they present you with current examples, then you ask them to tell you the facts and details, then based on their stories you remark:
"Hmmm, this is nice" or "Oh oh, this is not nice, you should not behave like them".

Remember that you cannot fix the whole world, so let not that burden you,
but since it is within your reach to support your own grandchildren, do so happily and calmly,
that way your words will impress them the most.

No humanity cannot live together in the same location under authoritarian multiculturalist principles and maintain their identities.

Not segregation but autonomous areas. Also people should be able to create groups based on their identity even if it is a racial one. This already happens in ethnic clubs and through other processes such as gentrification and slumification. These groups need to follow the laws of the state or nation but they can exert influence to change the laws. A group can opt to cessede from the nation if the nation doesn't meet the needs of the group identity. These ideas are already established in different contexts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_autonomous_areas_by_country

Yuyutsu,

Thank you for your comments and advice.

They are wise words and I know they came from your heart.

Canem Malum,

Thank you for your contribution to this discussion.
There are of course many diverse communities in this
country. And they do practice their own languages and
cultures. This is true in many countries. Yet these
communities also abide by the rule of law and are able to
live peacefully side by side. Many people find comfort in
associating with their own kind - where they are more
welcomed, feel more at ease, and are better understood.
The younger generations possibly find it easier to mingle
and assimilate. Some things take time.

Talking from my own experience - I grew up being
involved with the Lithuanian Community. It was
during a time when assimilation was required. But
because Lithuanians fled from persecution and
from the Soviet Regime - they felt an obligation
to try to preserve their culture, values and traditions.
Hence the communities that were formed.

Many, however did assimilate, inter-married, and have
richly contributed to this country in many ways.

Each community is different. But as far as I know -
each has made huge contributions in making this country
better.

Many Lithuanians have been back to visit now
that Lithuania has re-gained its independence
from the Soviet Regime. And they have visited
multiple times and continue to do so.
However only a tiny minority have returned
to live permanently. Most prefer Australia
and see this country as their own.

I think many other people - such as the Greeks,
Italians, and many others - also feel the same
way. Australia is now their country. Where they
feel they do belong.

There are migrants & there are people looking for an easy existence provided by others !
It only takes insipid bureaudroids for the latter to get their wish granted !

Not all bureaucrats are insipid. Neither do all people
mis-use our systems. We have to allow for individua
differences in each group.

We have to allow for individua
differences in each group.
Foxy,
That goes without saying. What does need attention is the way out of balance ratio between the providers & the takers & it's the latter who have now reached unsustainable numbers, mostly within the public service !
The move is already on in Europe !

That's not the case according to reports and surveys
done. Trust in the Australian Public Service has remained
stable and trust in specific services used has also remained
stable for 2023, the same as in 2022.

See you on another discussion.

Cheers.

Foxy,
A survey done by Public Servants ? It must be true !

There are many surveys and polls. Your choice which ones
you read.

I assume you can read?

Foxy,
You can read as many surveys & polls as you like but they're still meaningless if the data is collected & stored by incompetent bureaucrats mainly from the Left !

Indyvidual,

Polls and survey generally can be considered reliable
sources of information if they have been fact-checked
and accepted by Peers.

But you have to understand what is being asked, who's
being polled and when, and that every poll is a
snapshot in time. For instance a poll taken in July
2023 - is not a reliable prediction of an election in
November 2024.