Believe in peace


Believe in peace
Students from around the world: different nationalities and religions, all friends.

Living in multi-cultural Dubai, a 10th grade student shares her thoughts on World Peace Day, September 21

By Parma Abbas

By Parma Abbas

“If you want to end the war then instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send books. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers.” – Malala Yousafzai

In a world made up of 7 continents with 196 countries and hundreds of religions there is so much diversity and so many cultures that not many people can put up with each other.

However on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates there is a city called Dubai populated by expatriates representing most nationalities. Emirati nationals only make up 11.5 percent of the population whilst the rest are expatriates. In a place as such every child is a third culture child and lives in a very diverse environment.

I live in Dubai and I have friends who are not only Emiratis but also Indians, Pakistanis, Americans, Russians, Sri Lankans and many more nationalities. We all belong to different religions and countries but that’s not what matters. What matters is humanity and friendship and relationships because most of the time you need to look past the stereotypes and the judgements and standards of society.

I celebrate Christmas with my Christian friends, Diwali and Holi with my Hindu friends, the Chinese New Year with my Chinese friends, and Eid with my Muslim friends, all in harmony.

We never feel the need to fight or protect our religion or country because no one ever attacks them and we never disagree on such things. We respect the cultures, traditions, values and religions that a person comes from because we know that this isn’t what makes a man a human.

“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The writer studies in Grade 10, Cambridge International School, Dubai.




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