Is There Any Space Left For Unity?

Image by ALEXANDRE DINAUT.

“If ever there was a time to pause and reset, it was now.” So said the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley, in an address to the United Nations General Assembly. A reset to “end all forms of discrimination…… above all else, a reset…to secure global peace.”

Yes, fundamental ‘reset’, or change in attitudes and methodologies is desperately needed; a shift away from intolerance, hate, and division towards more unifying cooperative ways of living.

But confronted by growing right-wing extremism, widespread misinformation and what appears to be an unstoppable movement towards authoritarianism, such a sane, common sense development, which is yearned for by people throughout the world, seems further away than ever.

The world is facing a series of interconnected crises: the environmental catastrophe; armed conflict; displacement of persons and migration; poverty and economic inequality, are some of the more acute issues demanding attention.

Underlying all of these expressions of global disharmony is the most significant crisis of all and the cause of the chaos – the crisis of consciousness in humanity. It is this collective consciousness, shaped and manipulated by ambitious ideologically driven politicians, which gives rise to these manifold areas of concern. And it is this impelling force that, if there is to be peace, environmental salvage, and social harmony, needs to change.

All we see around us, the violence and injustice, the dysfunction and suffering is a reflection of the internal life; the external chaos is simply a reflection of internal unease, contradictions and confusion. Conditioned content that has been poured into the mind from the moment of birth; ideas about ourselves and others, images constructed in response to repeated messaging from the environment in which we were born.

It could be said, and with some justification, that the crisis confronting humanity, and by humanity is meant both the group and individual man/woman—that’s you and me— is a spiritual crisis. This because it is a crisis of values – those ideals that we, as individuals and by extension as communities, hold to; the ideals that determine decisions, the values that colour thought, fashion speech, and impel action.

If those values are rooted, as in many cases they currently are, in materialism, fear and nationalism, if selfishness and greed are justified and encouraged, separation and division will follow. And, as the great 20th-century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti made clear, where there is division, there will inevitably be conflict.

That conflict may be within the individual, leading to disease of some kind – physiological, mental, or the wider society, or, as is overwhelmingly the case, both. We have, through the application of unjust systemic structures and the expression of narrow, violent values and modes of behaviour, created dysfunctional societies populated by unhealthy, angry people.

Confronted with systemic breakdown, with growing inequalities, intensifying social injustice and geopolitical uncertainty, desperate populations in countries around the world, are increasingly turning to nationalistic politicians, so-called popularists. Men and women who present quick, straightforward solutions to complicated issues, blame immigrants for the countries’ problems, and distort or ignore the facts. The loudest, and most dangerous of these political con-men is, of course, US President Donald Trump – a dictator in the making.

The rhetoric and policies of such individuals and groups, where they exist at all, are, by their very nature, inward-looking, divisive and dangerous, promoting intolerance, environmental abuse, and feeding misinformation. This, as rational people around the world recognise is the very opposite of what is needed, and, far from offering solutions to the issues of the day, is enflaming them.

If the manifold demands of the time are to be addressed, and if a reset “to secure global peace” is to take place, a fundamental shift in attitudes is needed.

The first and most important element in such a development is for humanity to recognise it is one; brothers and sisters of one humanity. Interdependent and collectively responsible – for one another and the planet that we share. This requires a ‘World First’ approach; systems designed to serve people everywhere, messaging that emphasises oneness, that speaks of humanity as a whole and spreads inclusive ideals.

Unity is essential, it is the most precious ingredient in the creation of systemic change, in building social justice and establishing, in place of the present turmoil and fear, a healthy world as ease with itself. Unity, a wise man has said “makes all things possible….if humanity would know peace it must see itself as one.”

Recognising our mutual connectedness and inter-dependence helps to break down barriers and overcome surface differences, allowing understanding and tolerance to grow.

In the acknowledgement of oneness responsibility for ‘the other’ becomes natural; sharing follows instinctively – as within a functioning family. And when there is sharing trust can blossom, which in turn facilitates stronger relationships.

In order for unity to become a vibrant force underpinning all aspects of life, including crucially socio-economic affairs, the principle of oneness, of equality and social justice needs to be embraced and built into all socio-economic structures.

Given the fragmented regressive times we are living in such steps sound like a pipe dream. But if we do not move in the direction of unity, if tolerance, cooperation and understanding of others does not begin to shape the systems and methodologies that drive governments and corporate life, then divisions will increase, the environmental catastrophe will accelerate and peace will remain a fantasy.

Graham Peebles is a British freelance writer and charity worker. He set up The Create Trust in 2005 and has run education projects in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and India.  E: grahampeebles@icloud.com  W: www.grahampeebles.org