International Human Rights Day is observed every December 10th, the day when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. This day serves as an opportunity to reflect and remind ourselves of the inalienable rights of every human being, while comparing this document to our everyday reality.
Every November 25th marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Although the phrase “against” has long been in use, I prefer the word “towards,” because, perhaps illusorily, it evokes an image of equality. I choose to believe that it is possible to escape violence and that society is ready to shed the shackles of imposed patriarchal values and step toward equality for all members of our society.
Tolerance – a word often invoked as a moral ideal, a value we are told we should cherish. But what does it really mean when we say “tolerance”? Does anyone truly want to be tolerated? Imagine someone telling you, “I tolerate you.” Does that sound like acceptance, respect, or genuine appreciation? Hardly. Tolerance isn’t a sign that we are truly seen; on the contrary, it draws a line, a distance between us.
On this World Teachers Day many will highlight the importance of education and the role teachers play in our lives. They also have a role to play in educating youngsters about the importance of peace and empathy, but what if these teachers are working in poor conditions and societies that instigate inherited divisions, what can we expect from them?
I’m writing this article partly because I want to continue to explore my own relation to national identity and how it affects me. For that, I need to go through the looking glass.
