On New Year's Day, Pope Benedict spoke on how peace begins with mutual respect between people. "Respect others, regardless of their skin colour, nationality, language, religion," said the Holy Father.
Every individual needs to understand and respect the value of human diversity and direct it to the common good. A person who is open and eager to know better the heritage of other cultures, populations and groups with which s/he comes into contact will help to restrain attitudes of prejudice that tend to hinder healthy social relations. This is a process that has to be continuously encouraged, promoted and sustained.
One basic principle is the inalienable dignity of every human person, irrespective of racial, ethnic, cultural or national origin, or religious belief. Individuals do not exist for themselves alone but achieve their full identity in relation to others. The same can be said about groups of people. They have a right to a collective identity that must be safeguarded, in accordance with the dignity of each member. At the same time, people from other cultures, populations or minority groups have the duty to treat others with the same respect and sense of dignity. Every right carries with it corresponding duties. Members of such groups also have their own duties towards society and the state in which they live; in the first place, the duty to cooperate, like all citizens, for the common good.
Fundamental human rights are enshrined in many international and national declarations. Yet, however important and essential these juridical instruments may be, sometimes they are still not enough to overcome perhaps deep-seated attitudes of prejudice and distrust or to eliminate ways of thinking leading to actions directed against certain people or groups of people. The translation of law into behaviour many a time constitutes a long and slow process, especially with a view to correcting certain attitudes. This does not make the process any less urgent.
Not only the state, but also each individual has the obligation to do everything possible to achieve this aim. The state can play an important role by supporting the promotion of cultural initiatives and exchanges contributing to mutual understanding as well as educational programmes helping to coach people, especially the young, to respect others and reject all prejudices, many of which are rooted in ignorance.
Parents too have a big responsibility because children learn much from observation and very often tend to adopt their parents' attitudes towards other people and groups.
The development of a culture based on respect for others is essential to the building of a peaceful society. Indeed, true peace can only be attained when individuals and societies base their life and activity upon a commitment to respect the dignity of each person. Accordingly, building a peaceful society requires a whole-hearted commitment to eliminate not only evident discrimination or exclusion but also all barriers that tend to generate walls of division. The rule must be reconciliation according to justice and with respect for the legitimate aspirations of all members and sectors of the community.
Building a peaceful society requires a patient effort that needs to find strength and fulfilment in the love that embraces all humans.
A nation's desire to guarantee a peaceful society and to promote unity by fostering the rights of one and all living in a country is a sign of true maturity. Hence, in any genuinely democratic society, respect for all remains the cornerstone of true civic concord and growth as a nation.