Unity in diversity

PS: In the cause of this article, I would want you to view unity in diversity as animate.

Unity and diversity, two distinct words which come together to have a deeper meaning in the term ‘unity in diversity’. It means being one even in differences. It chooses to look beyond differences and genuinely accept. It is consciously willing to look at that factor that unites, paying less attention to the many factors that divide.

The human world has many subdivisions, each formed by humans. Each human bears beliefs (truth) that are different from those borne by another. Therefore, one goes to find another that has the same belief as theirs, this is because only amongst those with the same views would they find acceptance and a sense of belonging. Owing to this, several groups having truth peculiar to them are formed. With each group believing that theirs is the only truth.

What then does unity in diversity want to do?

It wants to bring these different groups, comprising of individuals who are different and call them one. It wants them to see themselves as one irrespective of their different truth. It wants to make the church one despite the different doctrines each denomination teaches. It wants all types of Islamic practices to be one despite the nuanced beliefs of each. It wants a country to unite regardless of ethnic differences and language barriers. To make them unite, it has to provide a unifying factor, one which is greater than the truth each group has and make them focus on this unifying factor more than on their different truth.

Now, has unity in diversity fully achieved its aim?

I don’t feel it has. Its aim is notable but seems rather impossible. It has only shown its possibility in the business venture. On a socio-economic and socio-cultural level, It hasn’t been able to achieve its aim, mostly because there are more differences than there are similarities (unifying factors) on this level. Individuals are mostly drawn to differences, this gives them more reasons to view themselves as divided than as one. Only in rare cases do few similarities win against a thousand and one differences. For the unifying factor to win, it has to be so strong as to prevent these groups from acting on their differences. Well, this is not the case always, most times, the unifying factor can even be negligible.

Unity in diversity is a strong thing, in this case, and if its true aim is fully achieved, maybe there wouldn’t be a widening racial divide, increasing religious intolerance, country and ethnic rivalry etc, which can stir up other dividing issues.

But do you think eventually unity in diversity can fully achieve its aim?