03-17-2004, 09:12 AM
received via email:
A debate is playing out on the
world stage and in our local communities. There are two opposing ideas. The first is pluralism,
which says that all people share a core set of human values but may have small individual
differences. We can all coexist with each other's differences. On the other side is fundamentalism,
my religion is the best, my country is better than other countries, my community and race is better
than other races  and therefore I am threatened by other communities and am only interested in
the success and welfare of my own.
Both sides advocate solidarity, but while fundamentalism advocates solidarity to just a piece of
one's identity (religion/country/race, etc), pluralism expands the boundaries and acknowledges the
interconnectedness of us as a human race.
The April 18 th , 2004 symposium in Fremont, CA will bring speakers from four different
communities  Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, and Afghani  to discuss what we share as people and
how we can celebrate each other's differences and work together as part of a larger world
community. Our objective is to figure out through dialogue and understanding, what are the
underlying causes for these problems and how, despite our differences, we can work together to find
solutions to these problems.
Check out the link at : http://www.iahv.org/PeaceSymposium/symposium.htm
A debate is playing out on the
world stage and in our local communities. There are two opposing ideas. The first is pluralism,
which says that all people share a core set of human values but may have small individual
differences. We can all coexist with each other's differences. On the other side is fundamentalism,
my religion is the best, my country is better than other countries, my community and race is better
than other races  and therefore I am threatened by other communities and am only interested in
the success and welfare of my own.
Both sides advocate solidarity, but while fundamentalism advocates solidarity to just a piece of
one's identity (religion/country/race, etc), pluralism expands the boundaries and acknowledges the
interconnectedness of us as a human race.
The April 18 th , 2004 symposium in Fremont, CA will bring speakers from four different
communities  Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, and Afghani  to discuss what we share as people and
how we can celebrate each other's differences and work together as part of a larger world
community. Our objective is to figure out through dialogue and understanding, what are the
underlying causes for these problems and how, despite our differences, we can work together to find
solutions to these problems.
Check out the link at : http://www.iahv.org/PeaceSymposium/symposium.htm