• > Back to list

Opening Session - Speech of the Generation of Peace delegation

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

The Generation of Peace delegation was composed of 16 young people who did attend the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace (Brussels, January 3 to 6, 2005) gathering more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world.

This delegation of students was set up by the association “Des penseurs dans la Cité” in order to imply high-school pupils and young students from priority zone of education and allow them to participate to the building of dialogue and peace.Under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI the aim of this historical event was to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle.
Here in its entirety the opening speech of the delegation of students “Generation of Peace”.

 

We, high school students of the Génération de Paix (Peace Generation) delegation at this First World congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, call upon all imams and rabbis to work together all over the world where arms have replaced dialogue, and wherever life in general has become frail. What is the real value of peace, if fear, rejection and hate govern souls and hearts? Not all of us are believers, but we all wish to see in you, a pacifist elite, respectful and wise, able to contribute to the edification of a common culture of peace.

We are persuaded that to live in peace is not to abolish all violence, which resembles strangely death, but it is always to build. To build the links between men, founded on a desire to know each other better, to mutual respect and to listen, justice and loyalty, serenity and dialogue. To build a world that allows each one of us to grow and develop a better life, rich in anticipation and of the dreams to be realized. Where to live in peace would also be a spirit of mind, an attitude, a way of life and through envisaging the relations with others, learning and winning.

To live in peace require a clear cut will and at each moment the responsibility of each and every one. It is this responsibility that should be born in mind. It is this will that you could promote, it is this way of life that you could build. We believe that you, imams and rabbis, for whom transmission is a primordial value, could act in this direction. And we wish to help you in this goal.

“Before the terrifying perspectives that are opening to humanity, we see even more that the only combat worth leading is that for peace. It is no longer a prayer, but a command that should rise from the people to governments, a command to choose once and for all between hell and reason”. This was written by Albert Camus the 8th May 1948. Does this phrase seem so pertinent today? We do not wish this to be so in the years to come.

Of course, young people are not always seen as having a good reputation especially when they come from certain city districts, and this is sometimes justified; but this attitude towards youth is it not that which adults often share the most frequently?

“Our youth is badly brought-up; they could not care less about authority and have no respect for their elders. Our children today do not offer their seat to an older person. They answer back instead of getting on with their job. They are simply bad.”

“I wouldn’t have very much hope for the future of our country, if the youth of today took over tomorrow, because they are insupportable with no restraint, it would be too awful.”
and
“Our world has reached a critical stage. Children no longer listen to their parents. Perhaps the end of the world is not too far away.”

“This generation is spoilt from the bottom up. Young people are good for nothing and lazy. They are not the young people of the past. Those of today are not capable of perpetuating our culture.”

These ancient texts designated the youth of our ancestors as bad company. And it has to be said at times we resemble them. Nevertheless, we are also capable of commitment and being serious. In spite of what we sometimes say, we are persuaded that education is the key to the future and that the Books can improve men by the qualities that their interpretation provokes. We often hear of your religions or texts justifying all kinds of violence. Could they not clearly propose, through your teachings and your vigilance, the directions for life?

What values do you wish us to transmit? What role do you assign to religion in society? What kind of peace does your traditions and texts allow us to build and help us understand the world, completing what we have learnt at school?

We have faith in these texts, founders of our religions, but also the precious heritage of humanity can transmit life in all its complexity. We have faith that read and taught by responsible men and women, permits the recognition and acceptance of our differences as a potential wealth and not a danger.

We ask you to watch over and preserve the physical and moral integrality of every human being, by guarantying a precise interpretation of the texts, of which you are the guardians.

We ask you, in this way, to deliver without ambiguity the teachings, in compliance with this precision, so that these texts make heard with you, who have the knowledge and authority, and that their word is that of wisdom and peace.

Thank you.

Alain Michel :

These important and moving words really reflect that which we want to bring to this congress: we want to hear the voice of youth, the voice of children who are in fact the guarantors of the future. We shall make it our business to ensure that the voice of these children will always be present in all of our future meetings.

© Copyright reserved

DOWNLOAD

• Peace_Generation.pdf

V0.97