United for a Culture of Peace through Interfaith Harmony

Long lines snaked outside the United Nations for the capacity filled General Assembly Hall program, United for a Culture of Peace through Interfaith Harmony.

The event, in the United Nations General Assembly hall, Thursday, February 14, 2013, was held to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

H. E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, shared in his opening remarks at United for a Culture of Peace Through Interfaith Harmony, that according to our religious traditions, they focus on ethical tenants including respect for all and compassion for the most vulnerable.

Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, shared that all religions promote, peace, human dignity and respect for each other.

The Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Mission of Iraq to the United Nations echoed the sentiments indicating that religions share the same message, are of the same family, and have the same God. “We are brothers and sisters. DNA tests have proven this.” The message of all religions and all prophets are that we have to love each other and that we need to help those in need.

Dr Patrick Ho, the Secretary General of the China Energy Fund Committee, indicated there are some differences in attitude and behavior. A famous General once said, “ I came, I saw, I conquered,”

What Confucius would have said is “ I came, I saw, I made a few friends and then I went home.”

We should all make more friends.

The ending of the program enlisted the assistance of many international United Nations staffers and school children to raise and wave the flags of the each country while the entire audience expressed “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”