Two new papers have been shared on the website of the Baha’i Community of Canada, each of which focuses on an issue that is relevant to the social progress of the country. The first is on citizenship and inclusion, and the second is on advancing a conversation about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
These papers are part of a growing library of “thought pieces” that engage with public discourse by drawing insights from the Baha’i teachings and the experience of the Baha’i community in applying them. They are not intended to be position papers or official statements; rather, they present a series of reflections and commentary that are intended to contribute to the advancement of the public conversation.
The first of these papers focuses on the theme of citizenship and inclusion. It observes that Canada’s growing diversity has generated an evolving conversation about how we become a more inclusive society: “A more inclusive Canada represents a pioneering effort to learn how cooperation, reciprocity and mutual aid across an ever more diverse human community can benefit all… The process of fostering inclusion, as we see it, is related to broadening the basis of society in response to an ever-changing world.”
The paper proceeds to consider various aspects of the challenge of fostering inclusion, starting at the level of the individual. It reflects on the question, “How can we learn to navigate our complex array of identities and those held by people we live and work with in our daily lives?” People derive value from their social ties to groups, whether based on race, gender, culture, class, nationality, religion, and profession. And yet, we also share a common human identity. This identity, the paper observes, “is connected to the recognition that humans have a spiritual reality – a soul – that is intrinsically noble, and deserving of respect and dignity.” As individuals encounter those whose identities are different from their own, they are challenged to developed attitudes and practices that reflect this underlying oneness.
The paper then considers how a community can develop practices and institutions that foster inclusion. It reflects on Canada’s history of multiculturalism, the challenge of reconciling religious and secular diversity, and the need to overcome the polarizing effects of adversarial debate.
In the conclusion of the thought piece, the following comment is shared:
At the centre of the Bahá’í teachings and the experience of our community is the concept of the oneness of humanity – that despite our infinite diversity, we are part of a single human family that must learn to live together in full recognition of our interdependence. This is an idea that has been in Canada for a long time. Various traditions of Indigenous constitutional thought refer to a social order designed around the well-being of all of our relations, constituting the members of our human family with whom we share the land. How, indeed, can we become more conscious of this conception of our society when interacting with newcomers and strangers?
The second thought piece considers how we can advance the conversation on reconciliation in Canada. It notes that according to the final report of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, reconciliation “is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country.” Noting the complex task of advancing this relationship – which includes a number of political, legal, and economic transformations – the paper focuses on the need for a change in our public discourse about reconciliation.
The paper observes that “While the way forward is being led by Indigenous peoples and Indigenous organizations, many of the changes in language and mindset need to be made by non-Indigenous people….Real and enduring reconciliation confounds any one-dimensional approach, or reliance solely on government-led initiatives. We are collectively walking a path of social and personal learning about reconciliation.”
One aspect of this challenge is the role of education, and how children, youth and adults come to learn about history, cultures, and ways of life in Canada. Another aspect is the process of learning and conversation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples:
We need to recognize the value of conversation and the qualities that generate productive and advancing conversation. These qualities include: talking issues through, listening carefully, thinking before speaking, and speaking as long as is necessary to be understood if the aim is to generate common understanding. This is a conversational ethic upheld in many Indigenous cultures, and it deserves more attention within wider Canadian society.
Finally, the paper reflects on a vision of social change, and the importance of viewing reconciliation as a spiritual process. Reconciliation is a process of realizing the fundamental principle of the oneness of humanity in all dimensions of life. “Reconciliation requires engaging with one another in a spirit of selfless love, where misunderstandings are overcome through patient and respectful dialogue, and cultural differences provide an occasion to learn from one another.”
As Baha’u’llah wrote: “shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity.” We should “not be content with showing friendship in words alone,” rather, our hearts should “burn with loving kindness for all who may cross [our] path.”
These thought pieces are written and shared to support the work of the Office of External Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada. Further thoughts or comments on these papers can be addressed to: externalaffairs@cdnbnc.org