‘Speak out for our common values, rights

At a summer school, organised a few weeks ago by the Alliance of Civilizations (www.unaoc.org), which brought together over 170 young people, from 70 countries, all participants were invited to summarise the week’s experience in one word. Everyone was ecstatic and used sparkling words – a once in a lifetime feeling; love; hope; unique; accomplishment; peace and the like. One participant, showing a little more reserve than the rest in that euphoric atmosphere, chose the word “possibility”, a statement that has resonated quite dramatically in recent events which show how right her caution was. The indignation that has flared up in so many countries against a provocative video, produced in murky circumstances and aimed at offending one group’s religious beliefs, is legitimate and fully understandable. From gulftoday