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Japan’s Lesson of Tolerance for Iraq
Posted on 03 September 2013
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Japan has taught Iraqis an important lesson on tolerance and humanitarian devotion when it decided to open a hospital in the city of Fallujah in memory of Japanese journalist Shinsuke Hashida, who perished in Fallujah in 2004.
This has great significance as to the concept of coexistence. Coexistence among and within people cannot be achieved without a vision that fosters tolerance, as a secure path to founding modern societies, consolidating social ties and entrenching a humanitarian perspective in relations between peoples.
The widow of the slain Japanese journalist raised funds to establish the hospital in Fallujah, and effectively contributed to bringing the hospital project to light.
Japan’s ambassador to Iraq, Masato Takaoka, told the story of Hashida during the inauguration ceremony of the Fallujah Maternity and Children’s Hospital, which was held at the Japanese embassy in Baghdad on Aug. 19. Hashida was killed when he was helping a child who had lost his eye during the war. The child, Mohammed Haytham, received treatment in Japan and attended the inauguration ceremony as well.
According to the embassy’s statement, Takaoka said in his speech, “Japan wishes to promote Iraqi national reconciliation and stability by helping people in Fallujah and surrounding areas.”
The ambassador expressed hope that the Fallujah Maternity and Children’s Hospital would be another example of friendship between Japan and Iraq, by providing children and mothers with high-quality medical services.
Unfortunately, the Japanese initiative passed without genuine interest in Iraq, whether at the political or media level.
The concept of coexistence should have been highlighted. The past 10 years of Iraq’s history, as well as the previous decades, were proof of the lack of true initiatives to promote coexistence as a way toward the future. The most interesting thing is that the concept of coexistence in Iraq is still based on “the past.”
The past — whether in terms of deep sectarianism or social confusion that occurred in Iraq over the past decades — was at the core of the internal Iraqi conflict, and it continues to revolve around memories and mutual social blame, failing to become a realistic formula for coexistence.
Japan provided a model of social initiatives that would consolidate social ties, rather than deepen rifts.
Iraq is in desperate need of a vision along the lines of the Japanese model to achieve reconciliation and develop behaviors that would go beyond old wounds and overcome mutual uncertainties. Yet, such initiatives have always been challenged by social and religious elites, who are capable of fomenting anger among the people.
Not long ago, Sunni and Shiite clerics took the initiative to pray together in a number of mosques. Although this step is significant, it is not enough. Iraq’s Sunnis must be able to live in southern Iraq — and the Shiites in the west and north — without the need for military presence. Social initiatives and strong ties are the answer to all this.
Perhaps, both Sunni and Shiite businessmen ought to think of similar initiatives that could have an effect on the ground. Sunni and Shiite politicians ought to be present in each other’s regions, and clerics should give moderate speeches in the mosques of the south and the north. What’s more, social and cultural organizations should consider adopting projects to help understand the other, before providing services.
Mustafa al-Kadhimi is an Iraqi writer specializing in defense of democracy. He has extensive experience in documenting testimony and archiving documentaries associated with repressive practices
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Posted on 03 September 2013
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Japan has taught Iraqis an important lesson on tolerance and humanitarian devotion when it decided to open a hospital in the city of Fallujah in memory of Japanese journalist Shinsuke Hashida, who perished in Fallujah in 2004.
This has great significance as to the concept of coexistence. Coexistence among and within people cannot be achieved without a vision that fosters tolerance, as a secure path to founding modern societies, consolidating social ties and entrenching a humanitarian perspective in relations between peoples.
The widow of the slain Japanese journalist raised funds to establish the hospital in Fallujah, and effectively contributed to bringing the hospital project to light.
Japan’s ambassador to Iraq, Masato Takaoka, told the story of Hashida during the inauguration ceremony of the Fallujah Maternity and Children’s Hospital, which was held at the Japanese embassy in Baghdad on Aug. 19. Hashida was killed when he was helping a child who had lost his eye during the war. The child, Mohammed Haytham, received treatment in Japan and attended the inauguration ceremony as well.
According to the embassy’s statement, Takaoka said in his speech, “Japan wishes to promote Iraqi national reconciliation and stability by helping people in Fallujah and surrounding areas.”
The ambassador expressed hope that the Fallujah Maternity and Children’s Hospital would be another example of friendship between Japan and Iraq, by providing children and mothers with high-quality medical services.
Unfortunately, the Japanese initiative passed without genuine interest in Iraq, whether at the political or media level.
The concept of coexistence should have been highlighted. The past 10 years of Iraq’s history, as well as the previous decades, were proof of the lack of true initiatives to promote coexistence as a way toward the future. The most interesting thing is that the concept of coexistence in Iraq is still based on “the past.”
The past — whether in terms of deep sectarianism or social confusion that occurred in Iraq over the past decades — was at the core of the internal Iraqi conflict, and it continues to revolve around memories and mutual social blame, failing to become a realistic formula for coexistence.
Japan provided a model of social initiatives that would consolidate social ties, rather than deepen rifts.
Iraq is in desperate need of a vision along the lines of the Japanese model to achieve reconciliation and develop behaviors that would go beyond old wounds and overcome mutual uncertainties. Yet, such initiatives have always been challenged by social and religious elites, who are capable of fomenting anger among the people.
Not long ago, Sunni and Shiite clerics took the initiative to pray together in a number of mosques. Although this step is significant, it is not enough. Iraq’s Sunnis must be able to live in southern Iraq — and the Shiites in the west and north — without the need for military presence. Social initiatives and strong ties are the answer to all this.
Perhaps, both Sunni and Shiite businessmen ought to think of similar initiatives that could have an effect on the ground. Sunni and Shiite politicians ought to be present in each other’s regions, and clerics should give moderate speeches in the mosques of the south and the north. What’s more, social and cultural organizations should consider adopting projects to help understand the other, before providing services.
Mustafa al-Kadhimi is an Iraqi writer specializing in defense of democracy. He has extensive experience in documenting testimony and archiving documentaries associated with repressive practices
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
