World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations"

Comments by the World Public Forum «Dialogue of Civilizations» co-chairman and co-founder Nicholas S. Papanicolaou on the speech of the US President Barack Obama, delivered in Cairo University on June 4, 2009.

President Obama’s speech at Cairo University on June 4 is indeed historic for its open and unifying message. He referred to the fact «all people yearn for certain things» such as freedom of religion, the rule of law, the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and accountable, freedom to speak one’s mind, the safety of their families and the opportunity to educate their children. He admonished the world with his message that «faith should bring people together», that Jerusalem must be a city where «all the children of Abraham will mingle peacefully together», that we must «turn dialogue into interfaith service." He reminded us that «we are all God’s children», that «education and innovation are the currency of the 21st century» and that «violence is a dead end»: because «violence is not how moral authority is claimed, but how it is surrendered." He also quoted from Matthew 5:9 «blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God." Finally and most importantly, he told us «it is time for us to act on what everyone knows is true» and that «the people of the world must live in peace» because «that is God’s Will." We, at the World Public Forum on the Dialogue of Civilizations are glad to join our voice to President Obama’s, and happy that we have been hard at work on these same principles since our first World Public Forum in 2002.

Hearing the President’s speech I cannot help but be reminded of the speech made by Alexander the Great at Opis (outside Babylon) in the year 324 BC when, addressing representatives of the largest empire ever known to man he said: «See God not as an autocratic despot, but as the common father of all and thus your conduct will be like the lives of brothers within the same family." Human ideals have not changed over the centuries, mankind simply forgets to practice them. The World Pubic Forum is our modest effort to implement these ideals and to «share the world», as President Obama dared us to do, by re-imagining the world.

Nicholas S. Papanicolaou
Co-Chairman and Co-Founder, WPF