(Violence and peace) BBC TV- The Doha Debate on Free Expression

It is disturbing that we are fighting about beliefs more and more in today's world. The history of violence is as long as human history it seems. There are different types of violence and always one type or the other is at work. The history of peace, however, seems to be what most human beings seek and love. There is so much conviction that peace is and was before and should be in the future that the engagement of those who love peace has most impressed the world.

It is possible to understand and even forgive humans who fought over food or who fight over food because they might die in the next few days unless they eat. All living things fight to live, but the fight does not have to be bloodshed and the taking of lives even at this level. Reason must lead. It is not possible to understand why violence is more about what one believes and knows and wishes to express. Today we fight those who are passionate about ideas, those who speak against what some embrace in their faiths. This makes little sense. It is disappointing that this is what engages todays world so much. We have very urgent problems to deal with in the world. We have many humans who will follow reason, speak and write but in may countries, they are endangered.

Looking at the levels of intolerance we are experiencing today, especially because of lack of understanding with regard, for example with religions, intolerance in political views, one is inclined to feel that what we are fighting about has changed very much along the years. Human beings have often conceived God as someone on whose behalf they have to fight. This is a huge misconception as God is not powerless. Some will argue that today's tensions, bloodsheds are still based on material resources.. yet it is more clear that this is happening only in some lands. Some will argue that people can sit, eat or be fed... and get some education without being free to express themselves.

Last month's Doha Debate on BBC TV was very interesting. The house believes that education without free expression is useless. What was interesting was to see how close the vote was. 53% for the motion 47% against. The proposers won.

There are many people who are serious in their work, who are enlightened and learned and who do not see the contradiction of the fact that a world which lives more and more in the world of ideas... with so many ways for exchanging views is yet to be convinced that freedom of expression is a fundamental if not basic- as in food and oxygen- need. How is it possible not to see free expression as the greatest contributor to peace?

I think we misunderstand peace. Peace is often seen as something big out there that is sitting and waiting to be taken. Peace is not without us today working more and more on the mental barriers that keep us from opening up and embracing thoughts that we might not be familiar with.

I want to see the day that no one will use religion or a different point of view to kill. This might become the only proof that we ever got educated.