EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
"Dialogue with words not with
bombs"
LETTERS
TO UNCLE SAM
By Prof. Talaat I. Farag
Dear Uncle Sam,
One Week in a Canadian Paradise
In November 2004, I was ailed with a health condition that sent me to the Civic campus of Ottawa Hospital, where I found myself at the hands of a unique group of surgeons. At their forefront was Dr. Alfred J. Stedman MD, FRCS(C), FACS, a Lecturer of surgery in the school of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, a man of much dedication and few words. I am indebted to him for saving my life. My special gratitude also goes to his surgical resident from Kuwait, Dr. Al-Shehab. My life was touched personally by my weeklong stay at the B2 ward of the hospital. In addition to the excellent medical service, my experience at the hospital was a significant one as I witnessed how the staff who were comprised of people from different cultures, religions, ethnic groups, and races worked harmoniously as a cohesive body. Having practiced medicine for more than half a century, I was amazed by the the way the surgeons, their crew, the nurses, patient-care assistants, nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers operated as a synchronized team dedicated solely to the patient's recovery. The diversity within the facility ran so deep, that I was amazed to see even hospital products came from different countries; patient robes made in Pakistan and napkins from China!
Men and women representing every denomination are available as if on call to serve and provide religious and spiritual support for the patients at their request. I walked away from this Canadian medical paradise in gratitude for giving me the optimism to believe that multiculturalism does indeed work and that the clash of civilizations can be defeated, at least momentarily to serve the needy.
Beginning of the Journey
My
experience in the General Surgery unit of the hospital reminded me of my time in Scotland where
I witnessed the same model in action three decades ago at the prestigious University of
Edinburgh. My teacher, mentor and friend the late Prof. Jim Farquhar MD, FRCPE was
convinced of the
importance of multiculturalism. Prof. Farquhar, the founder of the first community school of
Pediatrics, saw his university become one of the beacons of
multiculturalism with its spectacular treatment of and care for international students from
different cultures and fields of knowledge.
In fact, it was in Edinburgh that the journey of the Ambassadors magazine began. A dream that emerged from discussions with Prof. Farquhar. We offered a tribute to his memory in the first issue of the magazine in 1998 which coincided with his passing. Since that time, we have retained his motto of peace, growth, and development as foundation for this publication.
In his honor, and on the Ambassadors Magazine's 7th anniversary, we will be celebrating our 1 millionth visitor and are now recording an average of 60,000 hits every month. This is confirmation that Prof. Farquhar's dream is still alive and well both at the Ottawa Hospital and on the world wide web.
The Three Muskateers
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While we all work tirelessly to promote ideals of compassion, goodwill, peace, and development, our incremental efforts are eclipsed by the dedication that some individuals have and the energies they expend. On April 19, 2004, the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) brought three such individuals to the same podium. The three musketeers included the Dalai Lama, Professor Shirin Ebadi of Iran, and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu who were all honored in the star-studded special degree conferral ceremony. The Nobel Peace prize laureates have served their lifetimes and worked ceaselessly in the name of global peace, nonviolence and human rights and received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the university.
Prof. Martha Piper, the president of UBC said "[t]hese unique individuals inspire us with their extraordinary vision and their commitment to freedom and humanity. They are known and admired for promoting peaceful, democratic solutions to serious problems in society." She expressed the importance of this occasion for the university by saying that "[i]t is an honor for UBC to recognize their contributions and celebrate their presence in our community."
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and advocate for peace and the environment, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in recognition of his efforts to peacefully resolve the political relationship between Tibet and the People’s Republic of China. He was joined by Prof. Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and human rights activist who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 was the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to receive the coveted award. Her work to improve the status of women and the rights of religious minorities spans three decades. She has argued for a new interpretation of Islamic law incorporating such human rights as democracy, equality before the law and religious freedom. Their fellow awardee was the celebrated Archbishop Desmond Tutu who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership in the South African anti-apartheid movement where he championed the transition to a non-racial democratic society.
A Voice for Multiculturalism
The three musketeers embody icons of their respective faiths and nationalities brought together on a common mission of global peace. They also represent a microcosm of how the world can succeed by reconciling difference and conquering the clash of civilizations. Hence, my message to Uncle Sam is unwavering. During these time of unrest, conflict, and tragedy, our only hope is to come together and collaborate as one entity, converging around our shared humanity. This sentences should not be employed as empty slogans but as tangible realities that can be witnessed in every facet of life. Here at the Ambassadors Magazine, we will continue to do our part as a voice for multiculturalism.
Yours Sincerely,
Prof. Talaat I. Farag, MD, FRCP(E), FACP, FACMG,
Former Adjunct Professor, Dalhousie University, Canada
Founder of The Ambassadors Research Foundation
Email: drfarag@ambassadors.net
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