November 3, 2013

Dear Sir,

In spite of our separate experiences as that which we perceive, we live in one world with a progressive evolution. The countries that recognise that phenomenon will prove to be leaders today and will have already one foot firmly placed in the advancing world. In a Western context America has been the leader in the past century for having the constitutional position that underlies a pluralistic human society.

Although not perfect it had the structural space to allow a Barack Obama a black man with a Muslim name coming out formerly in his kinder years an Islamic school to become President and looks set to have a female in 2015. Good old England who has 1000s of years history and tradition notwithstanding the perceptions of its links with antiquity, has for pragmatic reasons is rising to the challenge of the modern realities.

A few decades ago you could hear the rumblings of traditional England resisting African Asian and others presence. Whether on football fields or politics, others were not accepted and were told in unflattering terms. Today you can’t go anywhere and find a community that is firmly pluralistic. The past week saw Prince Charles and prime minister speak at an Islamic forum hosted by WIFE, both quoting from the Koran to the extent I could have thought Prince Charles was an Islamist. With England breaking new regulatory grounds in creating legislation to allow Islamic financing through their banks, the door is open in England to become the middle of the universe.

Old nations will fall behind losing valuable brain power in the wake of this new world trend. The intellectuals, young and old and those with gifted minds are moving towards more attractive and progressive societies. Old nationalism is collapsing as an interest. One world thinking is the order and has arrived ahead of government constructs to meet its challenges.

I think we as a country are behind the clock and will need to fast-forward even if we were to catch mother England. We need to get emotionally prepared to open or society up to this new frontier of full globalisation. I remember back in the early nineties Sir David Gibbons saying we need to come out from the cocoon. In 2013 we are perhaps stillborn. It will be a challenge and work has to be done to alter our mindset.

KHALID WASI