European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

154 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETY—Consumption: “Agua y Luz para el Desarrollo”(“Water and lightfor Development”).—Industrial activity: “Una Responsabilidad de todos” (“A commonresponsibility”).—Development and the Environment: “Combate la pobreza”(“Combat poverty”).—Peace: “Adios a las armas” “Por la paz: no a la investigaciónmilitar”. (“Farewell to arms”. “Pro-Peace: say no to militaryresearch”).—Official Aid for Development: “Saber donar” (“Knowing how todonate”).In a world where religious fundamentalism, ethnic cleansing,discrimination against women and social and racial prejudice are partsof our every-day life, the key is knowing how to replace fear and hate,which engender violence, with positive respect for other people andcultures. Accepting diversity, accepting he and she who is different,demands experiences from which we can all learn; it is not only abouttolerating but about building social peace, indispensable for humandevelopment.Since I left Lebanon in 1976 to settle in France, I wonder how manytimes I was asked, with the best of intentions, whether I felt “moreFrench” or “more Lebanese”. My response is always the same: “Both!”.Not because I want to be balanced or fair, but rather because I would belying if I said something different. What makes me be me, and notsomeone else, is the fact that I am in-between two countries, two orthree languages and various cultural traditions. This is precisely whatdefines my identity. Would I be more honest if I got rid of one part ofmyself? 9ReferencesBARTOLOMÉ, Margarita (2002). Identidad y ciudadanía. Un reto a la educaciónintercultural. Madrid: Narcea.FORUM DE POLÍTICA FEMINISTA (2002). Ciudadanía, Genero y Participación Agrupaciónde Madrid.GARCÍA ROCA, J. (2001). Las migraciones como propuesta de civilización. Quéhacer ante las inmigraciones Iglesia viva 205.Valencia.GOSOVIC, Branislav (2001). “Hegemonía intelectual mundial y programa internacionalde desarrollo”, Cooperación Sur n.º 2. PNUD.9Maalouf, Amin. Identidades Asesinas. Alianza Editorial - El Libro de Bolsillo.