P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
5
This diversity of the world, the extraordinary cultural diversity that characterizes any human
society, is generally the object of praise, but also sometimes cause for suffering; because, although it
is a source of wealth for our countries, it is also a source of tensions. Those nations based on ethnic
diversity and immigration figure among the most dynamic on the planet –one need only look to
the other side of the Atlantic to confirm that this is so. However, this dynamism often goes hand in
hand with discontent, discrimination, hatred and violence.
In itself, diversity is neither a blessing nor a curse. It is simply a reality, a fact of life. The world
is a mosaic of innumerable nuances, and our countries, our provinces and our cities progressively
take on the image and semblance of this world. The issue is not knowing
whether we can
live
together despite our differences in colour, language or creed; the question is knowing
how
to live
together,
how
to turn our diversity into a benefit rather than a misfortune.
Living together is not innate to men, whose spontaneous reaction is usually that of rejecting the
other. Overcoming rejection requires the lengthy undertaking of educating citizens, incessantly
repeating—to one and all— that the identity of a country is neither a blank sheet on which anything
may be written nor an already written and printed page, but rather a page that is in the process
of being written. There is a common heritage —institutions, values, traditions, a way of life—
which each and every one of us must ascribe to, but each of us must also feel free to make our own
contribution depending on our own talents and sensibilities. As I see it, getting this message to
take root in the way people think is a priority for educated people today.
Amin Maalouf
—
Prince of Asturias Award
for Literature
2010
Excerpt from the speech given on
the occasion of receiving the Prince
of Asturias Award for Literature
on 22/10/2010.
