Dialogue is necessary to reduce the space of difference with the other...

In one of my previous articles, I touched on the necessity of integration into society by new citizens and briefly discussed some points that establish a culture of integration, which relies on several factors, the most important of which are communication, establishing a culture of dialogue, and accepting differences with others.. I found it a social and ethical responsibility to contribute some positive ideas from my own experience that may help new arrivals overcome the transitional period of their lives with a positive spirit that opens up bright future horizons, God willing.

Without a doubt, each of us wants a healthy environment in which to fully exercise the right of citizenship and to raise our children on foundations that guarantee them their rights to good education, respectable work, and health insurance.. A healthy environment means an environment capable of accommodating all differences through a culture of dialogue framed by a spirit of tolerance and intellectual pluralism, away from the monologic culture or what is called the culture of the single voice that excludes the other and confiscates their legitimate right to expression, which has caused many clashes among people.. We want to free ourselves from the concept of ego and the idea that whoever is not with me is against me, and establish a culture of teamwork that gives space to all voices and allows the opportunity for all ideas to see the light..

God Almighty created us different and created for us the mind so that we may harness these differences in creativity and development.. These differences are affirmed by Islam as a firm reality in verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat, and it encourages acquaintance, as God Almighty says: (O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted)" The Almighty has spoken the truth.

Acquaintance is communication and getting to know others with their diverse cultures..

The question is, how can a new citizen in a new country establish the idea of dialogue and acceptance of the other who may differ from him in everything?!

It is known that dialogue is the oldest means of communication among humans despite their ethnic, religious, and cultural differences, and verbal communication comes at the forefront of communication tools.. This depends on language, which many consider the biggest obstacle in the communication process..

The new citizen sometimes feels embarrassed for not mastering the official language in his new country, so he resorts to silence and avoids contact with those around him... Most of us came speaking at least one of the two official languages in Canada, but each of us has a way of pronunciation influenced by our different dialects, in addition to not being accustomed to the fast rhythm of speech they use on the street. Some of us are proficient in English learned at university, which is a purely scientific language and not the language spoken daily, so we must develop this important tool in the communication process by studying conversational language, and this option is available in both French and English in all Canadian provinces..

Is this enough? Should we hide until we master the language? Of course not.. We must start with the linguistic capabilities we have and develop them.

One person who introduced himself as a new immigrant who came to Canada a year and a half ago asked me: I wonder how much time I need to master the language?

I told him that this depends on him and the effort he will exert to master the language, and I advised him some tips that help acquire the language faster, which I personally used based on the guidance of the French language teacher who told me literally: Language is not acquired here only in classrooms, we are one of the means, but the most important means is communicating with people on the street without shame. You will make mistakes and find someone to correct you, and thus you learn the language. Also, you must train your ears to hear the language by following untranslated programs on TV or listening to the radio." Honestly, this advice helped me a lot.

Let the beginning be communication with those around you, with neighbors for example, even if it is non-verbal communication at first, such as body language like smiling, or waving a hand as a greeting from afar.. This will be an entry point to break the barrier and create a state of harmony, and over time it will turn into verbal dialogue of several sentences and perhaps develop into discussing important issues concerning the community.

Dialogue is an important source of information, and any new citizen needs every piece of information related to all aspects of his life, but we must master the culture of dialogue and fully realize that no one knows everything, and that each of us needs the opinion of the other.. We must learn objectivity in presenting our ideas and have a space of understanding if we disagree with others.. And build this space on the assumption that our opinion is correct but may be wrong, and the other's opinion is wrong but may be correct..

When you talk with your children's teacher at school, you will learn important information that helps you raise them and shortens the time needed to accustom them to their new life..

When you talk with your neighbors, you will learn many laws in the form of short and useful information that will save you time in research and trial.

Your openness to other thoughts will make you reconsider and start shaping a new image of your life based on realistic information and not preconceived assumptions.. You will learn a lot about the culture of others and clarify to them many things they do not know about you, so the barriers between you and them gradually dissolve.

Through dialogue, work horizons will open up to you. When you talk with those around you and market yourself in your field, you will find many volunteering to give you addresses and phone numbers and help you in the job search method, and perhaps they will recommend you in their workplaces.

Through dialogue, you will reach points of agreement between you and others, and these meeting points will undoubtedly benefit the community.

I advise volunteering, which opens doors wide for everyone and in all fields. You will feel a sense of satisfaction when you find acceptance from others and looks of gratitude.. Through volunteering, you communicate with different segments of society and learn new cultures that you add to your repertoire of tools with which you present yourself in the work field.

Certainly, your perspective on things will change, and you will formulate your goals in a practical and more realistic way so that they are achievable.

Over time, you will notice as a result of dialogue with others that our Arab culture has a presence on the scene, and you will notice that many non-Arabs attend the festivals organized by Arab communities, and gradually the shadow of feeling alienation will fade when you find freedom in practicing your religious rituals and ethnic customs and the keenness of those around you to congratulate you on your religious occasions, for example..

My neighbors are keen to congratulate me on our holidays as I am keen to congratulate them, and I feel that the human bond is the strongest of all and that we complement each other in this human system.

Communicate with others so that the chasm of alienation and distance from family does not widen inside you.. Communicate so that you contribute to building a civilization of difference and establishing the ethics of dialogue.. Communicate so that you reach with the other a refined and harmonious formulation of a set of spiritual and moral values that frame the relationship among all members of society.. Because this is the path to the renaissance, development, and stability of any society and its members.

Stay well,

Salwa Hammad