December 1999

Unity among Diversity

Reflections on the World Congress of Families II

In the opening session at the UN Palais, Dr. Margaret Ogola from Kenya shared her remarks after receiving one of the Family Awards. Dr. Ogola addressed specific points which have led to the collapse of the family. I wish to paraphrase one of her final points. With many of us living in individualistic cultures, there is little sense of obligation to society in general. Several people have lost their sense of identity and fail to recognize the person to whom they are ultimately responsible-God. Their belief is, if God is dead it doesn't matter how they act. And so their irresponsible actions continue.

I believe that two important principles most people expect to live by are responsibility and accountability. These principles are most often learned within one's family and are based upon the values upheld by the family. This fact was repeatedly expressed during the conference. Responsibility is defined as "the social [and moral] force that binds you to obligations and the courses of action demanded by that force." To coincide with that definition is a timely quote by John D. Rockefeller Jr., "Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty."

These principles of responsibility and accountability formed a common thread running through the presentations at the World Congress-and rightfully so. Some people in today's society would have us disregard any feelings of familial or social obligation in the name of individual freedom. What these people fail to recognize is that individual freedom is not realized in selfish pursuit of one's interests, but in the pursuit of good for self and the benefit of family and community.

Regardless of the different religious beliefs of the conference participants, each seemed to recognize her or his accountability to God. Furthermore, they recognized and accepted obligations to their family and society. In this context the word "obligation" not only connotes duty and responsibility, but includes action resulting from love, honesty, commitment, and a sense of belonging to a greater organization beyond self. As we accept and live more fully what these principles demand-if they are the norm rather than the exception-we will experience greater well-being in family and society.

I titled this entry "Unity among Diversity" because that is, perhaps, the aspect most intriguing and personally rewarding for me. Unity was found in discussion of basic, true principles such as I have addressed. Was there complete and total agreement on all points? No. But for the good of the whole, participants were willing to focus on the critical importance of this assembly and create community with others without compromising their own convictions. One presenter offered the following imagery to illustrate this very concept. "We came to Geneva in separate ships, but now find ourselves in the same boat. We must now row together in unison to reach the shore safety; otherwise, we may drown separately." This kind of action is precisely what was and is required to realize the efforts of this congress and turn the current course of family decline.

Sherie Rogde
International Relations
Families Worldwide