Tolerance and acceptance are key reasons for the success of our union

As we mark National Day, we ought to understand how our Rulers overcome challenges to build the union.

The late Sheikh Zayed and other Rulers gather around the flag at Union House in Dubai on December 2, 1971. Courtesy Aletihad

This year, the UAE Government appointed a Minister of State for Tolerance, which indicated the country’s increased interest in promoting a tolerant society.

Many relevant initiatives followed, but a perfect example of tolerance, cooperation, coexistence and acceptance of differences was set much earlier – in 1971, when the union marked the birth of our nation. Not everyone necessarily sees how the union and tolerance are related, even though that was required for the formation of our nation.

On this National Day, we ought to remember that tolerance is not only a buzzword, it is what the UAE was founded on. Otherwise, how did our bold experiment succeed when others have failed?

However, it is important to remember that tolerance requires much practice. It requires one to constantly accept others despite their opposing views and notions. Although many people claim to be tolerant, their actions often prove otherwise.

When my undergraduate students, for example, debate such topics as national identity, marriage, modernisation, culture and tradition, many of them get angry when faced with views different from theirs.

That’s partly because many Emiratis expect their fellow citizens to share common views on issues such as these.

We ought to understand that no society is entirely homogeneous. We are different individuals, and despite our unity we will differ in our opinions on various issues.

These differences existed in the past and will continue to exist. Our founding fathers accepted the differences between them, and that’s what led to the strength of this nation.

The dream of the union of the UAE was fulfilled because of shared interests, but it would be wrong to claim that all the emirates were similar in every way.

All the Rulers had different views on how to run their emirates, something which created difficulties in the beginning. The books on Sheikh Zayed’s life, available at the National Archives, discuss these struggles.

The first issue was that of borders, especially with the discovery of oil. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, for example, had to overcome such differences. The rulers knew that they would have to reach a compromise to attain something more important – unity and strength that flows from it.

There were countless other issues that needed to be resolved: different emirates had divergent views on ways to deal with Iran’s invasion of the three islands.

The various emirates also had contrasting ideas regarding how money should be invested. For example, some thought it should go to building an army, while others thought it would be best to invest in the economy.

These issues posed significant obstacles, if the rulers did not have the will or the ability to accommodate these conflicting views. Because they did not allow these differences to stand in the way of the union, we are what we are today – a strong, united and stable country. It’s tolerance that allowed the birth of our union and that makes this country succeed in every effort it makes.

While Arab nationalism sought to create unity between Arabs and garnered the attention and interests of many Arabs who believed in its message, it never created a lasting union (the union between Syria and Egypt lasted only four years).

Arab nationalism attracted millions through its slogans of unity and brotherhood, but it did not succeed for many reasons.

One of them is that its supporters had staunch and rigid ideas of how things should be. No amount of slogans on Arab brotherhood could have created a lasting union if flexibility, tolerance and willingness to compromise did not exist.

Similarly, people in the UAE should not only use slogans of tolerance, they should practice it, the way our Rulers did to form this union.

The differences that emerged between the emirates during the process of the union were much more serious than all those that people get agitated over today. The union was not created through a homogeneous society with identical viewpoints and needs. Yet, it is one of the best things that has happened in the history of the region and it serves as a reminder of how important tolerance and coexistence are. It also shows that homogeneity is not necessarily a pillar for a cohesive society.

While Emiratis share many attributes, there are also differences between them. These differences should be appreciated. For example, there are some Emiratis who are more conservative than others.

Some Emiratis are originally from the mountainous region of Musandam and they speaking the Shehhi dialect which few Emiratis understand. Some live in urban areas, some in rural regions. Some speak a mixture of Arabic and English, while others speak pure Arabic.

Some have Bedouin backgrounds while others have Ajami or Baluch origins. Some have studied in private schools and have friends from other countries, some studied in public schools and others abroad. Some have foreign mothers, others may have foreign fathers.

All of these shape our perceptions and help us to see our lives and our nation from different angles, which allow us to contribute and succeed in the ways most suitable to our talents.

Appreciating these differences is a testament to our tolerance. Allowing people to express themselves in their own way is what will lead to citizens being happy, content and devoted to the nation. Appreciation of differences creates many opportunities for ideas to flourish. They boost our economy, society, art and culture – and ultimately strengthen our nation.

Many believe there were hardly any differences between people in the pre-oil era. However, scholars point out that differences always existed in society.

Since the pre-oil era, Emirati society has been multicultural, and much influenced by the cultures of the Indian Ocean that it traded with. People from different backgrounds intermingled, while many married outside their own communities, some of whom are now native Emiratis.

Their influence has come to characterise Emirati society today: local cuisines are influenced by all sorts of cuisines, while the Khaleeji dialect is partly influenced by Indian languages. This is why our society is so vibrant.

This National Day, it is important to remember that tolerance, coexistence and acceptance were the key ingredients to achieving our union.

To truly practise tolerance, we need to move away from simply using slogans and continuously push ourselves to be flexible and accommodating.

We need to see things from others’ standpoints and remember that the secret of unity lies in our acceptance of diversity.

Rana Almutawa is an Emirati faculty member at Zayed University in Dubai