28th August 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of his desire for a future where whites and blacks among others would co-exist in harmony as equals.
It is said that, until there are no first or second class citizens in any nation and until the colour of the man’s skin is no longer of any significance there will be racism, discrimination, conflict and war.
All men are created equal with certain rights, and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thankfully, the Maldivians are of one creed, skin colour and language. But, in our country, we too have divisions of classes. It’s not classes of colour, religion or language but its classes of which island you belong.
Some claim, that their people are more intelligent than others, they do claim that they know better and they have the money. It’s so deep rooted in their blood that families refuse their kids to marry their loved ones just because they belong to another island. One would be able to come to the conclusion that if we don’t try to tackle this, It will be difficult for us to develop as one unified nation.
The upcoming elections would be the most important election in our history, an election we hope to win, for a new Maldives. A Maldives that will not consider where a person belong or the origin of a person. A Maldives that will gives us the all the rights that we are in need of and have been craving for a long time.
Today, there are many candidates from different islands and of different families who are promising us a change. We need the right person to steer our nation to the dreams we have for our country. We need a statesman who can bring the right changes at the right time, not a person who plans for 30 years. We need a president not a dictator. We need a president who knows our feelings and a person who works to develop our living standards. We need a president who does not look for the family or where we belong.
It’s in our own hands to select the right person. Let us make the best of use this opportunity to select the most eligible person to represent us, to make the people's descions by judging what they are capable of, their honesty and leadership but not by looking at the origin or from where the person belongs.
We Muslims should remember that intelligence and wealth are not given to people just because they belong to a particular island. Its given to whom almighty pleases, to test or to reward the people who work for it. It’s clearly stated in holy Quran.
So let us all try to move forward leaving behind these divisions in our country. Let us all join hands, for one unified nation. Let us all go to history as the generation who left behind these divisions in our society and be an example for our children and for the rest of the world.
I too have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day my children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the island they belong but by the content of their character
I too have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day everyone of us will have equal access to all the fields to develop as individuals in the respective feilds that we want.
We are from one religion and from one ancestor - Be proud of it.
“Afirin mi bahakataki fahuruverivey Dhivehi baha koo eki rah rashi eki gothe gothaha dhekieh kamaku hama Dhivehi baheo”
