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We, the undersigned, are students of numerous cultural and faith backgrounds who share a vision of a co-existence, peace and tolerance in a more just world. We stand together as citizens of one nation built of diverse cultures in the face of discrimination and racism. We affirm the historic role that we must play in leading the voice of pluralism and moderation in our local and global communities. We call upon all students to pledge the following principles:
- We stand for the equal rights and respect for people of all beliefs and cultures in America and abroad. At a time of tremendous pressure to ensure the safety of people in the face of sporadic violence, we must ensure that the civil liberties and free will of individuals are not compromised.
- All students should condemn hate speech and calls for violence by religious extremists from around the world. Their actions and ideology are unethical and morally wrong as they threaten co-existence, tolerance and the security of the minorities. America has been a safe haven for various minorities, cultures and beliefs; hence, we aim to denounce hate speech that causes racism, stereotypes and discrimination in our communities.
- The tragic events of September 11th must not become a source to restrict the civil liberties and human rights of people, but rather an event that can be used as a tool to close the increasing divide between minorities and global communities by increasing cross-cultural communication and understanding.
- Despite the fact that the terrorist attack against America was perpetrated by a small group of people speaking in the name of Islam and emanating from the Muslim world, Americans should remain steadfast in respecting the global Muslim community. All Americans must do more to understand the dynamics of the Muslim world, and we must support efforts to strengthen economic opportunities and individual rights in the Muslim world.
- Americans are part of a nation that has benefited most from globalization even though some nations haven’t. All students and others in the community, should support projects working to create a more just economic and political future for people in all countries around the world, in order to prevent economic deprivation and to increase the benefits of globalization for everyone.
- The cultural minorities in America know firsthand the importance of protecting the civil and human rights of minority communities. As a result of the positive experiences for many Muslims and minorities in America, all students need to emphasize human rights and protect the civil rights already granted to minorities. As a result, the minorities will be motivated to become pro-active in community development, and will confront issues of the past and present, and have a renewed commitment to progress in the future without the fear of a threat over their rights.
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