Harmony and Discord

We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and when we come across someone who is different from us, are we ready to treat them with equal amounts of respect and kindness? You might wonder what is the importance of respect and tolerance towards others, that’s why we would like to share with you a story.

In a region divided by a river, two villages—Harmony and Discord, grew. One year, a drought struck the region, threatening the food storage and development of both villages. Harmony, known for its diverse population, continued to thrive despite the crisis. This is because they gathered ideas of how food should be stored before the hazard from villagers originated in different regions. They evaluated all ideas and came up with a great plan. Meanwhile, Discord, resistant to new ideas, clung to traditional methods and suffered severe food shortages. Eventually, Discord accepted Harmony’s help, leading to a beneficial exchange of resources and skills. From a group of friends to the whole world, respect and tolerance are demonstrated.

Other than this story, even nowadays, nations communicate and respond with respect towards divergence, facilitating close joint-projects or policies. For example, the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by the Chinese government, promotes economic cooperation among the countries along the Belt and Road routes. Despite the differences in economic situations and political systems among nations, the initiative helps foster market integration and create benefits for all the member countries.

Collaborations foster mutual respect, proving that embracing diverse perspectives can lead to resilience and prosperity, while isolation only breeds hardship. At school, students should respect the differences among individuals, including the uniqueness of different ethnicities and cultures. They can express appreciation for things, understand others’ perspectives and feelings, as well as respond with their own opinions appropriately.

As a whole, a just society is constructed for the common good by all members united together, regardless of differences in religion, culture, social strata identity, age and more. Let’s all do our part to contribute to a more harmonious society by behaving with respect.

Economics Club