True national unity means to be fully convinced that we differ from each other and that we need to coexist despite differences. However, some people have been insisting that national unity means to be alike in everything, to agree on all opinions, to have the same political views and to form one political bloc and consider whoever opposes us as a traitor or tension-creator, and this is a true calamity in understanding the true meaning of national unity. We have been experiencing this calamity for years and some veteran politicians have even been promoting such concepts that mix up national unity and similarity.

Real national unity means to consolidate and coexist despite differences that may go as far as paradoxes in race or doctrine. The story that we will not be united unless we are all alike is a wrong one and has nothing to do with national unity, terminology or political wise. Some might argue that the quest for national unity can only go through attempts to look for similarities instead of looking for differences, which cannot be more wrong. Neither me nor you have to look for common grounds and values to be convinced that we share this nation and need to agree before we unite!

We must not agree with all fellow-citizens. I would only believe such allegations of achieving the socalled national unity if you can just name an example of a country where everybody is the same. For example, the Soviet Union historically tried to impose national unity by forcing all citizens to act and look alike for more than seven decades and finally collapsed when differences defeated attempts to melt entire peoples into one mold.

Some people have gone as far as considering political opposition as treason to national unity and called for waging war on the opposition, be that inside or outside the parliament. Well, this is a very stupid interpretation of unity. Opposition is part of national unity. The funny thing is that some politicians and media figure who advocate national unity have revolted on seeing pictures of MPs Saud Al-Huraiji and Abdulhameed Dashti sharing a laugh in the parliament as if they only want them to kill each other simply because they politically disagree. Well, they are lawmakers who may politically disagree within constitutional and legal frameworks, but their human relations or fellowship is something else.

Well, gentlemen, if your national unity is but a hypocrite’s prayer.....do not pray! —Translated by Kuwait Times

By Thaar Al-Rasheedi