When lecturing on “What is a Nation”, French scholar, Ernest Renan, suggested that building a nation required acceptance of the past and choosing new realities for a shared future. He explains:

A nation is therefore a large-scale solidarity, constituted by the feeling of the sacrifices that one has made in the past and of those that one is prepared to make in the future. It presupposes a past; it is summarized, however, in the present by a tangible fact, namely, consent, the clearly expressed desire to continue a common life.

And yet what we see today is a rejection of this “desire to continue a common life” in the rise of subnational, identity-based and even transnational conflicts. Many point to specific political, economic, or religious factors as the cause, but consistently deepening divisions suggest that at the heart of these conflicts is a failure to see a common destiny.

Painting by John Trumbull of the five men drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress.

When we see others as enemies and fail to recognize the human dignity and rights of others, we tread on dangerous ground. Throughout history and repeatedly today, we see time and again that humans do terrible, inhumane things to each other when we exclude some as being unworthy of basic moral considerations. There are simply too many instances of this in the news today. Fortunately, history has also shown us that it is possible to bridge perceived divisions in order to create new possibilities for peace and shared prosperity.

The founding of the United States was based on the belief of a moral imperative to live and organize according to the “laws of nature and of nature’s God”. This recognition of spiritual principles became then the basis for essential spiritual values and subsequently, rights, to all people. Although the time of the founding of the United States permitted slavery within its territories, the founding documents of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, taken together, laid the ideological basis to eventually extend these rights to every person.

Indonesians celebrating their country’s independence (photo credit: British Pathe)

Similarly, we find that at a crossroad in its history, modern Indonesia made the conscious choice to establish a modern state based upon its spiritual values. Although Indonesia was and still is predominantly a Muslim country, it chose to enshrine universal principles at the core of its democracy out of respect for the diverse spiritual practices of its population. It is out of this freedom to practice in accordance with one’s conscience that has given rise to two of the largest Muslim civil society organizations in the world, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.

Despite the geographic, cultural, religious, linguistic and many other differences in between, these two countries at opposite ends of the globe pursued very similar courses in placing universal principles and shared values as the basis of more inclusive societies. While each has struggled to maintain a hold of these principles and values, the vision and aspirations contained in the founding ideals continue to guide each nation towards greater equality, unity and prosperity for all.

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Children from Kikuyu, Kisii, and Kalenjin tribes at the new GPFF-supported school in Molo.

Molo is a town in Kenya’s Rift Valley. In 2007, it experienced the brunt of the ethnic violence that followed the presidential election. Thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Today in Molo grass grows over the remains of a school that was burnt to the ground by rival tribes. Next to it stands a new school. Its sponsor had one condition, that the school teach members of all tribes.

In the same classroom, children of former enemy tribes, Kikuyu, Luos, Kisii and Kalnjin, sit side by side working together towards the future. They serve as a reminder that young people have an astounding capacity to dream big, to see beyond past enmities, and reach for something better.

No matter where they come from, whether it is Africa, Malaysia, the United States, or Korea, young people have shown hope and possibility even if they have nothing. Their most valuable resource is their future and their dreams for a better world.

It shows the enduring vision and dream that lives on in the human spirit. And it is inspiring to continue investing in the youth of our world. Each generation possesses the seeds of the vision of peace to plant for the next generation to carry on.

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Korean and Paraguay businessmen at a recent conference in Paraguay discuss opportunities for investment and development.

A few years ago, I was meeting with company managers to discuss our goals for the next fiscal year.

The managers looked at their accounting numbers and told me, “We grew 30 percent last year, so we are going to grow at 30 percent this year.”

I asked them, “Why are you predicting the current year’s market opportunities based on last year’s growth rate?” In my eyes they were limiting the company’s potential by presuming that they would not exceed the previous year’s growth rate. In essence they were limiting the future based on experiences from the past.

I challenged them instead to set future goals based on what they wanted the company to become.

As we began to identify the many market opportunities, the managers began to see numerous possibilities. Eventually, they saw the tremendous potential for growth beyond that original 30 percent. The “stretch goal” I had proposed now seemed very possible.

All it took was a different perspective. The managers understood that when they looked beyond their past reality and seized current opportunities they opened up unlimited possibilities.

Whether you are a manger asked to grow a company, a parent raising children or a social innovator taking on complex global  issue, leadership takes this kind of innovation.

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Youth stand hand in hand at a Rivers for Peace clean-up in Kenya. The world’s young people demand a paradigm shift. The world is hungry for development models that encompass the entire human experience.

17-year-old Brittany Trilford from New Zealand addressed world leaders at Rio+20. “In this moment, I am all children, your children, the world’s three billion children. Think of me for these short minutes as half the world. I stand here with fire in my heart. I’m confused and angry at the state of the world and I want us to work together now to change this.”

She spoke for the sons and daughters of the human family who are frustrated by an uncertain future. Current development models have not ensured everyone’s well-being, nor have they cared for our earth. The world’s children demand a paradigm shift.

The world is looking for development models that encompasses the breadth and scope of the human experience. New trends, such as the “green economy,” reflect the departure from isolated economic growth for more comprehensive, balanced and sustainable perspectives. Development must consider the spiritual and social dimensions of humanity, and it must preserve everyone’s shared heritage, the rich resources of the earth.

Moments like Rio+20 are reminders that more is needed than material goods and services for better lives. As sustainable development is defined, there is a need to clarify humanity’s direction and create the future that all of humankind wants to see.

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