Relevant discourse
“…We will have to revisit painful memories. We will have to relive injustices. But we do so in the hope that this country’s Muslim community can share their firsthand experience of what works in countering terror. We do so in the hope that we can help point a better way forward—one that does not force us to choose between our security on one hand and our rights on the other, but one that fully and truly guarantees us both.” – The Usual Suspects: Counter-Terrorism in Moro Communities
“…And perhaps more importantly, we will need you to continue amplifying the voices of those who were displaced and affected, and who continue to suffer today—in the hope that in doing so, we push the process forward and move more quickly, more efficiently, towards the dream we all share—for our sisters and brothers to have the chance to rebuild their lives in Marawi reborn stronger, more prosperous, and more peaceful.” – Speech on the Marawi Rehabilitation Program Launch
Building common ground and promoting inclusion and diversity is messy work—but not impossible. As we have witnessed in our office’s work—and even in the initiatives of Parliament and the Bangsamoro Government—once common ground is achieved, once inclusion and diversity are promoted, any policy or decision that ensues can be carried forward with more confidence and with more resolve. At the same time, it makes it easier to find common ground and it opens up spaces for further inclusion and diversity as we tackle the next issue, the next policy point, the next problem we hope to solve.
