In adapting to life in the melting pot of America, I discovered that the same soft power of science has a huge influence in building bridges between cultures and religions - and has the potential to do so with the Muslim world.
Interpretation
Science can unite diverse cultures and promote understanding.
Ahmed Zewail highlights the ability of science to transcend cultural and religious boundaries, emphasizing its role as a unifying force in a diverse society like America. He suggests that through scientific collaboration and dialogue, deeper connections can be established, particularly with communities such as the Muslim world, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
In practice
A speaker at a cultural event discussing the importance of science in bridging gaps between communities.
In the 1970s, what I, as a young foreign student studying in the United States, found most dynamic, exciting and impressive about this country is what much of the world continues to value most about the U.S. today: its open intellectual culture, its great universities, its capacity for discovery and innovation.
As a cultural product of both 'East' and 'West', I do not believe there is a fundamental basis for a clash of civilisations, or that the West is the cause of all problems.
My father once told me that respect for truth comes close to being the basis for all morality. 'Something cannot emerge from nothing,' he said. This is profound thinking if you understand how unstable 'the truth' can be.
But after a while you learn to cope with things like seeing your dead grandmother crawling up your leg with a knife in her teeth. Most acid fanciers can handle this sort of thing.
A democratic civilization will save itself only if it makes the language of the image into a stimulus for critical reflection - not an invitation for hypnosis.
Order is repetition of units._x000D_ Chaos is multiplicity without rhythm.
Beauty is the brilliance of truth.
The main motive for nonattachment is a desire to escape from the pain of living, and above all from love, which, sexual or non-sexual, is hard work.
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