With Daisy El Hajje’s article, we publish the seventh contribution to the Leaders for Peace Voices series, which brings together the testimonies of young international leaders trained by Rondine.
On the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Daisy shares an authentic and powerful reflection on what it means to unlearn hate, recognize the other beyond barriers and stereotypes, and turn one’s personal story into a concrete commitment to peace.
Through her journey as a Rondine fellow and ambassador of the Leaders for Peace campaign, Daisy takes us on a path of awareness — inviting us to break the cycle of fear and hate every day, through actions, words, and relationships.
It is easy to fall into the cycle of hate, to hate your so called “enemy” and to follow in the footsteps of those who made you believe that this person – standing right next to you – is your enemy. This hate takes many shapes and forms, from hateful speeches, discriminatory posts and provocative statements. As we grow and form our own opinions and thoughts, we still leave room for the idea of an enemy. It is simply easier this way: not to question what we have been taught and to allow this hate to grow stronger. It is unfortunate that this hate often grows into fear. The enemy has a name, a religion, a skin color, or a nationality. We do not question why and how this enemy earned their title. We begin to fear the enemy, what they represent, their intentions and the idea of co-existence itself.
But before you lose hope, think of how we can deconstruct these narratives, how can we decide to take lead of our thoughts, how can we break the virtual barriers between us and our enemy, how can we unlearn years and years of hate. How can we see the human behind our enemy.
I was 22 years old when I got the opportunity to join Rondine, coming from a country of endless wars and wide number of perceived enemies which have accumulated over the years. The solution is much simpler than we are made to believe. We have a lot in common with the human behind our enemy: we both have hopes, dreams, passions and ideas for a brighter future. We are not a generation who wants war, we are just another generation that has seen the misery wars have inflicted on us, our families and countries. When I see the human, I break the barrier. I deconstruct the image of this enemy, and I see beyond what I have been taught.
My journey as a Rondine fellow ended, but I put the lessons I learned into practice every single day. It is our duty to fight hate speech whenever we have the opportunity to do so. It is our duty to take what we have learned from our journey and put it into practice. With ongoing wars, with merging forms of hate, we cannot sit and watch in silence. Rondine exists on a hill in Tuscany, but its learnings exist in each and every one of us. As we travel, work, and encounter people we spread the peace message of Rondine among them. Being an ambassador of the Leaders for Peace campaign pushed me to rely strongly on the power of education to transform global future leadership, and build new grounds for communication and connection among the most diverse people. Among these different humans.
Today on the International Day of Countering Hate speech we acknowledge the timid efforts of the international community in countering this epidemic and we ask for more. More efforts to teach tolerance, acceptance, the beauty of diversity and the endless learning and growing opportunities that can arise from differences. More awareness on the dangers of spreading hate, and the weaponization of the media as a forum to incite violence, instead of peace.
We are another generation who has suffered from the residues of war, we live in the fear of its recurrence, but look: the cycle of fear and hate ends here. With us.
Daisy El Hajje:
Daisy El Hajje is a Lebanese fellow of the Rondine “Mediterranean Frontier of Peace, Education and Reconciliation (MED)” program (2020-2022). She holds a law degree, a Master’s in Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action, and a Master’s in International Law and Compliance. Daisy was responsible for managing the network of Rondine MED fellows and participated in various cultural exchanges and advocacy actions in this role. Currently, she works for an environmental NGO in the United Arab Emirates, where her passion for advocacy continues to grow.
