Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume told Seton Hall students, "Make it your objective to create a world with no war and no conflict." He spoke to a crowd in Kozlowski Auditorium on Thursday.
"For the first time in our history, we have the potential to live with no wars and no conflicts and in a world where everyone lives with the motto E Pluribus Unim," Hume said.
Hume was conferred with an honorary degree from the School of Diplomacy with the help of Kurt Borowsky, chair of the University Board of Regents, and Provost Mel Shay before he began his speech.
Giandomenico Picco, special adviser to the U.N. Secretary-General and Senior Fellow, mentioned how the story of Northern Ireland was one "filled with determination, hope, patience, frustration, even depression and loneliness."
He commended Hume because he knew that "being on the side of peace even after your house has been fire bombed is never easy."
Clay Constantinou, dean of the School of Diplomacy, referred to Hume as "a truly dedicated citizen who has dedicated his life to the service of others."
Hume stress, "Our quarrel, which started 300 years ago, intensified over the last 30 years. One night, 500 of our citizens were killed, and it was necessary to build walls to separate one section of the Christian church from another."
One group that formed, the Unionists, was composed of people who wanted to remain united with Britain. They were mainly Protestants.
The opposing group was the Nationalists, made up primarily of Catholics with a territorial mindset who wanted to stay as a united Ireland. The Catholics were discriminated against in jobs, voting rights and other basic human privileges.
Hume called on the young men and women in Northern Ireland to live for their ideas instead of dying for them.
"Without people, even our beautiful land is only a jungle," Hume said. "When people are divided, violence has no place in bringing them together. The only possibility is agreement and discussion between people."
This was a practice Hume said he knew could work because he had seen it done successfully between France and Germany after World War II.
"The first half of the last century was the worst in the history of the world with its two world wars," said Hume. "Who would have dreamt that in the second half of the century, those same people would unite?"
Hume talked about how distrust is always at the heart of a conflict, caused by the differences between two groups of people. This was something that Hume took into account when forming the new Irish parliament.
"Difference is an accident of birth," said Hume. "We didn't choose to be born in a certain place, so why should we fight about it?"
Pico conferred: "Diversity is not a threat. It's the seed of the future and hope."
One way to overcome the differences is to cooperate. Northern Ireland agreed to create a legal assembly represented by proportional voting so all political sections would be represented in the government.
"The essence of unity is a respect for diversity," Hume said.
Hume was recognized for his achievements with a Waterford crystal bowl. The bowl had a rising sun on the bottom, similar to one Ben Franklin had, which symbolized the dawn of a new day where there will be no war and no conflict.
Hume found ways to work in the fun and games into his speech. His sense of humor showed when he made a thumbs-up sign after receiving his honorary degree and placed the crystal bowl on his head after its presentation.
Nathan Bland, president of the Graduate Diplomacy Council, said, "It is of vital importance that we actually see and hear from people like Hume who are so important in the diplomatic process."
He said the students present came to learn more about peace and how achieving it is possible.
Hume's teachings have been of influence at Seton Hall. He was the motivation for Picco to produce "The Dialogue Among Civilizations" published in cooperation with the School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Hume was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his efforts to resolve the conflict in Northern Island by working to pass the Good Friday Agreement. He was the founder and leader of the Social Democrat and Labor Party from 1979 to 2000 and helped build housing and sought jobs for both Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.
Katie Clements can be reached at clemenka@shu.edu.
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