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There
exists in Syria age-old barriers between the various sects
and denominations that are not of the essence of religion.
There are conflicting traditions derived from the structure
of religious and denominational institutions that have
exerted an enormous influence on the social and economic
unity of the people, weakened it and delayed our national
revival. As long as these barriers remain, our call for
freedom and independence will remain futile.
Every
nation that seeks a free and independent life in which it
can realize its ideals must possess real spiritual unity.
Such spiritual unity is not possible in a country in which
each group lives in isolation from other groups and has
particular social and legal systems which set it apart from
other groups. This would result in diversity in character
and disharmony in aims and aspirations.
National unity win not be achieved unless the causes for
dissension are removed. The socio-legal barriers separating
the sects and denominations of the same nation constitute a
major obstacle to the realization of the unity of the
nation.
Unity
is something real and not fictitious, so let us not
surrender reality and cling to fiction. We must stand
together before the world as one united nation rather than a
conglomeration of heterogeneous elements of conflicting
attitudes. The existence of the present social and legal
barriers which separate the various sects entails the
persistence of obnoxious religious bigotry. Those barriers
must be demolished so that the unity of the nation might
become a reality and the Social Nationalist order, which
will restore the nation to health and energy, might be
established.
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