The Queen of Peace

This week whilst reading about the visit of King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan I took special note of Queen Elizabeth's words and actions during the speech she gave at the banquet on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, in honor of those special guests. She said, "My country cherishes its tradition of tolerance and mutual respect, which permits people of different faiths and cultures to live and work together." She continued, "I would like to take this opportunity of Your Majesty's visit to underline my appreciation of the contribution made by the Islamic community in Britain to the life of this country." It reminded me of the speech she made during her tour of South Africa in 1947 where there were race wars at the time. In that speech she said, "On my twenty-first birthday I welcome the opportunity to speak to all the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire, wherever they live, whatever race they come from, and whatever language they speak." She added, "That is the great privilege belonging to our place in the world-wide commonwealth - that there are homes ready to welcome us in every continent of earth." Clearly, from a young age, Queen Elizabeth has felt one with the world and its inhabitants. Since that fateful day almost 55 years ago, she stands as a symbol of tolerance in an ever-changing landscape of world politics, economies and cultures.

Much like the Statue of Liberty that stands in the New York Harbor as a symbol of hope, a welcoming beacon beckoning to the world, "Give me your tired, your poor,/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free", she has earned a place on the world stage as a symbol of hope for those facing the reality of religious and racial persecution. In that same speech to King Abdullah and guests she said, "…all of us, whatever our religion or background, have an added responsibility to ensure that those who are intent on stirring up hatred, fear and prejudice in this country do not succeed." Like the Statue of Liberty she has stood firmly, resolvedly and consistently for the same issues for as long as she has been in our conscious. She has with grace and quiet dignity reiterated and stood by a doctrine of faith in humankind even when we were too busy to listen, too preoccupied to care.

Last year we saw two examples of this faith, first in her visit to see Pope John Paul II, head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Italy and second in her Christmas Broadcast. During her papal visit she played the dual role of sovereign and Head of the Church of England when she noted the progress made in bridging the gap between the two religions, a source of division in Northern of Ireland. "I am pleased to note the important progress that has been made in overcoming historic differences between Anglicans and Roman Catholics." The Pope's remarks about the Queen and the progress made were equally positive. With the long history of division between these two religions, the Queen's visit and the acknowledgement of the increasing tolerance between them was quite powerful.

The following quotes are from the Queen's Christmas Broadcast on December 25, 2000. "To many of us our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life." "Many will have been inspired by Jesus' simple but powerful teaching: love God and love thy neighbour as thyself - in other words, treat others as you would like them to treat you. His great emphasis was to give spirituality a practical purpose." "This spirituality can be seen in the teachings of other great faiths. Of course religion can be divisive, but the Bible, the Koran and the sacred texts of the Jews and Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs are all sources of divine inspiration and practical guidance passed down through the generations." They seem almost prophetic when we look at them now. It seems as though she was giving a gift to her subjects, and to the rest of us who listened to her speech with great interest, the gift of faith in and respect for the differences between us, the members of the human race.

During her banquet speech of November 6, 2001, the Queen also thanked King Abdullah for his steadfast support, "Your help in persuading others that this is not a conflict between Islam and the West, but rather between decent people of all faiths and terrorism, has been greatly appreciated here." The Queen added, "As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, we pray that all concerned will reflect on the values which unite them, and renew their commitment to the search for peace." Though her steadfastness is at times considered old fashioned, in times of crisis it is a source of great comfort. The relationships she has forged with the great leaders of this world, the leaders who seek peace for all have been many. From Nelson Mandela to Pope John Paul II to King Hussein and now his son, King Abdullah of Jordan, the Queen has earned respect through her unquestionable integrity. King Abdullah acknowledged the Queen's dedication to the peace process with these words, "We also greatly appreciate the leading role Britain has played in making it clear that this is not a battle between Islam and the West."

It would be nice if we could acknowledge her dedication to peace, her tolerance and her leadership by ensuring she enjoys an extraordinary Golden Jubilee celebration. Let's make it a memorable Jubilee Year for a Queen who has certainly earned it!

How do you think we can best pay tribute to the Queen? How impressed are you with the quality of the content of the speeches? Looking forward to hearing from you this week.

All the best,