“The petition phenomenon”

On July 6, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II addressed the United Nations (UN) Assembly in New York. In her speech to the diplomats from around the world she referred to the tremendous changes the world has witnessed since her previous visit to the UN 53 years ago. But what she found remarkable was the fact that many of these "sweeping advances,” as she described them, have come about not because of governments, committee resolutions, or central directives but because millions of people around the world wanted them to happen.

The Queen expressed the hope that when future generations look back at our own record today they will recognize "our willingness to take the lead and our determination to do the right thing.” Her choice of words emphasized the importance of moral courage and moral integrity if we are to achieve the changes that are needed.

This moral courage has been displayed by two young persons, Camille and Zeenia Framroze, in taking on what they, and many others, see as injustice in our Zoroastrian community ("The petition phenomenon,” Parsiana, August 7, 2010).

As the Queen rightly pointed out, it is up to people like us to effect change by our willingness to take the lead and to act with integrity. What can often inhibit many is the fear that if they take the lead in trying to right a wrong, either at home or abroad, they might find themselves out of their depth or even worse still some will attack them personally instead of engaging and discussing the issue. Taking the lead in righting wrongs or promoting the rights of others will always require moral courage as no one can predict how others may react to one’s message. Camille and Zeenia have shown such courage.

It is the willingness to take that risk and to pay the price of acting on our beliefs, whatever the consequences may be, that is the true test of the integrity of our actions. Our motivation in taking the lead should not be to gain personal recognition or fame but to act out of a sincere compassion for the plight of others. It is the knowledge that we are doing what we believe to be right that should be sufficient to sustain us in our efforts.

Thank you, Camille and Zeenia for taking the lead. You have given us the courage to try and correct the wrong that we have tolerated, even advocated, for far too long.

JEHANGIR SAROSH

London

jehangirsarosh@btconnect.com