Twenty-first-century humanity is at a crossroads. It has reached a stage of adolescence in its growth as a species. Since the discovery of the atomic bomb, human beings are for the first time in history able to commit collective suicide. I hope that rather than following the path of self -destruction, human beings choose to progress to the next stage of evolution and learn ways to live in peace and harmony with themselves and others. Human beings need to realize that we are intimately connected with each other and to have any collective future we need to work together to decrease our sufferings.

When I review the contemporary dynamics of social, economic and political factors, I can easily recognize the following seven main causes of human suffering.

1. ISSUE OF CLASS

Many of us have grown up in communities where there has been a wide gulf between the rich and the poor. When we talk about upper, middle and lower classes, we acknowledge the gap that exists between the haves and the have-nots. It is a sad reality that 20% of the world's people own 80% of the resources while the other 80% struggle to exist on the remaining 20%. The differences between the developed and developing countries are incredible--the minority enjoys all the luxuries while the majority struggles for food and shelter and cannot afford to send their children to school nor buy medicine.

The time has come for the haves and the have-nots at a local, national and international level to realize that we are collectively responsible for the health and well being of all humans and we must adopt a lifestyle where millions of children all over the world will not die of malnutrition, starvation and treatable illnesses. Only with such a realization there is hope that developing countries will be encouraged to be economically and politically self-sufficient and independent. Even in the developed world, on one hand there are countries like Canada whose social support system provides free education and health care to all citizens, while in neighboring America 30 million people have no health insurance.


2. ISSUE OF RACE

Alongside class differences, in some communities there also exist inequalities between different ethnic groups. One example is South Africa where for generations Whites enjoyed far more rights and privileges than Browns and Blacks. The White minority ruled the Black majority. In India there has been a caste system for centuries. Even among Muslims, Syeds were more esteemed than other groups as they were considered to be the descendents of Mohammad. These distinctions focus more on the racial and family background than on the character of the person. Such attitudes have led to appalling social injustices. In America Martin Luther King, Jr. worked hard to change discriminatory laws so that Blacks could be treated equally to Whites.


3. ISSUE OF GENDER

In the past there existed matriarchal societies in some parts of the world where women were well respected. The expressions mother tongue and motherland remind us of those times. But in recent centuries human beings have been living in patriarchal societies and women have been considered second-class citizens, deprived of many rights and privileges. The feminist and women's liberation movements have made wonderful strides over the decades but the attitudes of men are so deep rooted that it might take a few more generations for many men to accept women as equals and to respect them. It is also interesting to note that alongside cultural traditions, there are also many religious groups that deny women equal rights. In many religions there can be no women prophets and women cannot lead religious gatherings.


4. ISSUE OF RELIGION

While some people use their religion to become better human beings and serve their communities, there are others who use it to judge others. They display a punitive attitude and seek to persecute those whom they consider sinners. It is sad to see how many religious groups have split into sects and have declared holy wars on others. Whether they be Shiites fighting with Sunnis in Iraq or Catholics fighting with Protestants in Ireland or Muslims fighting with Jews in Israel, there is a religious motivation in those political wars. It is difficult for many people to rise above their religious and cultural conditioning and embrace people from other faiths and sects as their brothers and sisters, or to respect atheists and humanists as they see them as sinners who will burn in hell. Equally troubling is the existence of theocratic states where leaders use the force of national law to persecute people from minority sects. I think time has come for all such governments to separate church and state / mosque and state and create secular societies and communities where there is not only freedom of religion but also freedom from religion.


5. ISSUE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Whenever there is an open and honest debate about the rights of gays and lesbians, we see a number of biases and prejudices surfacing. In some communities homosexuality is considered immoral, in others unnatural, while in still others illegal. For centuries gay men and lesbian women have been suffering because of the homophobic attitudes of their communities. It is only recently that some countries are giving them the right to get married and celebrate their love publicly.


6. ISSUE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES

It is not uncommon to see people with physical and mental disabilities treated poorly by others. As a psychiatrist I am quite aware of the stigma of mental illness. Many face a negative attitude in their families and prejudice in their work place. The creation of special parking places for people with disabilities in parking areas across Canada is a welcome development. There is also a growing awareness that people with emotional problems and mental illnesses need to be treated compassionately rather than punitively.


7. ISSUE OF NATIONALISM

It is amazing to observe how people develop a strong identity based on the country where they were born. Their feelings of patriotism not only make them love their own country but at times inspire them to declare war on countries they consider their enemies, and if religion is closely linked with patriotism then the war becomes a holy war. Some call it a jihad while others call it a crusade, an example of which is currently in progress because of the religious and political attitudes of Osama bin Laden and George W Bush. It is sad to see how millions of people blindly follow their leaders into a cycle of violence that can continue for generations and which is hard to break.


CONCLUDING REMARKS

When we review all the seven causes of human suffering we become aware that some factors affect more human beings than others. For example class issues can affect 80% of the world population, gender issues 50% and sexual orientation issues 10%. Some human beings suffer more than others as they are affected by more than one factor. For example a black working class lesbian woman might struggle on four fronts and suffer multiple disadvantages with overlapping impacts.

When we review human rights organizations worldwide we become aware that some committed people focus on the human rights of only one group and overlook others. It is a sad reality that many human beings have been suffering for centuries but now with the advancement of knowledge in science, medicine, psychology and economics and the development of a humanistic attitude in many parts of the world, we can solve most human problems. However, this requires people who are committed to their cause and ideals.
The time has come for all individuals, local groups and
international organizations who believe in democracy, social justice and peace to rise above their ideological and political differences and work together to serve their communities and create a better future for all of us.

Humanity is at a crossroads. Rather than committing collective suicide and perishing as a species I hope we grow to the next stage of human evolution and create a secular, humanistic and peaceful world.