Finally, after decades of fighting with the north, Southern Sudan has seceded from the north. As the newest nation in the world, and Africa's 54th state, this victory has been a long time coming. Millions of Sudanese have been walking toward this goal for decades since the end of its post-colonial era.
What does independence mean? This milestone goal is igniting a slew of uprisings throughout Africa and the Middle East. It is almost as though independence has transcended ideology to become a physical destination. Yet, what happens after this line is crossed?
Famine, disease, draught and rape still plague these nations. Those who have left their native country and gone on to seek refugee status, such as the Lost Boys of Sudan, have lost more than their freedom. They've been denied their right to a cultural identity.
Yet, as default participants in globalization, these wondering angels and those like them, have spearheaded a new cultural identity: tolerance. Tolerance of struggle, journey, pain, love etc. Each state, country and so on has the right to defend its cultural heritage. But as the world becomes smaller, country of origin doesn't necessarily coincide with one's cultural identity. What if, as citizens of the world, we shared the concept of tolerance. There is independence to be found within the scope of tolerance. Let's link to independence to tolerance and envision tolerance as a physical destination rather than a fiat actualized ideology.
As South Sudan's narrative changes by becoming Africa's 54th state, let's move forward with the actualization of tolerance and curiosity to find ourselves in the same world.
