What two Kings can achieve .....
Report of the Meeting between their Majesties the Kings of Saudi Arabia and Sweden – from John Geoghegan
What two Kings can achieve …
HM King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and HM King Carl XVI Gustav have already met twice. So it was hardly surprising that as a courtesy at the end of a trip to Saudi Arabia, in his role as Honorary Chairman to the World Scout Foundation, that the King of Sweden was invited to a farewell lunch with the usual array of guests. However, afterwards Their Majesties, and a small group, retired for a 40 minute meeting. As CEO of the World Scout Foundation, I was privileged to be invited too.
Set against a backdrop of a world that seems more divided than ever and with heightened mistrust between the Islamic world and the West, the two kings focused on just one topic: “Peace”. They shared ideas and one is that 31 million Scouts, young people, can be an inspirational beacon throughout the world to engage in their communities, make a positive change and become “Messengers of Peace”.
The Saudi King explained his decade-long reform strategy which, in his country, must be built on consensus and internally driven. Nearly ten years ago, he initiated a National Dialogue process which has since involved hundreds of thousands of Saudi men and women. And changes have occurred, for example; the electoral laws involving men and women, transforming primary, secondary and higher education in the Kingdom as well as opening formerly taboo issues for discussion including women’s rights.
Using this home grown “technology” of dialogue, King Abdullah’s vision and conviction has not been just for Saudi Arabia. HM explained that he believes strongly in the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and so he subsequently persuaded a gathering the leaders of the Muslim countries in Mecca, to sign an agreement for him to lead a dialogue on their behalf with the rest of the world.
That initiative led to an inter-faith conference in Madrid, followed, under his leadership, by a special session of the UN General Assembly – seeking consensus on how world leaders can bring the peoples of the world together – HM King Abdullah added – “Whether we are Christian, Jew or Muslim, we all pray to the same God, we may pray in a different way … but He’s the same God!” And his tireless quest continues with the recent opening of a center in Vienna for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, jointly sponsored with Spain, Austria and the Vatican – with the aim to form a platform, well in to the future, for research and action in bringing people of faith together in greater understanding and mutual acceptance.
King Abdullah has also recognized that scouting, as a young people’s, transnational, organization with 31 million members, male and female, can have a unique role and he praised it as “Truly a Movement of Peace”. But there was more than just this accolade. HM took on the role as Patron, and then began to financially support Scouts firstly with a five million dollar donation to begin “Gifts of Peace” and just now a 37 million donation for a ten year initiative for a “Messengers of Peace” program challenging young people to lead the way. There is no doubt of the sincerity of King Abdullah in wish to support the Scouts in this way.
King Carl Gustav described the energy and motivation among the many thousands of young people he personally met recently in the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden – all of them, excited, enthused and ready to take up the challenge and become Messengers of Peace. HM went on to talk about the launch of the Initiative in Jeddah, just two evenings before, and thanked His Majesty for his continued leadership and inspiration to the world’s scouts.
HM King of Sweden passionately talked about the desperate need for leaders of the world, in his words to have a “universal goal” for peace and harmony. He encouraged King Abdullah to continue his worthwhile support the Messengers of Peace Initiative which has already emboldened, animated and infused millions of scouts in the first phase – and with 15 000 Scout projects already registered from 100 countries in the second phase, (which has just barely started), and the numbers of those involved are growing daily. HM was certain that this would reach 4 million within twelve months and that there would be 20 million Messengers of Peace worldwide in ten years by emphasizing; “The work starts now!”
World Scouting’s Secretary General then announced the award of the Bronze Wolf medal to HM King Abdullah. By decision of the World Scout Committee – the elected governing body of the global Scout movement – this award is made to HM King Abdullah in thanks for his inspirational leadership over ten years, not only of the scout Movement in Saudi Arabia –which has flourished with 180,000 young men and young women as members – but in particular for of the Messengers of Peace Initiative. Over 10 million scouts in 110 countries have given tens if not hundreds of millions of hours of service to their communities, addressing issues which are critical to their communities and have changed their world for the better – thanks to the leadership of King Abdullah.
The King of Sweden, himself a Bronze Wolf holder was then asked by the Secretary General, out of courtesy to His Majesty’s position, to hand over the medal.
King Abdullah was clearly very moved and deeply touched by this unheralded gift but nevertheless asked – “Was this medal awarded because of my financial contributions?”
I took it on myself to reply and told him that the Bronze Wolf is only awarded, after great thought and deliberation, to those who have given service, not money. It is his inspiration of millions of young people, and his stand, after 9/11, together with the Swedish King, away from the spotlights of the media, that he encouraged millions of young men and women to take a step across the divide that was being created in the world at the time – toe trust each other, to value the differences between cultures and to take action to make a more peaceful and better world. This is why he was awarded the Bronze Wolf. King Abdullah was clearly pleased. This award, made of bronze – the poorest of metals – made an impact. For a man who could have anything, this was a gift that cannot be bought but must be earned.
And earned it, he has. Ten years ago, when I first met King Abdullah – then Crown Prince, the world was sliding to mistrust, hatred and sadly, to war. Young Muslims the world over were openly reeling against the stigmatization by the Western press – “Muslim equals Terrorist” (I remember pointing out to King Abdullah in 2003, that it used to be “Irish and Catholic that equaled terrorist – but this too has passed”). In that atmosphere, instead of joining the war of words, King Abdullah, together with the King of Sweden chose leadership.
Away from the sometimes cynical eyes of the press, they led a movement in the global scout network which as I have already said inspired millions to action. But perhaps more importantly, here were two leaders from different faiths, different cultures and seemingly different political systems – both giving faith to young people not to despair. At a time when leadership was needed, they gave it – and have continued to give it since then.
As an Irishman, I believe it takes time for a country to change – it has taken my country – even almost a century after independence – to rid itself of the ghosts of a colonial era which bred anger, violence and corruption. I have seen, in a short ten years, King Abdullah and other reformers in Saudi Arabia change their country in ways that we as foreigners could never have imagined – in women’s rights, educational reforms, and improvements in human rights. Like Ireland, and perhaps Sweden, there is much to be changed in Saudi Arabia, but also like Ireland, and Sweden – only Saudi Arabians can change Saudi Arabia.
We foreigners can look on and criticize, or we can choose to engage and encourage – and when Their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden, together with 150 business leaders from 30 countries that joined them, last week shook hands with those amazing men and women making changes in Saudi Arabia, I have no doubt that those reformers they met are today stronger and more convinced of their actions. And I include here King Abdullah.
As Carl Bilt said this week, to change the world you have to get out into it. Sweden: You should be proud of your King and Queen. I have seen them change the world in the past ten years – because they dare to do what many don’t – they go where others fear to tread – they are truly Messengers of Peace!
John Geoghegan - CEO
World Scout Foundation