Why I will not be wearing an Orange ribbon.

An Orange Ribbon, worn on March 21 in Australia, demonstrates the wearer as a participant in Harmony Day.

What is Harmony Day?

Harmony Day, which began in 1999, occurs on 21 March each year and celebrates Australia's success as a diverse society united by a common set of values.

Since 1945 more than six million people have settled in Australia and in 60 years of post-war migration Australia 's population has jumped from 6 million to approximately 20 million.

At the time of the 2001 Census there were almost 19 million people in Australia. Twenty-two per cent had been born overseas, and more than 18 per cent of the Australia-born had at least one parent born overseas. More than 200 languages were spoken, including 62 Indigenous languages. Apart from English the most common were Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Spanish. In December 2003 the Australian population reached the 20 million mark.

A major aspect of Harmony Day is the celebration that Australia is a multicultural and multifaith nation.

All over Australia today there will be multi faith readings from the scriptures for many various religions including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity.

Many famous leaders, religious and otherwise, have spoken about the importance of harmony and unity.

Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace.
Buddha (566-486 BC)

You can develop the right attitude toward others if you have kindness, love and respect for them, and a clear realization of the oneness of all human beings.
The Dalai Lama, 1989 Nobel Peace Laureate

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal"
Dr Martin Luther King Jnr (1929-1968)

Irrespective of its sources, racism is racism. Ignorance is no excuse. Insecurity is not justification…racism in all its forms should be uncompromisingly condemned.
Michael Dodson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner 1996

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa, Humanitarian (1910 – 1997)

As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility. "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
Nelson Mandala (South African Statesman & 1993 Nobel Prize for Peace)

For it isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work for it.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Humanitarian, Educator, UN Spokesperson & 32nd US First Lady (1884-1962)

If we wish to create a lasting peace we must begin with the children.
Mohandas K. Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), Indian leader and pacifist (1869-1948)

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Jesus Christ (Luke 6:27-36)

Now lets look at the term tolerance for a moment. Tolerance, is the permissible degree of variation from a pre-set standard. That is, how much difference one will allow or accept. Tolerance, like compromise, is an important interpersonal skill. Diverse cultures and opinions are wonderful to observe, study and whiteness in terms of art, food, dress, social makeup, dance, sport, ingenuity, expression etc. Much could be learned, for the betterment of society, if the multitude of cultures could function in harmony with one another. However, the fact that the population of earth is made from so many races, ethnicities and cultures is very important. One must remember that race is a curse, a punishment for sinfulness. (Genesis 11:1-9)

I am an advocate tolerance on the level that:

1. There should be a common law in society.
2. There should be a freedom of expression and thought, provided they do not break said common law.
3. Everyone, regardless of gender, religion, race, ethnicity, age, opinion, physical or mental ability etc. should have equal protection and freedom under said common law.

However, Truth does not fit into the category of free expression or thought. Truth is an absolute, it is not subject to whim. Truth is there to be discovered, not waiting to be imagined. I do not tolerate a watering down of truth, under the guise of 'tolerance' and 'acceptance' until the Gospel of Jesus Christ is little more than a bedtime story.

Harmony Day as a celebration of multiple faiths coexisting and all being an acceptable means to paradise, salvation, God, nirvana and enlightenment stems from relativism and humanism. In effect it is the belief that 'as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, believe and do what you like.' This is much more sinister that it first appears, and ultimately stems from Wicca (witchcraft). The Wiccan Rede is a verse written by Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente that was formulated to sum up the ethics of the neo-PaganWicca. The last line of which is, "Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill - An’ it harm none, Do what ye will."

The way to perfect harmony is not, "An' it harm none, Do what ye will," rather it is "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) Which would be fulfilled if people would simply do two things, two acts of LOVE not our own indulgence according to our own will. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

There are not many religions which lead to heaven. There is only one Way.
There are not many truths. There is only one Truth.
There are not many life choices which brings eternal peace and joy. There is only one who can give Life.

This Way, Truth and Life, is not found by a creed, set of rules, religious dogma, personal introspection or relative enlightenment.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

If I were to wear an Orange Ribbon today, I would be calling Jesus a liar. That is something I will not do.