I'm no expert on this topic but I wanted to share something we can all learn from the nation of Tanzania and its ability to recognize and practice religions peacefully. In the island of Zanzibar, it is predominantly Muslim, largely because it was the former Capital of Oman (please look at a map to see how far a part Oman and Zanzibar are, it's crazy), as in the country in the Middle East. At 5pm every evening wherever you are in Stonetown, you can hear the daily call to prayer humming over the city. Meanwhile the economic capital of the country, Dar es Salaam will have revival-style Christian worships, next to a Hindu temple, just down the street from the local Sikh community's weekly field hockey game. Many cities around the world boast both religious and cultural diversity, I happen to live and pass through many of the rural areas of TZ, which also tend to share this diversity (and dare I say, harmony) of neighbors.
Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere called for the unification of Tanzania. While many "new" nations of Africa struggled with tribalism and ways in which it's tribal diversity to navigate and interact with the rest of the world (Africa was severely colonized if you were so blissfully unaware). One of the ways Nyerere did this was by implementing Swahili as the country's language. This change called for the 120 different tribes and cultural groups to communicate under the same language in regards to education, commerce and more. Many still speak their native tribal language, but the People of Tanzania share at least one common language.
All of this isn't to say that Tanzania is perfect- no country is. I think that in the US and Tanzania we may have a different sense, or understanding, of what may be "politically correct" or what is even okay to say. There are times where there is someone from Asia or of Asian heritage, and people may say something to describe them which would be considered offensive in the US.
All in all, I'm sure anthropologists, theologists and sociologists in Tanzania must find their work so interesting due to Tanzania's unique history, migration of peoples, current sense of harmony among neighbors and local communities, as well as the government placing value on the right of religious freedom.
What a country!
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Navy
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