"Psychologists say that when we don't have knowledge about something, we have fear. When we fear, we are anxious. And when we are anxious, we start hating the cause of the fear," said Shirin Ebadi, Mission Week 2009 keynote speaker and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (2003) last Thursday afternoon in the Alumni Memorial Union ballrooms. "Therefore, people need knowledge of each other's culture and religion (in order to prevent hate)."

Her words so simply described a way to peace through understanding and dialogue rather than violence and war, that Ebadi's solutions seemed too dream-like to become reality. It's people like Ebadi with such dreams, however, who get things done.

She was the first appointed female judge in Iran, only to be removed from her position by religious extremists who asserted that women are not adequate for such leadership roles. Despite holding politically contradicting views from that of the Iranian government, Ebadi has courageously continued work as a human rights lawyer, representing women and children and calling for the dignified treatment of all.

Ebadi founded one of the first human rights organizations in Iran, The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. Marquette's decision to honor Ebadi last week with an honorary degree is overwhelmingly justifiable.

Though Ebadi has been arrested, imprisoned and assailed with assassination threats, she will not be silenced; her most favored method of peace-making is through speaking about human rights and eliminating ignorance. In case you missed out last week, I think her message is too valuable not to be reiterated.

Ebadi noted that there is a group of Muslins who preserve the sanctity of Islam, but at the same time respect human rights. Dictators who oppress in the name of Islam have a different interpretation of the religion that is not consistent with human rights. Ebadi's mission is to teach the most correct interpretation that honors the dignity and respect of all people.

"Human rights is a universal standard and can be compatible with every religion," said Ebadi. "We must accept principles held by all cultures, not just our own. The clash of civilizations won't work, but dialogue will."

I don't think we are taught the concept of dialogue enough for the value that it holds. In history classes, we are only told of wars and violent settlings, but rarely reminded of peaceful dialogues.

"Human rights should not be in the hands of dictators, but put in the hands of the people," she said. Often, I think our society looks for a hero to solve issues of discrimination or human rights, but Ebadi hits the nail on the head in saying it is everyday civilians who have the power to eradicate hate.

So you may be thinking, 'Hey, I'm good here in America and we've already fought for civil rights and won" but as Ebadi said, "The pain of others is the pain of one," and our unity in humanity crosses all boarders. Plus, even America still has some work to do in accomplishing equality and destroying prejudices.

"Dear friends, we will have peace when we share our destiny with others," Ebadi said. When we figure out that the success of one of us means the success of all, and the pain of one is the pain of all, we can work together through open dialogue to proceed in harmony.