This world belongs to all of us, and all sexes should be able to

Hear, O children of earth, the words of Michelle Yeoh, whose voice carries not only across the silver screen but into the chambers of the heart: “This world belongs to all of us, and all sexes should be able to live in respect and harmony.” These are not idle syllables, but a truth as ancient as the rivers and as new as the dawn. For this world was not crafted for one alone, nor for one sex to reign above the other, but for all to share, to labor, to flourish together beneath the same sun.

The origin of this wisdom lies in the long struggle of humankind. For countless centuries, balance between man and woman was broken, as one voice was lifted high while the other was silenced. In palaces and marketplaces, in temples and fields, the contributions of women were hidden beneath shadows, though their strength was the equal of men’s, and their wisdom the pillar of nations. Yeoh, who rose to prominence in a realm once dominated by men—action and cinema—reminds us that the world is not the inheritance of one sex but the sacred trust of all.

Consider the story of the Spartan women, whose voices rang clear in the councils of their land. When their husbands went to war, they ruled estates, managed wealth, and raised warriors. They declared, “We are the mothers of men,” and their strength was acknowledged even by foreign poets. Sparta endured not because its men alone were strong, but because its women shared in the burden of its destiny. Here lies proof that when both sexes labor together in harmony, a people becomes unbreakable.

So too, look to the struggles of more recent times. In the fight for suffrage, women marched, were jailed, and endured scorn, yet they lifted their voices until nations could no longer deny them. Their victory was not for women alone but for humanity, for by bringing both sexes into the halls of decision, societies grew wiser, more compassionate, and more just. Thus Yeoh’s words echo the truth that equality is not a concession but a completion—without it, the world is crippled; with it, the world is whole.

But let us not think respect and harmony are lofty ideals beyond reach. They begin in the smallest acts: in the home, where fathers and mothers share burdens and honor one another; in schools, where boys and girls learn side by side without barriers; in workplaces, where no hand is dismissed because of sex, and no voice is silenced by prejudice. What begins in households and communities grows into nations and civilizations.

The danger, however, lies in forgetting. When pride blinds us, when one sex claims dominion over the other, when respect fades into contempt, then harmony shatters, and the world itself suffers. We see this in lands where women are denied education, where men are burdened with expectations to dominate, and where human potential is squandered by imbalance. Yeoh’s words are a shield against such folly, urging us to remember that the world belongs to all of us, not to half of us.

Therefore, O listeners, let your path be clear. Honor women as you honor men. Teach children that greatness is not confined to sex, but to character, discipline, and love. Speak against injustice, even in jest or custom, for small seeds of scorn can grow into forests of oppression. And most of all, live as examples: show respect in your speech, show harmony in your actions, so that others may follow.

Thus shall her words endure: “This world belongs to all of us.” If we walk in this truth, then generations yet unborn will rise in a world more just, more radiant, more united than our own. And in that world, respect and harmony will not be dreams, but the very breath of life itself.