We have a long way to go before we are able to hear the voices

“We have a long way to go before we are able to hear the voices of everyone on earth, but I believe that providing voices and building bridges is essential for the World Peace we all wish for.” Thus spoke Joichi Ito, and in these words lies a vision as ancient as Babel and as urgent as our own time: that the path to peace is not paved with silence, nor with the domination of the strong over the weak, but with the harmony of many voices, joined by the building of bridges across divisions. For without the recognition of every voice, there can be no true unity; and without bridges between hearts, no peace can endure.

The meaning of this saying begins with the recognition of distance: “a long way to go.” Indeed, humanity has always struggled to hear one another. Nations close their ears to the cries of their neighbors; the powerful drown out the whispers of the poor; one culture often blinds itself to the wisdom of another. The road is long because the human heart is slow to listen. Yet Ito, like a prophet of bridges, declares that the effort is not in vain—for only when all are heard will the great tapestry of peace be woven.

The ancients give us lessons here. Recall the Delphic Oracle, whose riddling voice was sought by kings. Her words, though mysterious, reminded rulers that wisdom could come from unexpected places, even from the mouth of a priestess in trance. In the same way, the voices of the world—whether from remote villages, oppressed peoples, or forgotten generations—carry wisdom that the mighty must learn to hear. If only a few are given the chance to speak, the song of humanity is broken; but if all are heard, the harmony can heal nations.

History also bears witness in the story of Nelson Mandela. For decades, South Africa silenced the majority of its people under apartheid, forbidding their voices and crushing their dignity. Yet when Mandela was freed, he did not call for revenge. He called for bridges—for reconciliation, for dialogue, for truth-telling. By creating a space where the silenced could speak, he transformed anger into understanding, and laid the foundation for peace. Ito’s wisdom shines here: without voices, there is no healing; without bridges, there is no future.

But Ito’s words also remind us that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, dialogue, and connection. To “build bridges” is to create trust where mistrust once reigned, to connect peoples divided by language, race, religion, or history. Peace cannot be decreed from above; it must be constructed from below, stone by stone, voice by voice. The bridge-builder is the true architect of peace, for he spans the chasms of hatred and misunderstanding that divide the world.

The lesson for us is clear: each of us must become both a voice and a bridge. Do not believe your voice is too small; even the faintest cry can echo in the hearts of many. Do not believe the walls between peoples are unbreakable; every act of listening, every gesture of compassion, is a stone laid upon the bridge. If you wish for peace, speak truth with courage, but also listen with humility, for peace is woven from both giving and receiving.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, remember Joichi Ito’s wisdom: we are far from hearing all the voices of the earth, but the journey begins with us. Let us open our ears to the unheard, extend our hands across the divides, and build bridges where walls once stood. For in this labor lies the hope of the world: that one day, when every voice is valued and every bridge is crossed, the dream of World Peace will no longer be a distant wish, but a living reality.