I thought it would be useful to write an explanation of what Homonara is, given that it is a term that I have invented due to my inability to find a suitable equivalent that already existed.
I wanted to find a simple word that communicated the following core beliefs:
As individuals we are more alike than we are different, irrespective of our backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs or cultures.
As a human race we should consider ourselves to be part of one unified whole.
When trying to find an appropriate word to encompass this I spent some time trying to find a word that already existed, but nothing seemed to quote fit. I eventually created a ‘placeholder word’ which I could use until I found a real alternative, but the word gradually grew on me and became more natural.
The word has been created from the following words:
Homo – Meaning same in Greek and human in Latin
Nara – Japanese cultural roots meaning ‘to level’ or ‘peace’, and ‘person’ in Sanskrit.
The word is therefore an attempt to communicate the concept that humans are fundamentally all the same and that all people are equal and should live in peace together. It felt appropriate to use root words from a variety of cultures and languages around the world as it helps to convey the concept of every culture having something to offer.
I’m sure many could criticise the etymology of the word. I am not a professional linguist, just a person who wanted to find a word to express a concept. The importance lies in the concept, not the word, so I’m sticking with it for now.
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