The second part of the national dialogue forum is being held in Makkah. I have not commented on recommendations issued by the first part held in June in Riyadh. The reason I have not done so is that although I consider those recommendations constructive, the important thing is not issuing recommendations but taking practical steps leading to implementation of the recommendations.
I say the previous recommendations were constructive because they underlined the need for allowing all people equal opportunities, enforcing balanced development, allowing wider popular participation in public life by involving different cultural, ideological and social ideas and paying more attention to problems faced by our youth. All these are good resolutions, but in the absence of practical steps to turn them into deeds, they remain only pleasant words, making pleasant noises about certain issues.
The second part of the national dialogue will deal with a number of issues, mainly extremism, moderation and the relations between ruler and ruled. Again, all of these are worthwhile topics and the conference is expected to produce many constructive recommendations that may even surpass those issued by the first one. But what people want is much more than pleasant words.
They want to see the words become actions through serious and honest efforts. They want the authorities to begin implementing the recommendations of the first conference; if this had happened, albeit step by step, many of the problems we face today would have been solved. Implementing resolutions rather than just making them is what will secure us and our children a good present and a better future.
