Racial Unity
Still in the 2020 era, shamefully, the darkness of racial and religious difference surrounds us, the light of kindness grows dim. The basic foundations of society are destroyed and the banners of life and joy are vanished. The leaders of the people glory in the shedding of blood. Friendship, love, respect, acceptance, straightness, and truthfulness are despised. Many years ago, men and women sacrificed their lives for us to have a better life, a better society, a better chance for our children to have a peaceful life. What were those sacrifices for? Could we open our inner eyes, wake up and honor their sacrifices in order to have a much safer and more loving society? Could we Learn from their sacrifices and bring the walls of prejudice down?
Here is an idea:
“Can we apply the test of racial color and say that man of a certain hue — white, black, brown, yellow, red — is the true image of his Creator? We must conclude that color is not the standard and estimate of judgment and that it is of no importance, for color is accidental in nature. The spirit and intelligence of man is essential, and that is the manifestation of divine virtues, the merciful bestowals of God, the eternal life and baptism through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, be it known that color or race is of no importance. He who is the image and likeness of God, who is the manifestation of the bestowals of God, is acceptable at the threshold of God — whether his color be white, black or brown; it matters not. Man is not man simply because of bodily attributes. The standard of divine measure and judgment is his intelligence and spirit.”
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 68)
About 100 years ago Abdu’l-Baha asked humanity to consider the following:
“He addressed humanity, saying, ‘O humankind! Verily, ye are all the leaves and fruits of one tree; ye are all one. Therefore, associate in friendship; love one another; abandon prejudices of race; dispel forever this gloomy darkness of human ignorance, for the century of light, the Sun of Reality hath appeared. Now is the time for affiliation, and now is the period of unity and concord. For thousands of years ye have been contending in warfare and strife. It is enough. Now is the time for unity.’”
‘Abdu’l-Baha -The Advent of Divine Justice, pp 39-40
I Ponder upon His advice. I would like to just imagine If humanity has listened and considered just this teaching what would our world look like today.
Respectfully, Floria Pirnia-Sanai