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A Message from the Bahá’ís of the United States
Arcadia Weekly Jul 16, 2020
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TheBahá’ís of the United States join our fellow-citizens in heartfelt grief at thedeaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others whoselives were suddenly taken by appalling acts of violence. These heartbreakingviolations against fellow human beings, due only to the color of their skin,have deepened the dismay caused by a pandemic whose consequences to the healthand livelihoods of people of color have been disproportionately severe. Thishas come to pass against a backdrop of longstanding racial injustice invirtually every aspect of American life. It is clear that racial prejudice isthe most vital and challenging issue we face as a country.
Yet,amidst these tragedies, there are also signs of hope. Countless citizens havearisen to proclaim the truth that we are one nation, and to demand specificactions to address the pervasive inequities that for too long have shaped oursociety. We have remembered who we aspire to be as a people, and are determinedto make a change for the better. This moment beckons us to a renewed commitmentto realize the ideal of E Pluribus Unum—out of many, one—the very ideal upon which America was founded.
Tocreate a just society begins with recognition of the fundamental truth thathumanity is one. But it is not enough simply to believe this in our hearts. Itcreates the moral imperative to act, and to view all aspects of our personal,social, and institutional lives through the lens of justice. It implies areordering of our society more profound than anything we have yet achieved. Andit requires the participation of Americans of every race and background, for itis only through such inclusive participation that new moral and socialdirections can emerge.
Whateverimmediate results might come from the current demonstrations, the eliminationof racism will require a sustained and concerted effort. It is one thing toprotest against particular forms of injustice. It is a far more profoundchallenge to create a new framework for justice. Our efforts can only succeedwhen we learn to build relationships with each other based on sincerefriendship, regard, and trust, which, in turn, become pillars for theactivities of our institutions and communities.
It isessential for us to join hands in a process of learning how to create models ofwhat we want to see in every dimension of American life, as we learn to applythe principle of oneness through practical engagement and experience. To thisend, we offer the following thoughts.
Anessential element of the process will be honest and truthful discourse aboutcurrent conditions and their causes, and understanding, in particular, thedeeply entrenched notions of anti-Blackness that pervade our society. We mustbuild the capacity to truly hear and acknowledge the voices of those who havedirectly suffered from the effects of racism. This capacity should manifestitself in our schools, the media, and other civic arenas, as well as in ourwork and personal relations. This should not end with words, but lead tomeaningful, constructive action.
Thereare already significant efforts underway to learn how to create models of unityin neighborhoods and communities throughout the nation. Bahá’ís have beenpersistently engaged in such efforts for many years. The aim is not unity insameness—it is unity in diversity. It is the recognition that everyone in thisland has a part to play in contributing to the betterment of society, and thattrue prosperity, material and spiritual, will be available to us all to thedegree that we live up to this standard. We should earnestly discover what isbeing done, what truly helps to make a difference, and why. We should sharethis knowledge throughout the country as a means of inspiring and assisting thework of others. If we do this, we could soon find ourselves in the midst of amass transition toward racial justice.
Religion,an enduring source of insight concerning human purpose and action, has a keyrole to play in this process. All faith communities recognize that we areessentially spiritual beings. All proclaim some version of the “Golden Rule”—tolove others as we do ourselves. Take, for example, the following passage fromthe Bahá’í Scriptures in which God addresses humankind:
Know ye not why Wecreated you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over theother. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We havecreated you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even asone soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in thesame land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs ofoneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.
Tounderstand and firmly believe that we are all children of God provides us withaccess to vast spiritual resources, motivating us to see beyond ourselves andto work steadily and sacrificially in the face of all obstacles. It helps toensure that the process is consistent with the goal to create communitiescharacterized by justice. It gives us the faith, strength, and creativity totransform our own hearts, as we also work for the transformation of society.
Webelieve that the tribulations now encompassing much of the world are the symptomsof humanity’s failure to understand and embrace our essential oneness. Theinterrelated threats of climate change, gender discrimination, extreme wealthand poverty, unfair distribution of resources, and the like, all stem from thisdeficiency and can never be resolved if we do not awaken to our dependence uponeach other. The world has contracted to a neighborhood, and it is important toappreciate that what we do in America impacts not only our own country, but theentire planet.
Weshould also never forget that the richness of our diversity, and our foundingideals of liberty and justice, attract the eyes of the world to us. They willbe influenced by what we achieve, or fail to achieve, in this regard. It is notan exaggeration to say that the cause of world peace is linked to our successin resolving the issue of racial injustice.
Theoneness of humanity is the foundation of our future. Its realization is theinevitable next stage in our life on this planet. We will replace a worldsociety based upon competition and conflict, and driven by rampant materialism,with one founded upon our higher potential for collaboration and reciprocity.This achievement will mark the universal coming of age of the human race. Howsoon we achieve this, and how easily, will depend upon the commitment wedemonstrate to this cardinal principle.
Wehave come to a moment of great public awareness and rejection of injustice. Letus not lose this opportunity. Will we commit to the process of forming “a moreperfect union”? Will we be guided by “the better angels of our nature” tochoose the course of wisdom, of courage, and of unity? Will we choose to trulybecome that “city upon a hill” to serve as inspiration to all humanity? Let usthen join hands with each other in commitment to the path of justice. Togetherwe can surely achieve this.
Bahá’u’lláh said: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” May that light grow brighter with every passing day.
For information about local Bahá’ís events, contact LSAofMonrovia@gmail.com.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
