This video is a delightful exploration of how the face of our society is changing, as people break down the racial barriers and love each other! Check it out: Something Other Than . The last minute (of the 7:16) will make you fall in love too.
I’m going to Ireland in a week! Can anyone offer me advice on what to do while I’m there? (I’ll be there a week and a half, mostly in Dublin but would like to find ways to get out to the countryside.) Thanks!
There’s a lot of buzz in Iran over Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of the presidential hopeful Mousavi who is going up against Ahmadinejad in June. A recent article by Ali Akbar Dareini of the Associated Press offers the following description of her:
She brings a rare mix: the liberal cry to fire up reformers, paired with the revolutionary credentials that bring grudging respect from hard-liners. Even her outfit gives a nod in both directions — an ultraconservative head-to-toe black chador, with a colorful head scarf peeking out and a bag made by traditional village weavers.
“Men and women are like “two wings,” she told the Tabriz University crowd at a rally on Tuesday. “A bird can’t fly with one wing or with a broken wing,” she said, drawing applause from the mostly student gathering.
Those of you reading this blog with even a passing knowledge of the Baha’i Faith may recognize that last part:
“The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.375
While Iran continues to persecute and imprison members of the Baha’i Faith on the one hand, still, Iranians find the teachings irresistible. (Though if anyone were to point that out to them, I imagine there would be a general freak-out, given all the misinformation they’ve been given about the Faith over the years.) The response of one supporter at that rally:
“Rahnavard is a symbol of women’s rights. She is inspiring women to stand up and demand their rights from Iran’s male-dominated ruling system. We are thirsty for freedom and she is encouraging us to do things we are in need of,” said Roya Masoudzadeh, a young Mousavi supporter, as she waved a green flag.
Well, Iran, you are in my heart and in my blood, and I hope someday you realize you already have access to everything you need to free yourself.
Here is the scene: I’m at the bus stop. My computer bag is slung over my shoulder, and my book bag is in my hand. All of a sudden I realize there’s water trickling out of my book bag, due to an unruly water bottle. So I take everything out, and put most of the books into my computer bag, except for one sodden notebook which I keep out to let it dry off a bit. Then Lev calls so I’m on the phone with him. Then the bus pulls up, at which point I have to reach into my computer bag, pull out my purse, get my wallet, grab my bus card. SUMMARY: I’m carrying a live phone, a notebook, a wet bookbag, my purse, my wallet, my bus card, with my computer bag slung over my shoulder, trying to enter a bus. WHAT I NEEDED THEN was a word to say that would allow me to exit the phone call with the utmost haste, no questions asked, no feelings hurt, no concerns about safety raised. AND a word for Lev to say so I know he heard me and won’t think I just hung up on him. After some discussion, we came up with a solution.
THE SOLUTION IS UNVEILED HERE:
Person needing to hang up: Eject!
Person on other line: Release.
I’m reasonably sure this will come in useful to others as well. Enjoy!
Dear ones,
Lev and I have been asked to help facilitate the annual Green Acre Race Unity day (I almost wrote Racy Unity - yikes! that’s something else entirely!) this year on June 6 at the bucolic campus in Eliot, Maine.
I’m pulling together some ideas now, and this blog entry serves two purposes:
1. As an invitation to all our beloved readers to come join us and share your brilliant insights! You can register for Green Acre here!
2. As a sounding board for some of the ideas we’ve been playing with. Here is the original blurb:
“Though the reality of the soul transcends race, our spiritual journey on this plane is shaped by racialized experiences. During this weekend we will examine findings from social science, the Baha’i Writings, and stories from our own communities, including children’s classes and junior youth activities, to better understand how we can build and maintain unity in our neighborhoods.”
Since we’ve written that, we’ve really wanted to highlight the idea of developing ourselves as human resources and the need to be in learning mode as we engage in the process of striving for race unity. Furthermore, I’m thinking about the difference between the questions raised by “racial equality” and “race unity” - racial equality as removing and avoiding disparities (a lack of negative) but racial unity as taking it to the next level - friendly interactions (a presence of positive).
Session 1:
A. The importance of this topic: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” Baha’u'llah
B. Racial Equality
a. Reflection on Baha’i writings on justice, truth: “Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.” -Abdu’l-Baha; “The light of men is justice; quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among people.” -Baha’u'llah
b. Challenges re: power: e.g. majority-minority, Seguy and Dovidio’s work, money and media influence, privilege, health issues, disparities in the legal and criminal justice system, where are we now, etc (the social science)
Session 2:
C. Racial Unity
a. Reflection on Baha’i writings on fellowship, unity, love: “Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness.” Abdu’l-Baha
b. Challenges re: cultural differences: e.g. Joy Degruy-Leary’s work, Black and White styles in conflict book, pluralistic ignorance research, different cultural norms and practices such as use of first names and politeness, where are we now, etc (the social science)
D. The spiritual qualities needed for engaging in this process: A careful exploration.
Session 3:
Panel Discussion: something like “Taking a posture of learning about race unity” - but catchier …whom to invite?
Session 4:
Breakout groups/ Training to take concrete actions upon returning to our home communities: this is the central and most important part of the day! Putting what we’ve learned into practice. We’ve got some great ideas here…
More later, I’m in a meeting now…
Love
N
Are we animals or humans? What does the Baha’i Faith say about the nature of human beings and the difference between human beings and animals? I ask this question because back in college, the following view was very comforting to me: “Human beings are animals. Big-brained, language-using animals – but animals nonetheless.” I am not sure why this view was comforting. For one, it acknowledged that we are a part of the world – subject to the consequences and limits of the ecosystem. Perhaps ultimately it was comforting because it meant we responded to the same needs as animals. The push and pull of seasons, of scarcity, of hormones – it was all fair game, and it made the business of living in the world somehow less scary – less unknown.
Gretel Ehrlich, Barbara Kingsolver and Mary Rose O’Reilley each captured this longing for lessons from Kingdom Animalia, and surely they were not wrong in doing so. Reading Barbara Kingsolver in college, there was a way you almost wished to be an animal: “Lusa sat still and marveled: This is how moths speak to each other. They tell their love across the fields by scent. There is no mouth, the wrong words are impossible, either a mate is there or he’s not, and if so the pair will find each other in the dark. …For several more minutes…she considered a language that could carry nothing but love and simple truth” (Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer).
The Baha’i Writings are quite clear about the distinction between human beings and animals, and this is a point that other environmentalists may struggle with when they encounter “religious” discourse. So perhaps we should begin with a passage from Abdu’l-Baha on how animals can be admired above human beings.
How easy it is for the animal. …The grazing animals, the birds of the air, the fishes neither toil nor undergo hardships; they sow not, nor are they concerned about the reaping; they have no anxiety about business or politics—no trouble or worry whatsoever. All the fields and grasses, all the meadows of fruits and grains, all the mountain slopes and streams of salubrious water belong to them. They do not labor for their livelihood and happiness because everything is provided and made possible for them. If the life of man be confined to this physical, material outlook, the animal’s life is a hundred times better, easier and more productive of comfort and contentment. The animal is nobler, more serene and confident because each hour is free from anxiety and worriment; but man, restless and dissatisfied, runs from morn till eve, sailing the seas, diving beneath them in submarines, flying aloft in airplanes, delving into the lowest strata of the earth to obtain his livelihood—all with the greatest difficulty, anxiety and unrest. Therefore, in this respect the animal is nobler, more serene, poised and confident.
Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 184
This is really remarkable! A modern religion telling us that animals are actually more noble than human beings? Wild. But there it is. If we confine our attention to the material world, Abdu’l-Baha suggests, animals are actually ahead of human beings. After all, it’s us who make war, who deplete natural resources voraciously, who wipe out whole species to further our own myopic well-being. So whatever distinguishes human beings from other animals must be somehow different than the material existence being described.
In a talk given to the Theosophical Society of New York in 1912, Abdu’l-Baha speaks of our spiritual reality – the “inner reality” of the human being. One might call this human consciousness. Abdu’l-Baha, the Center of the Covenant, describes it as “the conscious reality which discovers the inner meaning of things,” and distinguishes it from our “outer” or material reality.
The inner ethereal reality grasps the mysteries of existence, discovers scientific truths and indicates their technical application. It discovers electricity, produces the telegraph, the telephone and opens the door to the world of arts. If the outer material body did this, the animal would, likewise, be able to make scientific and wonderful discoveries, for the animal shares with man all physical powers and limitations. What, then, is that power which penetrates the realities of existence and which is not to be found in the animal?
Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 464
To see past our own individual material needs and work for the good of others; to imagine a new reality; to use our powers of consciousness and intellect to build a better world. Wherever you believe these abilities come from – surely they are the best parts of ourselves. Are they enough to distinguish us from other animals? What do you think?
We’ll close here with two quotes from Abdu’l-Baha about the station of human beings. The description of “the image and likeness of God” is especially beautiful.
Then it is clear that the honor and exaltation of man must be something more than material riches. Material comforts are only a branch, but the root of the exaltation of man is the good attributes and virtues which are the adornments of his reality. These are the divine appearances, the heavenly bounties, the sublime emotions, the love and knowledge of God; universal wisdom, intellectual perception, scientific discoveries, justice, equity, truthfulness, benevolence, natural courage and innate fortitude; the respect for rights and the keeping of agreements and covenants; rectitude in all circumstances; serving the truth under all conditions; the sacrifice of one’s life for the good of all people; kindness and esteem for all nations; obedience to the teachings of God; service in the Divine Kingdom; the guidance of the people, and the education of the nations and races. This is the prosperity of the human world! This is the exaltation of man in the world! This is eternal life and heavenly honor!
Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 79
The station of man is great, very great. God has created man after His own image and likeness. He has endowed him with a mighty power which is capable of discovering the mysteries of phenomena. Through its use man is able to arrive at ideal conclusions instead of being restricted to the mere plane of sense impressions. As he possesses sense endowment in common with the animals, it is evident that he is distinguished above them by his conscious power of penetrating abstract realities. He acquires divine wisdom; he searches out the mysteries of creation; he witnesses the radiance of omnipotence; he attains the second birth—that is to say, he is born out of the material world just as he is born of the mother; he attains to everlasting life; he draws nearer to God; his heart is replete with the love of God. This is the foundation of the world of humanity; this is the image and likeness of God; this is the reality of man.
Dec. 26, 1975 - March 27, 1999
From Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “In Memoriam A.H.H.”
I sometimes hold it half a sin/ To put in words the grief I feel;/ For words, like Nature, half reveal/ And half conceal the Soul within.
But, for the unquiet heart and brain,/ A use in measured language lies;/ The sad mechanic exercise,/ Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.
In words, like weeds, I’ll wrap me o’er,/ Like coarsest clothes against the cold:/ But that large grief which these enfold/ Is given in outline and no more.
***
I wage not any feud with Death/ For changes wrought on form and face;/ No lower life that earth’s embrace/ May breed with him, can fright my faith.
Eternal process moving on,/ From state to state the spirit walks;/ And these are but the shatter’d stalks,/ Or ruin’d chrysalis of one.
For this alone on Death I wreak/ The wrath that garners in my heart;/ He put our lives so far apart/ We cannot hear each other speak.
***
The great Intelligences fair/ That range above our mortal state,/ In circle round the blessed gate,/ Received and gave him welcome there;
And led him thro’ the blissful climes,/ And show’d him in the fountain fresh/ All knowledge that the sons of flesh/ Shall gather in the cycled times.
Brent Poirier has a new blog about the Baha’i Covenant. Check it out! Super informative 
In alphabetical order:
Can you come up with such a list?
A guest post by Remz and Jeremy on Eboo Patel’s blog about the situation of the Baha’is in Iran. You can also read the profiles of the seven Baha’is and find out more on the situation here and at this blog .
I find it very hard to think or write about this. It sits in a quiet dark place in my heart, and worries at me constantly.
I think of Baha’u'llah, chained in the Siyah Chal, imprisoned for daring to declare that a New Day had dawned and humanity should strive to live in peace, teaching His fellow prisoners to sing:
God is sufficient unto me.
He verily is the All-Sufficing.
In Him let the trusting trust.
In Him let the trusting trust.
Today, we pray for protection for the friends in Iran, for justice, and that we can find ourselves capable of preferring God’s will to our own. Please pray with us, and please ask your local Congressional Representative to support House Resolution 175.