Saturday, May 15, 2010

We're "broke" &  "can't" help our own--we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds or affordable housing, and mentally ill without treatment. So we should ignore it when the world has its troubles, like in Haiti, right???

WRONG!!!
We are all ONE world, but the problem begins with ourselves.  First, we need to
change each of our hearts to not only see each human is a brother or sister, but ACT in that manner:
'It is incumbent upon everyone to show the utmost love, rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness and sincere kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds of the world, be they friends or strangers. So intense must be the spirit of love and loving-kindness, that the stranger may find himself a friend, the enemy a true brother, no difference whatsoever existing between them. For universality is of God and all limitations earthly.'
 (Baha'i Scriptures: Baha'i World Faith- Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 445)
Next, we need to enlighten our governments to change our governing to a consultative model, rather than the adversarial model now used. Imagine our representatives not representing parties, but representing IDEAS, where the majority vote compels ALL to support it in unity, and if the decision is wrong, that will soon become apparent, and the original decision revisited.  Far more can be accomplished from consultation and upholding a decision in unity:  
'Though one of the parties may be in the right and they disagree that will be the cause of a thousand wrongs, but if they agree and both parties are in the wrong, as it is in unity the truth will be revealed and the wrong made right.'
(Baha'i Scriptures:'
Abdu'l-Bahá, Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order
of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 13-14)
 
'Consultation must have for its object the investigation of truth. He who expressesan opinion should not voice it as correct and right but set it forth as a contribution to the consensus of opinion, for the light of reality becomes apparent when two opinions coincide...Man should weigh his opinions with the utmost serenity, calmness and composure. Before expressing his own views he should carefully consider the views already advanced by others. If he finds that a previously expressed opinion is more true and worthy, he should accept it immediately and not willfully hold to an opinion of his own. By this excellent method he endeavors to arrive at unity and truth...Parliamentary procedure should have for its object the attainment of the light of truth upon questions presented and not furnish a battleground for opposition and self-opinion. Antagonism and contradiction are unfortunate and always destructive to truth...Therefore true consultation is spiritual conference in the attitude and atmosphere of love. Members must love each other in the spirit of fellowship in order that good results may be forthcoming. Love and fellowship are the foundation.'
(Baha'i Scriptures: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 72) 
'The honored members must with all freedom express their own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one to belittle the thought of another...The second principle is that of detachment in consultation. The members of an Assembly must learn to express their views frankly, calmly, without passion or rancor. They mustalso learn to listen to the opinions of their fellow members without taking offenseor belittling the views of another...They must learn to forget personalities and to overcome the desire -- so natural in people -- to take sides and fight about it.'
(Baha'i Scriptures: Shoghi Effendi, Consultation: A Compilation, p. 19)
Our world has lost its connection with God, as it is only His Will that changes  hearts.  We are, indeed, a global village, and, as such, must re-evaluate the  decaying systems we now have, and act and react as "O people of the world, ye are all the fruit of one tree and the leaves of one branch."
 (Baha'i Scriptures: Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 42)

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