Breaking News
Morning Wednesday May 14th, 2008 - Tehran, Iran
Report from the Universal House of Justice
… the members of the Friends in Iran - the group that coordinates the activities of the Baha’i community in the absence of a National Spiritual Assembly in the Cradle of the Faith - have been summarily and unjustly arrested by the Iranian authorities in raids conducted in the early hours of this morning, 14 May 2008. Details are as follows.
Officers of the Intelligence Ministry in Tehran entered the homes of six of the seven members of the Friends in Iran, whereupon they conducted extensive searches, following which all six were arrested and brought to the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran. These individuals - Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi [Fariba Kamalabadi], Mr. Jamalu’d-Din Khanjani [Jamaloddin Khanjani], Mr. ‘Afif Na’imi [Afif Naeimi], Mr. Sa’id Rida’i [Saeid Rezaie], Mr. Bihruz Tavakkuli [Behrouz Tavakkoli], and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm [Vahid Tizfahm] - now join the seventh member of the group, Mrs. Mahvash Thabit [Mahvash Sabet], resident of Tehran and Secretary of the Friends in Iran, who has been held in custody since 5 March 2008 when she was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence, ostensibly on the grounds that she was required to answer questions related to the burial of an individual in the Baha’i cemetery in that city. Contrary to recent indications that Mrs. Thabit would be released some time soon, the events that have transpired today are yet another indication of the government’s determination to extinguish the Baha’i community in the land of its birth.
… such dire action on the part of the government has not been witnessed since the heartrending events in 1980 and 1981, when all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran were abducted on 21 August 1980 and disappeared without a trace, following which the reconstituted National Assembly was again ravaged by the execution of eight of its members on 27 December 1981.
Related from Baha’i Rants:
Three Baha’is jailed in Iran
Intensifying persecutions in Iran
Return of the Hojjatieh Society
Those “devious” Baha’is
Iran steps up monitoring of Baha’is
Persecution of Baha’is linked to Hojjatieh Society
I wrote this more than 2 years ago:
With the arrival of the new president, everyone has noted that Iran’s political situation has taken a very bad turn. Unfortunately most people don’t have even a clue as to the extent nor the underlying reasons. I hope to shed some light in the next paragraphs and once again, show why I believe the UHJ’s policy of encouraging Baha’is to remain in Iran is completely wrong and extremely dangerous.
…
The recent arrests and persecution of Baha’is in Iran are, I’m afraid, only the beginning of a renewed campaign of persecution. Unlike previous administrations in Iran which were reluctantly influenced by international pressure, the perverse ideology to which this one subscribes to allows them to be immune to such forces. Any and all actions taken by the civilized world against the Iranian regime as a consequence of the persecution of Baha’is, will only reinforce the belief system of the Hojatieh and result in their redoubled efforts to sow the seeds of chaos.I pray that I am completely wrong in my understanding of the situation and wholly ignorant of the real political cross currents in Iran. I pray so because if I am right, many Baha’is are in extreme and imminent danger.
I beg them to get out, for if I am wrong, the consequence is acceptable. They and their families can build a life in one of many civilized countries in the world and simply go back when Iran’s future changes for the better. But if I’m correct, then the consequences of staying in Iran will be tragic.
If a lowly blogger with limited resources can put the pieces together a few years in advance, it is safe to require the UHJ/ITC to have done so years ahead and with a much deeper understanding. Which is why I’m utterly puzzled why this time around the highest administrative bodies are choosing to do nothing when in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution they were not only encouraging Baha’is to leave Iran but actively involved with helping them re-establish a life outside of Iran.
As Baha’is we have faced many waves of persecution and violence. But it is not within the precepts of our Faith to seek out martyrdom when there is a clear alternative.
Related External Links:
Iranian Human Rights Documentation Center - Press Release
LA TIMES: Blog Post - Babylon & Beyond
US State Department - Press Release
United States on International Religious Freedom - Press Release
United Nations Special Rapporteur: Report on Baha’is in Iran - March 2006
Can you point me to the source of this …so I can refer there? Please. Not doubting you..just want to know more!
Barney Leith may have more information on the breaking story.
Barney Leith didn’t have anything…anyone else have an idea?
Barney didn’t have anything! Baquia why do you always now everything first!
Barney’s now-removed blog post is being reported on the Bahai-Community discussion list - ad-hoc Baha’i governance group arrested in Iran today. It’s a little unclear which parts of the copied text are Barney’s words and which are from the House.
These people have names, right?
They persumably spell their names a certain way which they are entitled to, right?
So what gives the UHJ the right to recast their names in a different spelling?
Well I figured if they can rename people, why can’t we say:
A’adolff Heetla’r (Adolf Hitler)
Th’adam Huth’ayn (Saddam Hussein)
Je’orj Boosh (George Bush)
J’erie Th’inefelt (Gerry Sienfelt)
These people have Persian (فارسی) names. Normally, their names are spelled using a Persian alphabet. What you’re seeing is their Persian names written (or transliterated) with the Latin alphabet. There are several different transliteration methods. Hence, the two different ways of spelling their names in the Latin script.
Esteve
(just to make it easier to say for Persian-speakers)
Baha’i World News Service has just picked up the story:
Six Bahá’í leaders arrested in Iran; pattern matches deadly sweeps of early 1980s
I don’t know Lili, perhaps someone up there likes me. I’ve broken several stories online and am glad that by now I have established a reputation for honesty. When I first started to break stories I would be attacked and called a liar by fellow Baha’is. Now they seem to not know whether to believe me or not. Maybe at some point in the future they will understand that my motives are pure.
I would like to request that you join me in keeping the Baha’is of Iran and especially those now in custody, in your thoughts and prayers.
Some previous stories broken here first:
Baha’is in Vietnam
Baha’is of Italy financial scandal
Closing of Maxwell School
I hate to even imagine what their loved ones might be going through.
Bewildered wrote:
“These people have names, right?
They persumably spell their names a certain way which they are entitled to, right? So what gives the UHJ the right to recast their names in a different spelling?
Bewildered, when a name is transcribed from Farsi or Arabic into a European language, the phonetic transcription is spelled differently by a German, French, English or Spanish. In order to keep the same spelling in whichever language, international transliteration schemes have been proposed and Shoghi Effendi chose the one based on a standard adopted by the Tenth International Congress of Orientalists which took place in Geneva in September 1894.
To make things easier, Shoghi effendi suggested putting the international translitteration side by side with the one customary to users of each language. Hence the names have been transcribed with the international and English spellings. More on this
Baha’i World News Service has just picked up the story
This is heart-wrenching. So soon after Ridvan. They patiently endure the suffering that has been the lot of so many of their fellow believers - sharing infitesimally in the anguish of their Lord. My heart is drawn too to the suffering of our brothers and sisters since His advent.
“FROM THE CORPSE WOODPILES, FROM THE ASHES”
—Robert Hayden
From the corpse woodpiles, from the ashes
and staring pits of Dachau,
Buchenwald they come—
O David, Hirschel, Eva,
cops and robbers with me once,
their faces are like yours—
From Johannesburg, from Seoul.
Their struggles are all horizons.
Their deaths encircle me.
Through target streets I run,
in light part nightmare
and part vision fleeing
What I cannot flee, and reach
that cold cloacal cell
where He, who is man beatified
And Godly mystery,
lies chained, His pain
our anguish and our anodyne.”
Robert Hayden
Bahá’u’lláh in the Garden of Ridwan ]
—Robert Hayden
“Agonies confirm His hour,
and swords like compass-needles turn
toward His heart.
The midnight air is forested
with presences that shelter Him
and sheltering praise
The auroral darkness which is God
and sing the word made flesh again
in Him,
Eternal exile whose return
epiphanies repeatedly
foretell.
He watches in a borrowed garden,
prays. And sleepers toss upon
their armored beds,
Half-roused by golden knocking at
the doors of consciousness. Energies
like angels dance
Glorias of recognition.
Within the rock the undiscovered suns
release their light.”
Baquia,
You you have broken many stories first…so are you a member of an NSA or do you work in the Holy Land? I know from what Barney wrote that NSAs heard about this first. Either of these two possibilities would be SHOCKING, not that I doubt your motives, but for obvious reasons though!
LILI
Lili, no comment.
Baquia being a member of the administrative order doesn’t seem to fit. Im guessing hes an american, probably living somewhere in the midwest, maybe california. age, 30-45, probably born a Baha’i.
Lets take some bets.
If Baquia isn’t an administrative order member how did he know about this so in advance? Barney said the NSAs received new. Baquai is a NSA member! And NOT living in the the United States….he might be Canadian.
URGENT APPEAL REQUESTED re. the Arrest of the Baha’i leaders in Iran:
The facts as known currently:
Six leaders of a group managing the Baha’i community’s religious and administrative affairs in Iran were arrested at their homes by officers from the Ministry of Intelligence on 14 May and are now detained in Evin Prison in Tehran. A seventh person, acting secretary for the group, Mahvash Sabet, has been in detention since 5 March. They may all be prisoners of conscience, detained solely because of their religious beliefs or their peaceful activities on behalf of the Baha’i community.
The six Baha’i leaders, Fariba Kamalabadi Taefi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Vahid Tizfahm, were arrested following raids on their homes by officers from the Ministry of Intelligence in the early hours of 14 May, 2008. Their homes were extensively searched for about five hours.
Fariba Kamalabadi Taefi, Behrouz Tavakkoli and Jamaloddin Khanjani have previously been arrested for their activities on behalf of the Baha’i community. Fariba Kamalabadi Taefi and Behrouz Tavakkoli were arrested in Mashhad in Khorasan Province, north-eastern Iran, on 26 July 2005 after they arrived at the city’s bus station from Tehran in order to meet some other Baha’is and discuss community affairs. Fariba Kamalabadi Taefi, who was released on bail on 19 September 2005, is a member of a coordinating group that supervises course work for Baha’is in Iran who wish to study their religion. She had previously been arrested on 25 May 2005 and released on bail on 28 June. Behrouz Tavakkoli was released on bail on 15 November 2005.
Mahvash Sabet, who lives in Tehran, was summoned to Mashhad by the Ministry of Intelligence as part of its investigation into the burial of an individual in the city’s Baha’i cemetery. She was arrested on 5 March and later transferred to Evin Prison, where she remains.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send your appeal to the Iranian authorities listed below as soon as possible in English, Arabic or Persian languages:
- asking why the seven individuals (please name them) have been detained by the Ministry of Intelligence;
- stating that Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience if they are detained because of their Baha’i faith or their peaceful activities managing the religious or administrative affairs of the Baha’i community in Iran;
- calling for their release if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offense and brought to trial promptly and fairly;
- calling on the authorities not to torture or ill-treat them;
- urging the authorities to ensure that they are given immediate and regular access to their relatives and lawyers of their choice.
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 6 649 5880
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir, via website: http://www.president.ir/email/
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
c/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
Ministry of Justice,
Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)
Bacquia has already talked about this:
http://bahairants.com/who-is-baquia-118.html
instead of dwelling on who the messenger I rather talk about actual ideas and things brought up for discussion
Here is the latest link from CNN
T. Loftman,
Very nice list of information for people to take action. Very well done.
You listed this point:
“- stating that Amnesty International would consider them to be prisoners of conscience if they are detained because of their Baha’i faith or their peaceful activities managing the religious or administrative affairs of the Baha’i community in Iran;”
It is ironic that you list this point because Baha’is are FORBIDDEN by the UHJ to support Amnesty International because it is “too political.” But I guess it is only “too political” when it involves other people’s human rights. When it involves Baha’i human rights then it isn’t.
It is also ironic that you use the term “prisoners of conscience” because the LATEST NEW THINK in the Baha’i Faith is that Baha’is are NOT permitted to have a personal conscience about anything. Maybe you didn’t get the memo:
“We have inherited a dangerous delusion from Christianity that our
individual conscience is supreme. This is not a Baha’i belief. In the end, in the context of both our role in the community and our role in the greater world, we must be prepared to sacrifice our personal convictions or opinions. The belief that individual conscience is supreme is equivalent to ‘taking partners with God’ which is abhorrent to the Teachings of the Faith.”
- Douglas Martin
Former Member of the Universal House of Justice
Baha’i Faith
I myself do deeply believe in the supremacy of sacred personal conscience as I believe Baha’u'llah, Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi taught in their Writings and public speeches and, therefore, prisoners of conscience are truly the concern of EVERY spiritual person on Earth. My thoughts and prayers are surely with these 7 souls held in the hands of fanatics in the name of THEIR “God”. May these 7 be strong and feel the support of every fair and just person of conscience on this planet.
But to put some perspective on this in the context of the last 7 years, 18 U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are now killing themselves EVERY DAY.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051208C.shtml
With leadership like this in the Baha’i Faith, no one seems very concerned about THAT.
“You’ll recall that the U.S. was ‘dragged’ into WWII with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Our boys were sleeping off Saturday night while the enemy schemed — but America soon woke up. So when you see the U.S. in Cambodia or in Vietnam — or when you see America’s young men in
Lebanon, or knocking around in the Balkans — ‘please, will you be quiet and let God do His work!’”
- Glenford Mitchell
Former Member of the Universal House of Justice
Baha’i Faith
I say that every free thinking, moral, and spiritual person should be deeply concerned with both prisoners of conscience and people who have been destroyed emotionally and psychologically by their experiences in war.
I once thought the Baha’is cared. But they don’t in the NEW THINK Baha’i Faith.
Everyone should just keep doing the Group Think Ruhi books and step over the bodies of the dead to go on “Full Pilgrimage in Iraq” some day as the UHJ Ridvan 2003 Message so thoughtlessly mentioned as one of the great benefits to the Baha’is of the coming war.
So it goes.
Both as a Baha’i and a person of conscience I WILL take action from your list to see what I can do. I may even join Amnesty International in honor of these 7 souls.
Thank your for posting it here.
Craig I do understand why you appear so frustrated by the Baha’i views of not speaking out against conflict. But you also keep quoting individual members of the House of Justice. There words are just like yours or mine, inconsequential opinions. Do not hang your arguments on that. I too wondered why there was no speaking up about the wars. But you keep ranting about men and women in uniform like they are the only ones having a hard time. They volunteered to be there, they signed up and if it was that bad, they could go AWOL. Frankly the servicemen is a non-issue.
Let me ask you this…And keep in mind I am playing devils advocate.
What about the Palestinians? They are right there in the holy land, much closer to home so to speak, they have been in a perpetual state of conflict or the last century. Thier suffering does not compare to what you try to advocate–a kudos to the military??
I have really roasted on that one for a while. Because I do have faith in the House of Justice and Baha’u'llah, their must be a reason for all of this suffering and perhaps seemingly indifference by the part of Baha’i point of view. This is what I think you having trouble with…”Why dont they say something?”
This is my own point of view mind you so please take it with a grain of salt. We are witnessing a wise and ultimately apolitical approach to dealing with the world. As soon as the Baha’i Faith comes out for one side or another, despite the apparent moral strength, we become involved politically, and ergo have made a division and contributed to disunity.
What do you think it means when the writings talk about “suffering” and “tribulation”? People getting their knees skinned and being called names? No, man. Genocides, famines, disasters, wars, mass poverty etc…The world is in a state of spasm now and will probably be this way, in conflict, for the next few hundreds years in my opinion. Then, in the future, when the Baha’i Faith is ready to handle it, we will begin to see the involvement of the Faith in World affairs. Its a process.
But, sadly we have people within the Faith and those who have left who have lost their perspective and whine about what they think it should be doing. Its like they never got it to begin with…
This makes no sense. The Baha’i Faith has values. These values sometimes align with a certain political ideology and at other times they conflict with another. Simply because our values may make some politicians happy and others upset is no reason to not “choose a side”.
Take for example apartheid. Baha’i is and clearly against it. If you have any doubts about that, well, then you really need to get your head examined. But to then say that we shouldn’t say anything because well, that would be involvement in politics is just bullocks.
Or how about the current situation in Iran? Are we getting politically involved by condemning it? Sure we are. Are we getting politically involved by lobbying the US state department, and other governmental agencies to speak out against it on our behalf? Sure we are!
Are we getting politically involved by going to the UN and lobbying to make sure that the Iranian regime is firmly rebuked and punished for their flagrant disregard for human rights? Sure we are!
The Baha’i Faith is right now involved with the world affairs as you put it! We have an office at the UN in New York an in Geneva. Or didn’t you know that?
Look at the example of Baha’u'llah and the Master who spoke out against rulers and governments who oppressed their people and were unjust. They did NOT keep silent. Were they “political”? Well, if by “politics” you mean the sphere of life which relates to how a society functions, YES!! they were “political”. There are myriad writings which explicitly or implicitly talk about how a society should be organized and governed. Baha’u'llah was not a politician. He did not come to bring a political agenda. He came to bring a new message from God. But to say that somehow excludes politics, when political concepts touch very facet of life is childish at best and ignorant at worst.
The problem is, as Craig points out, that we are self serving. We are only interested if our interests are involved. We don’t lobby for the rights of others. Just our own. We don’t lift a finger for the betterment of the many oppressed communities, around the world. Just the Iranian Baha’i community. This is hypocritical. We are involved politically. But just when it suits us. Go back to the example of apartheid. Did we condemn it? No. We were silent. Why? How is the suffering of blacks different under apartheid than the suffering of Baha’is under the current Iranian regime?
I was talking with a Baha’i friend recently and she said she was so taken aback when she received an email from a Baha’i email list to pray for the small group of Thai Baha’is who had perished or were injured because of the recent natural disasters in that region. She said, “Ssoooo… aren’t we supposed to care about everyone? why send out an email to request prayers for 10 Baha’is when hundreds and thousands of people were affected? That isn’t right.” I agree. This is not in keeping with the Baha’i spirit. It isn’t the exemplary life that Abdu’l-Baha lived.
And please, pleaaaase. Don’t give me “its a process”. Just don’t. Don’t. You don’t want to go there. Trust me.
Craig wrote:” I once thought the Baha’is cared. But they don’t in the NEW THINK Baha’i Faith…Everyone should just keep doing the Group Think Ruhi books and step over the bodies of the dead…so it goes.”
Craig, I was really surprised to see a post from you repeating what you’ve stated so often in the past so soon after your last post about taking a break. What happened to those Sufi books you were going to read? You really have to try to be kind to yourself. You clearly have a brilliant mind but it’s working overtime and you need to try to slow it down and chill out. Your family and those 400 employees need a relaxed and happy man. Getting worked up an dposting again despite your very recent explicitly stated intentions to the contrary will not help you chill out not will it change the situations, perspective, policies, etc you repeatedly write about.
I only mention this out of concern. Perhaps your need to post is stronger than your will power. The subconscious often rules and overrides our conscious goals. If that’s the case with you then nothing Frank or I say will help.
Carmen
Carmen
“A world, torn with conflicting passions, and perilously disintegrating from within, finds itself confronted, at so crucial an epoch in its history, by the rising fortunes of an infant Faith, a Faith that, at times, seems to be drawn into its controversies, entangled by its conflicts, eclipsed by its gathering shadows, and overpowered by the mounting tide of its passions. In its very heart, within its cradle, at the seat of its first and venerable Temple, in one of its hitherto flourishing and potentially powerful centers, the as-yet unemancipated Faith of Bahá’u'lláh seems indeed to have retreated before the onrushing forces of violence and disorder to which humanity is steadily falling a victim. The strongholds of such a Faith, one by one and day after day, are to outward seeming being successively isolated, assaulted and captured. As the lights of liberty flicker and go out, as the din of discord grows louder and louder every day, as the fires of fanaticism flame with increasing fierceness in the breasts of men, as the chill of irreligion creeps relentlessly over the soul of mankind, the limbs and organs that constitute the body of the Faith of Bahá’u'lláh appear, in varying measure, to have become afflicted with the crippling influences that now hold in their grip the whole of the civilized world.”
Its unfortunate that you don’t even acknowledge the Baha’i initiatives that are being taken, would you like me to list them for you? Moreover, its not fair to say it is political. Its bringing attention to a tiny community that has little voice. Are we not supposed to speak for our families in Iran? It is naive to think the Baha’i faith is supposed to speak out against ever injustice. We do in the writings, putting a talking head on TV and blasting the Iraq war or Sudan will do nothing. Sending out some kind of statement about how we condemn this or that is pointless too. How often we hear it from the State department…It doesnt move me at all.
The work that needs to be done, to be done in the most beneficial, strategic and longest lasting way is being done right now. It seems that many of you completely overlook the capacities and resources of the Faith. It is a small organization, with monies in the millions, not billions. What do you expect? it is a process.
This was a Holy Manifestation speaking in this quote. I say His words are upon all of us as a Divine Judgment upon all of our spiritual states of being in the passage of this World Age:
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not
in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
- Matthew 25:29-46
As to your comment “They volunteered to be there, they signed up and if it was that bad, they could go AWOL. Frankly the servicemen is a non-issue.”
Wow! Looks like you and Vice-President Dick Cheney are on the SAME PAGE on this one. Glenford Mitchell too! Can you feel the love for fellow human beings sent into harms way for the sins of the world? Share the love, brother.
BTW, if someone has to invade Iran so the Baha’is can hold their endless meetings in peace, it will be the volunteers of the poverty draft in the Armed Forces of the United States, not you or any Baha’is anywhere on Earth. At least maybe buy them some salad dressing with alcohol in it to tip your hat as a Baha’i as they are sent to their death. It’s the least you could do.
Man, the NEW THINK Baha’i Faith as you express it is really something! Everything exists with no connection to anything else in the entire world. Just a phantasm. The Nine Pol Pots or Nine Stalins or Nine Hitlers or Nine Chairman Mao’s or Nine Big Brothers or Nine Emmanuel Goldstein’s on the UHJ will save you! To my mind ideas that are not connected with anything real on a daily dawn to disk cycle basis are a kind of spiritual pornography. THAT is where the amazing top down psychological water color apparatchik Faith is today. Just get on the crack pipe of taking the Ruhi books over and over with the same people. Nobody ever really getting out of their neurotic eternally passive aggressive comfort zone in their societies and getting out into the world and engage people with what is going on with THEM. The Baha’is are ONLY interested in people as predatory “marks” if THEY will come into our cult bubble of top down emotional need and take the books with us. It is an absolute delusion to think this is a new “outward orientation.”
The Palestinians are in the situation they are in because they are captive psychological pawns in the hands of their leaders. They will be eternally trapped in the pathetic martyr culture of the Middle East until they start to think differently. They must get out of the cycle of violence by thinking bigger with the birthing powers of the Cosmos. They need to read more Shirley MacLaine and less of their home grown Islamic fare.
I do believe, however, that Nine Rumi’s really just might save us. I still believe it is possible. One can always hope.
But it ain’t happening.
I’m going out to dinner and a movie tonight while there is still electricity in the world. I will also look at the stars tonight as I move about.
Have a nice weekend whereever you are in the world.
Dear Craig,
You are flagrantly miss-characterizing the service undertaken by thousands of Baha’is across the globe. It is really upsetting that you have such a problem with Ruhi. Let me let you in on a little secret. I have only done book 1. The whole point is to arise to serve. I, like you, prefer to get into the field and service of my fellow human being. My co-workers, unlike you, are doing this. So stop using you ignorant and angry generalizations. Would you like me to name the hundreds of Baha’i run schools, orphanages, charities, womens rights centers, inter faith dialog groups, MLK coordinators, feeding centers, disaster response initiatives, economic development projects, and on and on…
Your statements have confirmed my belief that you have been for the most part unaware of the initiatives of the Faith in general and abroad. If it bothers you so much, get out and go on service.
You must be the change you wish to see in the World.
Baquia wrote:
“Go back to the example of apartheid. Did we condemn it? We were silent. Why?
Baquia, the Baha’is did condemn racial prejudice, and much more, gave the example of interracial harmony in the US, SA and elsewhere in Africa at a time when such relations were unheard of and even unlawful.
You write:
“How is the suffering of blacks different under apartheid than the suffering of Baha’is under the current Iranian regime?”
It is different in that the Baha’is are engaged in building bridges, whereas so many others are engaged in tearing down walls.
Anyone revolted and angry enough can tear down walls; it is an entirely different matter picking up the pieces and making them into bridges: you need plans, collaboration, harmony, systematic action, and most of all patience and faith in what you are undertaking so that your efforts do not create new walls.
Only those who believe in miracles in fact can engage in bridge building.
Farhan,
please don’t play word games. Obviously the Baha’i Faith condemns racial prejudice. What I was referring to was the Baha’i Faith, as in the Baha’i administration condemning and taking action against apartheid. I’m comparing their action regarding the situation of Baha’is in Iran to the inaction on their part to the suffering of blacks in South Africa’s apartheid era. The Baha’i Faith was silent. In fact, when the editors of Dialogue magazine wanted to write an article condemning apartheid in the US, their were stopped by the NSA.
And regarding building bridges… what proof do you offer of this assertion? what have the Baha’is done to build bridges when their self interest is not involved? what have we done to help those that have no relevance to us?
For example, Iran routinely kills homosexuals. Where is the outrage against this? Where are the letters from the UHJ condemning this? where are the lobbying efforts against this?
We have become self-absorbed. We only venture out to seek the world’s help when our own self-interest is in play.
Baquia wrote: “Go back to the example of apartheid. Did we condemn it? We were silent. Why?…How is the suffering of blacks different under apartheid than the suffering of Baha’is under the current Iranian regime?”
Farhan wrote: “It is different in that the Baha’is are engaged in building bridges, whereas so many others are engaged in tearing down walls.”
One of many examples of Baha’is BUILDING BRIDGES re aparthied and race relations: http://news.bahai.org/story/356 Baquia, please note the comments of non-Baha’is and the effect of white Baha’is on their attitudes to race. The same work continues today - for example in the Black Men’s Gathering (BMG) founded by Baha’i Dr. William Roberts ( http://www.bahai.us/node/185 )and The Institutes for the Healing of Racism (IHR) co-founded by Baha’i Nathan Rutstein who passed awy in 2006(http://www.amherstbulletin.com/story/id/60200052005/) which has been established on over 300 centers and college campuses in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A non-Baha’i African American friend of mine friend was so impressed by the IHR that she made it the subject of her Doctoral thesis.
Regarding The Black Men’s Gathering (several of my black friends from Jamaica now living in the USA have participated regularly): “the Gathering is a distinctive activity with a different agenda. It does not concern itself chiefly with race unity in the Bahá’í community as such. It addresses itself to a special situation faced by a minority that has suffered severe social and spiritual afflictions imposed upon it by the majority. The program of the Black Men’s Gatherings is unique and exemplary as an avenue for transcending the legacy of anguish, frustration and social pathology that is peculiar to black men in the United states; it urges them towards a fullness of life within the spirit and principles of the Bahá’í Revelation.”
(The Universal House of Justice, 2000 Mar 14)
As has been previously noted, despite very limited manpower resources Baha’is are working hard in many areas of the world to actually make a difference in the lives of people. Anyone who thinks Baha’s are only engaged in Ruhi activities has a very narrow understanding and perspective of Baha’i activities. Perhaps those who like to sit at their PC keyboard and focus only on the negatives should also get out in the real world and do something constructve following the example of people like Roberst, Rutstein and so many others.
Carmen
It seems you just don’t get it. Or perhaps I have failed to express my point clearly.
I’m simply pointing out the fact that the Baha’is did not lift a finger to fight against apartheid, or even condemn it! the way that they are fighting against the oppression of the Iranian minority.
This is a fact. You can bring up all sorts of niceties but unless you show me documents that the Baha’i office at the UN worked to condemn SA apartheid, that they lobbied as they are doing now to bring attention to the Iranian Baha’is situation, to the situation back then of apartheid, it is hypocrisy.
Pure and simple. Hypocrisy. I do not say this to present the Faith in a bad light. The very fact that this happened, that there was inaction then and action now, presents the Faith in a bad light. I am merely pointing this out. Others are not blind. They see our self-serving manner and it serves to hollow out any influence we may have. It serves to stain the values for which we stand.
If the Baha’i Faith stands for religious freedom, for unity, for the elimination of prejudice, then we should not be selective in taking action only when our own interests are involved.
Is this simple concept too complex for some to grasp? I am at a loss on how to express it in simpler and clearer terms.
Baquia wrote: “We have become self-absorbed. We only venture out to seek the world’s help when our own self-interest is in play.”
This remark is blatantly untrue but entirely consistent with your negative attitude to the House of Justice and your tendency to ignore sBaha’i humanitarian activities throughout the world.
The URL re Nathan Rutstein is inactive so I am pasting it in below. Baquia, he is one of many examples that answers very well your question: “what have the Baha’is done to build bridges when their self interest is not involved? What have we done to help those that have no relevance to us?” I have been very inspired by his books on on pressing social issues (e.g. “Racism - Unravelling the Fear” and Healing racism in America: A Prescription for the Disease” which was acclaimed an “outstanding bok on human rights” by the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Human Rights).
Carmen
Published on June 02, 2006
Nathan Rutstein, media educator at UMass, STCC
AMHERST - Nathan Rutstein, of 34 High Point Drive, Amherst, passed away May 22, after a brief stay at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was 75.
Born in New York City, Dec. 5, 1930, Nathan was the son of Louis and Lillian (Wilson) Rutstein of the Bronx, N.Y.
He grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., in 1953 with a degree in history.
Following college he was drafted into the armed forces and served in Okinawa, where he became a member of the Baha’i faith. He went on to devote himself to the promotion of Baha’i principles of unity and peace for the remainder of his life.
He married Carol Kelsey, of Teaneck, N.J., in 1955.
He began a career in journalism working for local newspapers and radio stations. He later moved on to television news reporting in Minneapolis and Philadelphia, then to New York, where he worked with ABC and NBC television networks as producer and editor of international news.
He coordinated coverage of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and other major events of the 1960s.
Nathan and his family moved to Amherst in 1970 when he joined the University of Massachusetts School of Education as chairman of its education media department.
Several years later he moved to Springfield Technical Community College, where he was founder and chairman of the telecommunications department.
Nathan soon began writing and publishing on a variety of topics. For over 30 years he wrote numerous articles and authored more than 20 volumes, including biographies and other books on media, racism, spirituality, educational reform and many other pressing social and humanitarian themes. His published works have been distributed in dozens of countries and translated into several languages.
In later years Nathan co-founded Institutes for the Healing of Racism, which became active in 200 centers and college campuses in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Increasingly active work in the area of race relations saw him take on an intensive schedule of speaking and workshop engagements across North America.
He worked with police forces, school systems, business establishments and prisons to help heal the wounds of racism afflicting American society.
Nathan served as a consultant to the White House Conference on Children, the Harlem Preparatory School and Brazil’s Institute for Space Research’s educational division.
He was a Kellogg Foundation lecturer in residence on racism, and produced 10 TV documentaries, including ‘Finding a Solution’ and ‘Black and White in Springfield.’
Nathan Rutstein is survived by his devoted wife, Carol, and children, David Rutstein, of Silver Spring, Md., Dale Rutstein, of Manila, Philippines, Tod Rutstein, of Baltimore, and Valerie Rutstein Kreitzer, of New York; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Elaine Reiss, of Crossville, Tenn.; and a brother, Mark Rutstein of Rhinebeck, N.Y.
I just remembered another example of a Baha’i (there are many more I could cite) who is actively involved in a pressing social issue not in a “self-serving manner” but in a way that is genuinely attempting to help fight a long-standing and very deep-rooted problem. She first came to my attention when I read a book she co-authored: “Do They Hear You When You Cry?”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layli_Miller-Muro
Carmen
Baquia wrote: “Pure and simple. Hypocrisy.”
This is a Baha’i rants blog. Perhaps people could come on here and post about the hundreds of problems in the world including the alarming rise in sexually transmitted diseases, famine, organized crime, drug addiction, sexual and spousal abuse, etc so that 99% of the posts would be related to these problems and only 1% to Baha’i issues. This could be done but it would cease to be a Baha’i rants blog. Would you agree to a change in the focus of this blog and begin posting about these issues to avoid being considerd guilty of hypocrisy for not paying enough attention to problems people are suffering from all over the world? It could be done. However, we could no longer consider it to be a valid Baha’i rants blog.
Someone could accuse you of hypocrisy for spending so much time on rants that you are not sufficiently engaged in protesting against all the myriad injustices in the world or in taking CONCRETE ACTION to help address them. I do not think this citicism would be fair as your activities have a PRIMARY FOCUS but neither are your criticisms fair as the Baha’i Faith has a PRIMARY FOCUS and that is that all of these ills require the recognition of Baha’u'llah and the spritual transformation and unification of humanity for their ultimate resolution. The achievement of this objective would be impossible if the Faith were to be diverted into criticism of every problem and it would be ultimately self-defeating.
This is particulary so because the Faith has a number of principles which include non-involvement in divisive partisan politics. Your categorization of Baha’u'llah’s messages to the rulers of the world as being political is highly misleading as he was summoning them to recognize their Lord. This is by no means comparable to letters people write to their politicians! The UN activities of the Faith are also not political in the sense that they are not bound up with partisan political fighting and criticism. For that there are many sources including numerous liberal and conservative blogs. The UN activities are to represent the Faith and also present its position and to work constructively as an NGO on various issues without becoming involved in partisan politics.
You can easily accuse the Baha’i Faith of hypocrisy, not only with regard to Aparthied, but with regard to hundreds of other ills which have afflicted and continue to afflict humanity. Why focus only on Aparthied? Someone who is passionate about victims of Western imperialism could just as easily accuse us of hypocrisy also and the list would go on and on (global warming, child slavery, you name it …..)
If you want to suggest that the Baha’i Faith is hypocritical for not speaking out on Aparthied you will also have to apply the same logic to all the other problems people are suffering from. The Faith and people who are active in it have to focus their time and energies primarily on the goals and objectives related to the Faith otherwise it will become hopelessly bogged down in ranting against every ill that afflicts humanity.
All Farhan is trying to say is that our primary responsibility is to raise issues which relate to us as we cannot put our finger in every leaking hole in the dam. We are tring to slowly and laboriously build one that will provide water for a thirsty humanity for centuries to come.
Carmen
Baquia,
I understand your point perfectly. You would like to know why the Baha’i administration only concerns itself with Baha’i matters and problems facing the Baha’i community. Why doesn’t it speak out against issues that are concerning the greater population, and why it doesn’t respond to news, events, incidents or catastrophes that happen in the World today.
Two things.
Firstly, I think that you do not want to acknowledge the truth, and whatever answer we can come up, either that of the official Baha’i position or our own opinions is not good enough. You simply believe we don’t care.
Secondly, the fact of the matter is this: The Baha’i administration, as its primary duty and its sole role is to promote the interests of the Baha’i Faith. No one else is doing that and its this essential objective that I think drive many of the decisions you see today.
Regarding a non-responsive attitude toward other social ills and your apparent observance of not doing enough…Let me break it down in a matter of fact, logisitcal, priority driven and practical way. There are other people doing it and if individual Baha’is or their inspired NGOs or non-profits feel a need to respond then God bless. It is insulting for you to say the Baha’i Faith and those in the administration do not care. I seriously resent that. This is not some liberal hyper-activist organization that is supposed to comment or come to the aid at every minor event or social problem.
Our mission is of a different kind and those legions of non-profit workers like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Peace Corps etc are already doing what you so desperately wish the Baha’i Faith was doing.
I too wondered this same thing and I had to ask a member of the NSA directly to get a good answer. I tried to convey this answer above, obviously in my own words. The NSA member was much more accomodating in his tone.
I hope you can understand the decisions facing the Baha’i administration and where the priorities are. Its a matter of priorities. Why do something, say like bringing attention to homosexual rights in Iran, when there are dozens of organizations out there already doing it?! Dont you see? Its about focusing on the interests of the Baha’i Faith that the Baha’i administration is primarily focused with. Its that simple. If you want to see contributions to fields of service like feeding the hungry, or sewing cleft pallets, there are literally thousands of other NGOs out there doing it. God speed! But do not accuse the Baha’i administration of indifference, when they routinely and regularly give their support to such initiatives taken up by Baha’is. If they didn’t, who would?
I hope this makes sense.
Carmen,
Bahais proclaim racial equality as one their PRINCIPAL values, and insist that Baha’u'llah’s chief mission is the elimination of RACIAL PREJUDICE and the establishment of the unity of humankind. So when they fail to condemn systemic racial discrimination as the basis of a nation-state (apartheid SA), it’s understandable that people will see it as gross hypocrisy. It’s like the World Wildlife Federation failing to take a stance on the destruction and extinction of animal species around the world.
And, Carmen, can you please stop bringing up the url of this blog? You’ve done it at least five-times now. Your criticism is not nearly as witty or discerning as you think it is. That’s the name of the blog. Get over it.
The only ranting I’ve seen on this blog is from you and Farhan, long meandering comments riddled with Bahai platitudes that fail to actually address the premises and points of your interlocutors.
Moreover, stop making the flawed claim that Baquia or Craig are somehow not constructively “involved” in the world because they are active participants on this forum. By that reasoning, you should stop tapping your keyboard and get “involved” seeing as you’re a regular contributor.
I just thought I might add…I just received an email from my LSA about the situation in Burma and how we as Baha’is can help…I also received some pictures on the Burmese Baha’i Center, not sure if it is the national center or just a Baha’i center. I am trying to figure out how to upload them…
On another note.
Concourse on low you too seem to be afflicted with this lack of perspective. Read my post and perhaps you will understand the challenges at hand.
I couldn’t help it.
These accusations of indifference and non-involvment are seriously making me wonder who you all are. Its like you really have no idea about what is going on with the World today and how the Baha’i faith is involved. I find it quite ignorant that you make such statements and claim that the administration does not care or is hypocritical. That is just flat wrong and smacks of such an arrogance and lack of understanding that I am beginning to question the authenticity and motives of this blog.
Let me give you some examples of Baha’i involvement…
Panama
Badi School & Univ
Tanzania
Ruaha School
Panama
Ngobe-Bugle
Swaziland
Setsembiso HS
Brazil
ADCAM, Amazonas
Badi School
Tanzania
Brazil
ADCAM, Amazonas
Swaziland
Setsembiso HS
Panama
SOLOY CTLC
Cambodia
CORDE Schools
USA
Full Circle Learning
Haiti
Anis Zunuzi School
India
Digital Study Hall
Honduras
Tierra Santa Home
USA
Books for Africa
Vietnam
Sunflower Mission
These are just part of the Mona Foundation…
Here are some more.
UNIDA
Argentina
Tahirih Justice Center
USA
BASED
UK
Women for International Peace and Arbitration
Bahá’í Association of Mental Health Professionals
Unravel the Mysteries Young Adult Forum
Baha’i Network on AIDS. Sexuality. Addictions and Abuse
Baha’i Justice Society
Institute for the Healing of Racism
New Era Children’s Fund
Philant
Shall I go on???
Thanks Anonymouz for listing all those activies that various Baha’i groups are up to. The thing to keep in mind about all this is that we don’t know a lot about what different Baha’i communities are up to so it is difficult to draw conclusions about what Baha’is are contributing to various issues.
Ideally we could stand for every cause under the sun, and no doubt there are some important issues that we are or have been negligent in promoting, but I think it boils down to:
Time
Manpower
Organisational ability
Personal ability
Individual motivation
These all influence what communities are able to do or contribute to a cause. We’re all busy people with work, families and social lives and that limits how much we can put into something, unless its an issue that we particularly care about. Also we are the sum of our up-bringing, environment and education, and that will influence what issues we are concerned about.
The issue of the treatment of the Persian Baha’is in Iran is important because a goodly proportion of Baha’is are Persian and are refugees or are descended from refugees so the motivation is strong to do something about it.
Baquia is quite right in saying that the apartheid in South Africa should have been just as important, but it will only be important to those who it directly affects, i.e. blacks in SA and America, and those who think enough about it to care (this includes the UHJ members).
Unfortunately, there is very little that Baha’is collectively can do, other than what is being done now, given the manpower available, the current preoccupation with Ruhi and conflicting ideas about what constitutes political involvement. This is understandly frustrating, given that the Faith is supposed to be revolutionising the world, etc, etc, when there are high profile agencies such as Amnesty International that are really getting stuck in and doing something. The best we could probably hope to achieve is on the local level. What needs to happen is that the current activities Baha’i groups do should be publicised more.
Anonymuz,
Perhaps I do lack perspective, but I doubt your blinkered perspective will remedy that.
Re: your comment to Baquia.
Interesting approach. Tell Baquia that the fault lies with him, that he’s unjustifiably stubborn, that no explanation will appease him, and then offer an explanation.
Your honesty, however, is refreshing. As you say, the Bahai Faith’s sole interest is to promote its own interests. And what are those interests? Well, according to your comment they’re certainly not to make contributions to “…fields of service like feeding the hungry, or sewing cleft pallets, there are literally thousands of other NGOs out there doing it.” Let’s let others risk life and limb to bring about appreciable, tangible change to the world, the numbers of whom you grossly exaggerate.
But of course they’re just treating the symptoms, providing silly band-aid solutions while Bahais build marble monstrosities in the Levant and create committees to keep track of committees, laying the groundwork for the future World Order by staying mum on issues and problems that don’t directly affect their interests, problems and issues that only they can remedy by, paradoxically, not actually engaging them in the real world, under the pretext of abstaining from partisan politics.
So essentially what you’ve said is - other people are doing the real work, why should we bother? And as you say, “Its about focusing on the interests of the Baha’i Faith that the Baha’i administration is primarily focused with. Its that simple.”
You’re right. It’s blindingly simple. The Bahai Faith isn’t interested in engaging real global issues; it’s simply concerned with its organizational interests, namely, conversion and expansion, lobbying states to protect their co-religionists and peripheral support of Bahais who engage in NGO work solely because they are Bahais.
Congratulations. The New Jerusalem has arrived.
Most of the groups you’ve listed are Bahai schools, and I’m sure they do good work – for Bahais. Some of the others, and I’m speaking from personal experience, are no different than Christian missionary groups. In fact, they’re more insidious in that they sugarcoat their real intention of winning conversions through material inducements - such as building wells, schools and homes, all intrinsically noble and praiseworthy less the ulterior motives - whereas the Christians are more transparent about their real conversion goals.
And to preemptively address your inevitable criticism that I should stop talking and go out into the world and do something positive – I do, every day, through my occupation, my personal relations, my charitable donations and my volunteering. I’ve made more real and rewarding contributions through these avenues than any of the pathological, self-interested Bahai utopia-building activities that I’ve participated in.
I continue to dedicate myself to Baha’u’llah’s admonishment to help carry on an ever advancing civilization. Sadly, the Bahai Faith has made itself an irrelevant vehicle for that goal.
I knew that someone kind of response like yours would come up. The perspective i’m afraid is still lacking and I will do my best to counter your claim of indifference.
I sincerely recommend reflection on these passages…
“Purpose of Bahá’í Administration” As the administrative work of the Cause steadily expands, as its various branches grow in importance and number, it is absolutely necessary that we bear in mind this fundamental fact that all these administrative activities, however harmoniously and efficiently conducted, are but means to an end, and should be regarded as direct instruments for the propagation of the Bahá’í Faith. Let us take heed lest in our great concern for the perfection of the administrative machinery of the Cause, we lose sight of the Divine Purpose for which it has been created. Let us be on our guard lest the growing demand for specialization in the administrative functions of the Cause detain us from joining the ranks of those who in the forefront of battle are gloriously engaged in summoning the multitude to this New Day of God. This indeed should be our primary concern; this is our sacred obligation, our vital and urgent need. Let this cardinal principle be ever borne in mind, for it is the mainspring of all future activities, the remover of every embarrassing obstacle, the fulfillment of our Master’s dearest wish. (Shoghi Effendi)
“Bahá’í Work and Service to Humanity” He (The Guardian) feels that, although your desire to partake actively of the dangers and miseries afflicting so many millions of people today, is natural, and a noble impulse, there can be no comparison between the value of Bahá’í work and any other form of service to humanity. If the Bahá’ís could evaluate their work properly they would see that whereas other forms of relief work are superficial in character, alleviating the sufferings and ills of men for a short time at best, the work they are doing is to lay the foundation of a new Spiritual Order in the world founded on the Word of God, operating according to the Laws He has laid down for this age. No one else can do this work except those who have fully realized the meaning of the Message of Bahá’u'lláh, whereas almost any courageous, sincere person can engage in relief work, etc. The believers are building a refuge for mankind. This is their supreme, sacred task, and they should devote every moment they can to this task. (Shoghi Effendi)
“Contacts with Social Movements-Association and Affiliation”. It is surely very necessary that the Friends should keep in touch with the modern social movements, but their main objective should be to draw more people to the spirit and teachings of the Cause. They should learn from the experience of others and not permit themselves to go [off] at a tangent, and finally be so absorbed in other movements as to forget the Cause of God. Fully aware of the repeated statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that universality is of God, Bahá’ís in every land are ready, nay anxious, to associate themselves by word and deed with any association of men which, after careful scrutiny, they feel satisfied is free from every tinge of partisanship and politics and is wholly devoted to the interests of all mankind. In their collaboration with such associations they would extend any moral and material assistance they can afford, after having fulfilled their share of support to those institutions that affect directly the interests of the Cause. They should always bear in mind, however, the dominating purpose of such a collaboration, which is to secure in time the recognition by those with whom they are associated of the paramount necessity and the true significance of the Bahá’í Revelation in this day. We should welcome and seize every opportunity that presents itself, however modest it may be, to give a wider publicity to the Cause, to demonstrate its all-inclusiveness and liberal attitude, its independence and purity, without committing ourselves, whether by word or deed, to programmess or politics that are not in strict conformity with the tenets of the Faith. (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi by his Secretary)
Concourse_on_Low wrote: “Bahais proclaim racial equality as one their PRINCIPAL values, and insist that Baha’u'llah’s chief mission is the elimination of RACIAL PREJUDICE and the establishment of the unity of humankind. So when they fail to condemn systemic racial discrimination as the basis of a nation-state (apartheid SA), it’s understandable that people will see it as gross hypocrisy. It’s like the World Wildlife Federation failing to take a stance on the destruction and extinction of animal species around the world.”
Which is precisely why I posted one of the the URLs re the Baha’i Faith actually doing something PRACTICAL to address the fundamental racism problem underlying Apartheid. Did you bother to read it? This practical work is much more effective than a public statement which anyone or any organizaton can make: http://news.bahai.org/story/356 I am not at all worried that this will be seen as hypocritical as the work of the Baha’i Faith in fostering harmonious race relations is well known. It’s position on non-participation in partisan politics is also well known.
Concourse_on_Low wrote: “And, Carmen, can you please stop bringing up the url of this blog? You’ve done it at least five-times now. Your criticism is not nearly as witty or discerning as you think it is. That’s the name of the blog. Get over it.”
I mentioned the url of the blog in order to point out that it has a focus which is to rant against the Faith - that’s what ranting is for. My point was that if the blog lost that focus and became a focal point for ranting against all the ills of the world it could not be considered a Baha’i rants blog any longer. This point was made, as a matter of comparison, to respond to those who insist the Baha’i Faith must take a public stance against a wide range of social ills. By comparison with the blog, if the Faith got bogged down in this there would never be any time for its real work which only the Faith can do. It would just become one of many other organizations making public statements condemning various ills. Re Apartheid, the Faith has done and continues to do major work in healing racism but it has a range of teachings which include non-involvement in partisan politics.
You argue that you “continue to dedicate myself to Baha’u’llah’s admonishment to help carry on an ever advancing civilization. Sadly, the Bahai Faith has made itself an irrelevant vehicle for that goal.” This is rather odd since the Baha’i Faith is the vehicle Baha’u'llah established for the achievement of the objective of an ever-advancing civilization. The House of Justice was ordained by Baha’u'llah in His Most Holy Book. Under its leadership the Faith has made and will continue to make significant strides in the achievement of this objective.
Of course, it depends on your view of civilization as much as it depends on your view of Baha’u'llah! Materialistic civilization has made great advancements in science etc but as we type there are nuclear warheads pointed at us and many other products of civilization including global warming which threaten the planet with extinction. The goal of an ever advancing civilization as outlined by Baha’u'llah endeavors to remove the blight of prejudices and lack of global coordination and action which contribute to WMDs, global warming and other ills.
I am not sure precisely what you or others mean when you refer to Baha’u'llah or to carrying on His exhortations and admonitions. Some believe that He was merely an enlightened reformer who was heavily influenced by western liberal ideas. The divinely ordained Order he established to implement His vision for humanity is diminsihed in this view and is “an irrelevant vehicle.” This viewpoint reflects a completely different perspective from those who accept Baha’u'llah’s divine mission and His appointed successors and believe that the system He established will ultimately prevail in carrying forward an ever advancing civilization.
I am not at all surprized that you see my and Farhan’s comments as the “only” ranting on this site. This is not at all surprising but I take it as a compliment.
Carmen
On that note, I would just like to re-iterate something that I have been reflecting on since last night when I last commented. I feel the need to repost this because we do have a tendency to ignore a lot of the official quotes and vent with our own views, despite the presence of clear guidance…
He (The Guardian) feels that, although your desire to partake actively of the dangers and miseries afflicting so many millions of people today, is natural, and a noble impulse, there can be no comparison between the value of Bahá’í work and any other form of service to humanity. If the Bahá’ís could evaluate their work properly they would see that whereas other forms of relief work are superficial in character, alleviating the sufferings and ills of men for a short time at best, the work they are doing is to lay the foundation of a new Spiritual Order in the world founded on the Word of God, operating according to the Laws He has laid down for this age. No one else can do this work except those who have fully realized the meaning of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, whereas almost any courageous, sincere person can engage in relief work, etc. The believers are building a refuge for mankind. This is their supreme, sacred task, and they should devote every moment they can to this task. (Shoghi Effendi)
This is false. Their duties and responsibilities go way beyond that. But I can understand how you would assume this from the pattern of decisions and behavior.
Thanks for the list. I never said the Baha’is are not doing anything. Yes there are quite a few projects around the world. What I was referring to was something quite different.
However, as you’ve brought up these SED projects, would you care to guesstimate how many millions the Baha’i Faith is spending on them? and compare it to the $300 Million that was spent on Mt. Carmel? How many similar projects do you think we could have funded with just oh, say, a tenth of that money. In other words, $30 Million. Hmmm? care to take a wild guess? Or if you are feeling adventurous, how many if all $300 Million were devoted to similar projects? How many children could it have educated? saved from malnutrition? disease?
Finally, the Tahirih Justice Centre is not affiliated with the Baha’i Faith. It was founded by a Baha’i but that’s about it. They do great work, mind you. Just wanted to set the record straight.
Im still a little surprised at the lack of attention paid to what the writings say. Its like no one is reading what the Guardian said.
Let me set the record strait. All you see in the Faith today is a continuation of the wishes of the Guardian and the central figures. Let me remind you all that there is a trove of guidance available to Baha’i administrators and they have done a fantastic job of staying on course.
I do not know how many times I should reiterate this…But here we go again…The primary function of the Baha’i administration is managing the well being, promotion, and protection of the Faith. It is not a vehicle for non-profit work like you all so wish it was. That is not its job. Make no mistake that sort of work will and is being taken up by Baha’i institutions and motivated individuals and organizations. But, this is an organized religion if you haven’t notice dear friends.
All the work you see being done on Mt. Carmel, the Chile temple, the Houses of Worship, the Offices at the UN, the acquisition of property associated by the Baha’i Faith, the funding and research of promulgating the Baha’i Faith and on and on are part of the guidance given by Abdul’Baha and Shoghi Effendi. When you criticize these functions and process, you are criticizing the very essence of its guiding principles articulated by the central figures.
You all, like me, feel for the world and witness its ills and wonder what we as Baha’is can do, what should the Baha’i administration do. For these answers, I find consolation in the writings and guidance of the Faith and moreover, my OWN ability to take action.
Finally, what difference does it make if the Tahirih Justice Center is affiliated with the Baha’i Faith or not. It is doing the work that needs to be done, and it is the principles of the Faith that motivated its founder to take action. Much like the rest of the NGOs who operate and are animated by Baha’i principles they are not, nor should they be run by Baha’i Institutions. They service the public, the poor, the needy and desperate through thier own inspired ways with the blessing of the Baha’is.
What it appears you are advocating is an excessive centralization of initiatives and resources. This is would be counter-productive and I am deeply moved by the position of the Baha’i administration to not let this happen. Its so wise, don’t you see?! Let the friends and believers rise up organically and follow their calling, do not let them be hindered by bureaucracy and needless oversight. If they feel motivated to service to humanity through different avenues, God spead and we will pray for your success.
The functions of the Baha’i administration deserve a well observed and historic study, not pointless and counterproductive criticism grounded in un-informed emotional opinions. I encourage all of you to take this up, so you will realize they are doing exactly what they were summoned to do.
Somehow you always succeed in talking over me or through me but never with me. Do you even read what I write? I doubt it since I’ve clearly and repeatedly took a stance against the sort of centralization and systematization that you mention. That would in fact, be the sort of thing the current administration is standing for with the ill aimed Ruhi courses. What I’m referring to is taking a stand behind our values and proving to the world that we aren’t just talk and we aren’t just talk when it comes to our own welfare. That we care about the world.
For example, yes, Baha’is in Iran are suffering. They are mistreated, oppressed, their rights are violated and this must stop. What about the same thing that is happening to homosexuals in Iran? what about the trampling on their basic human rights? what about the fact that Iran executes homosexuals? even if they are minors? where is our concern? where is our outrage? where is our active attempt to raise attention?
As long as the Baha’i administration continues to not concern itself with the wider world, it will continue to be seen as irrelevant.
Do you even read what I write?
I read every post at least twice and I see the same things being said over and over again but you seem to take no solace in the guidance provided by the writings. The centralization that you appear to have an issue with, Ruhi, is in my opinion an un-warranted critique at an attempt to unify, educate, motivate and galvanize the Baha’is. This particular action and initiative is directly related to the role that the institutions are instructed and guided to initiate. Therefore, they are doing their job.
What I’m referring to is taking a stand behind our values and proving to the world that we aren’t just talk and we aren’t just talk when it comes to our own welfare. That we care about the world.
So you are saying that by educating and following the guidance of the central figures, we are not being Baha’is? Im afraid you are incorrectly assuming there is no guidance or initiative to address the issues you speak of. As mentioned before, Baha’is all over the world are doing exactly what you are advocating, with the encouragement of the institutions. Must I list again the NGOs, individuals, organizations and initiatives again who are actively engaged in advocacy all the while guided and motivated by the principles of the Baha’i Faith?
What about the same thing that is happening to homosexuals in Iran? what about the trampling on their basic human rights? what about the fact that Iran executes homosexuals? even if they are minors? where is our concern? where is our outrage? where is our active attempt to raise attention?
Taking into consideration the precedent and guidance already out there, this type of advocacy who be categorized as an individual initiative. If you feel so strongly by it, who don’t you do something?
This is from the Bahá’í Internet Agency
Internet initiatives should of course be carried out in light of Bahá’í principles such as moderation, courtesy, probity, fairness, dignity, accuracy and wisdom. Promoting mutual understanding, fellowship and a spirit of cooperation among diverse individuals and groups is an essential characteristic of all Bahá’í activity. In this respect, the Internet is yet one more domain in which Bahá’ís should demonstrate “an etiquette of expression worthy of the approaching maturity of the human race”—a maturity founded on the “oneness and wholeness of human relationships.”
But to think that the Baha’i Institutions should come to the symbolic aid, by speaking out, of every cause known to man is naive and un-reasonable. That would require an unimaginable amount of resources and not to mention the alienation and I would say cause more problems then solve. Keep in mind what I mentioned earlier. ITS ABOUT PRIORITIES. The Baha’i institutions have theirs, just like any other organization, it has its guiding mission and organizes its responses and programs based on this.
Moreover, the statements, writings, official stances and publications already published clearly outline and annunciate the Baha’i views on human rights and dignity. The answers you seek are there and the Faith has spoken out about these things. Homosexuality specifically.
http://www.bahai-library.org
As long as the Baha’i administration continues to not concern itself with the wider world, it will continue to be seen as irrelevant.
This is categorically incorrect.
Young Baha’is address UK parliamentarians on human rights
http://news.bahai.org/story/623
New Zealand Police support race unity initiative
http://news.bahai.org/story/621
Finnish TV talk show host finds success in unconventional approachhttp://news.bahai.org/story/593
Ugandans study approaches to development
http://news.bahai.org/story/590
Rebirth can follow breakdown, says best-selling author
http://news.bahai.org/story/576
Hip-hop hits spiritual chords
http://news.bahai.org/story/572
In Brazil, positive spin spells TV success
http://news.bahai.org/story/553
These are just a few examples of what Baha’is are doing to do what you speak of. This is how it is supposed to be, individuals initiatives animated and motivated by Baha’i institutions and teachings. How many times must I re-iterate it? if you are looking for direct involvement by Baha’i institution in creating and running these initiatives it ain’t gonna happen. Its not supposed to, nor should it, at least not yet.
Think of it this way…would you like the federal government running education, the economy, the health care system, the entertainment industry etc from the top down? Sounds a bit like communism.
The administration of the Faith wisely sticks to its guiding principles and quietly is positioning itself and consolidating its resources to meet the demands of a maturing community (we are still very young in this process). To demand they speak out on behalf of human rights violations the world over is incredible. Frankly every government in the World, even Iran and Saudi Arabia know the Baha’is are surprisingly restrained and not needlessly belligerent about issues that already are known and being called out by a number of other international agencies and organizations. I can plainly see that if this was the case it would cause many more problems that it would solve. Anybody with a bit of curiosity would already know the Baha’i Faith is a global advocate of human rights, not just Baha’i rights.
Baquia wrote: “As long as the Baha’i administration continues to not concern itself with the wider world, it will continue to be seen as irrelevant.” Perhaps by you and a few others.
Also, you mention how much has been spent on the Mount Carmel building projects and estimate $300 million. As has been pointed out by anonymouz, this expenditure is a continuation of the initiatives of the central figures. You have previously stated that this expenditure is contrary to the example of Abdu’l-Baha’s exemplary life of concern for the poor. Is it?
Baha’u'llah pointed out to Abdu’l-Baha the spot where the Bab’s remains should be interred. Let’s look at expenditures during Abdu’l-Baha’s lifetime. He built the mausoleum in which he interred the remains of the Bab. This building was so big at the time that the covenent breakers were able to create some alarm among the authorities that Abdu’l-Baha was building a fortress. Do you think this expenditure was not substantial by the standards of the time? What about the two Houses of Worship in Ishqabad and Wilmette? Do you think Abdu’l-Baha’s encouragement of these construction (he laid the foundation stone for the temple in Wilmette in 1912) projects and the expenditure on them was not similar in many ways at the time in cost to the current building projects your criticize? Anyone alive during the time of Abdu’l-Baha’s ministry could have used your argument and said the money should have been spent on the poor and for “education” malnutrition” and “disease.” Yet Abdu’l-Baha was known and acknowledged for his charitable work just as the House and Baha’i international community is becoming more and more known in mnay countries for charitable projects.
You could just as easily have criticized Abdu’l-Baha for not spending all of that money on the poor and needy. Why not ask why He chose to encourage the building of two temples and personally supervized the construction of the mausoleum which is now the core structure of the Shrine of the Bab? In constructing the Archives building the Guardian continued these policies and the House has almost completed them.
So if you are going to criticize the expenditures of the House in the manner you do you will have to also criticize the central figures. I know you are already critical of the Guardian and House. What the House has been doing is completely consistent with what is required of it by previous policies. You also do not take into account that the projects on Mount Carmel have been for a BWC that is intended to serve and guide humanity for many centuries.
The administrations serving the needs of the Faith is not at all mutually exclusive of its services to humanity but it cannot be expected to take up every cause you would like to see it champion.
Carmen
Carmen, the magnitude of the expenditures you cite do not even approach the same universe. In any case, I don’t want to argue over this with you or anyone else. I only brought it up to offer some perspective.
anonymouz,
well, it is official. You just don’t get it. For old time’s sake here is one last attempt:
The UHJ/ITC is brining attention to the problem in Iran. Never mind that they have totally ignored the mounting danger and encouraged Baha’is to remain there! No, lets ignore that for now. Lets ignore that they could have encouraged Baha’is to get out of Iran, out of danger as they did during and after the 1979 Iranian revolution. Lets ignore how they set up offices at the UN and lobbied countries like Canada, Norway, Spain, Italy, France, etc. to allow Baha’is from Iran to find refuge. OK? with me on that? Lets totally ignore that right now they are sitting on their hands in this regard.
So here they are going to the State Dept, the UN and everyone who will listen to them about the situation in Iran. Yet when others are suffering from the same thugs in Iran, they are silent. When others are oppressing a group which isn’t Baha’i, they don’t care.
This is what I’m referring to. Not that Baha’is are not involved in SED projects. Not that individual Baha’is are not good people helping their fellow man around the world. Not anything else.
Well, that’s it. If you can’t understand that or refuse to acknowledge it, that’s fine. There’s not much I can do for you. As you’ve seen other people do understand what I’m saying.
Baquia,
I will try to be understanding but im afraid you didn’t at all read what I wrote. Here we go again…
So here they are going to the State Dept, the UN and everyone who will listen to them about the situation in Iran. Yet when others are suffering from the same thugs in Iran, they are silent. When others are oppressing a group which isn’t Baha’i, they don’t care.
You are again calling the Baha’i administration to a duty which is not associated with their mission. If the Baha’i administration did not raise awareness about the Baha’is in they way they do, who else would? Amnesty International and the Sate Department and all the other outlets get thier information from Baha’i sources. Unlike the other groups you so passionately care about, you seem to forget that your Baha’i brethren have no other official outlet accept that of the administration.
Where are your priorities? This is something I keep repeating and make no mistake, I get you. But it is unfortunate that you refuse to aknowledge the reality of a real life situation.
Moreover it is completely unfair for you to assume that Baha’is do not care. Any rational person cares. But it then comes to what can we do with the tools and resources we are provided, moreover, how should we prioritize and allocate these resources?
You are picking and choosing the points I am making and ignoring the facts laid out before you and making unfair accusations of indifference.
Again, I ask, where are your priorities?
I would venture to say that there are more resources available to the other down trodden parties in Iran than are available to the Baha’is.
One last thing…
The UHJ/ITC is brining attention to the problem in Iran. Never mind that they have totally ignored the mounting danger and encouraged Baha’is to remain there! No, lets ignore that for now. Lets ignore that they could have encouraged Baha’is to get out of Iran, out of danger as they did during and after the 1979 Iranian revolution. Lets ignore how they set up offices at the UN and lobbied countries like Canada, Norway, Spain, Italy, France, etc. to allow Baha’is from Iran to find refuge. OK? with me on that? Lets totally ignore that right now they are sitting on their hands in this regard.
This is a highly dangerous thing to say because in order for me to prove my point I would have to disclose sensitive programs and initiatives in place that are not public. I will remain cautious and simply let you in on a a little secret. We are doing things that you so adamantly state we are not. Maybe its good you keep up the accusations for deflection purposes.
Anonymous wrote: