“The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part of the animal creation he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings,” we find in the Baha’i Holy Writings.
If a man’s thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects, then does he become saintly. If on the other hand his thought does not soar but is directed downward to center itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal”– nay, less than the animal that has no choice.
These words were issued over 160 years ago when civilization and technology were both in their infancy–BTV (before television) when mind pollution was not so easily spread. It was the onset of television that exposed this nation’s racist inhumane laws and law enforcement practices to the world aiding in the toppling of Jim Crow laws, many of which have been and are still being reversed.
This clearly exemplifies the accuracy of a statement made by First Lady Roslyn Carter to an interviewer as she and President Jimmy Carter were vacating the White House. When asked if she thought racism would return in the nation with the reentrance of Republican rule, her answer was: “It never went anywhere. It only became unpopular for a while.”
How very sad that through greed and mind pollution much of the highly advanced science and technology of the past century is being used for all of the wrong reasons. Also through modern technology all of the racist laws, actions and attitudes once ruled illegal on paper are now being fed and fueled with both parties loving it. What profit is there in talking of universal peace, love and solidarity of the human race if these thoughts are not translated into sincere actions! If actions took the place of words, the world’s misery would soon be changed into comfort. The capability exists but the mindsets and morals are woefully lacking. It was the wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that eloquently expressed the danger of now having “guided missiles and misguided men.”
As repetition is the key to memorization and perfection, we cannot repeat often enough, “prejudice is an emotional commitment to a falsehood that no amount of proof will alter” –all prejudice and especially racism. This deep-rooted emotional commitment is especially painful to perpetrators as well as victims as we “Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America . . . One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Likewise within our federal, state and local governing bodies and courts of Law (but not of Justice!)
Therefore, when I read the first paragraph of a pamphlet of an introduction to the Baha’i Faith that defined it as “a new, universal, independent world religion whose aim is to revitalize mankind spiritually, to break down the (manmade) barriers between peoples and to lay the foundation of a unified world society based on the principles of Justice and Love,” I knew I was on board! That was over 40 years ago and the writing on the wall has never been clearer. When wrong continues to multiply from every former direction of trust, it may be time for some to invest more time, energy and resources into joining what’s right than in continuing to try to right what is wrong. In this new day, let deeds, not words be your adorning; let each one “become the Lord’s mercy to man; the Lord’s grace.” Let each strive to improve the character of all and “reorient the minds of men,” as the mind is indeed a terrible thing to waste.
