Although Father’s Day may not yet equal the general emotional and spending power of Mothers’ Day, it is obviously gaining speed.
It was a grand and joyous occasion as our two local fathers and their respective immediate families gathered around our family “Blue Blood Table” on Sunday as three generations assembled to honor them–one of whom trumped the occasion by adding his birthday to the observance. One must wander why it takes nationally designated holidays to bring families together.
Unique to today’s growing observance of Fathers’ Day, however is the increasing number of gatherings initiated by fraternal, religious and other groups to involve and encourage young Black males as well as females throughout the year, especially as parents.
In the not too distant past young Black fathers in particular were being considered an endangered species. Through today’s independent and collective efforts, however, the proverbial tables are being turned through the assistance of religious, fraternal and other organizations trumped by the consistent professional love and drive of our unique local branch NAACP and its regular professional and community supporters.
I am constantly reminded of the statement made by Rosilyn Carter as she and President Jimmy Carter were vacating the White House at the end of their term of office. When asked if she thought that racism would return after their departure she replied: “It never went anywhere! It only became unpopular for a while.”
It is becoming increasingly clear that it is not only becoming more popular but is spreading like wildfire throughout the entire world as racism does not come only in Black and White!
Prejudice has been defined in many ways as: “a premature and unreasonable judgment or opinion, usually unfavorable and marked by suspicion, fear, intolerance and/or hatred. It is formed before the facts are known and is held in disregard of facts that do not support it…” A more brief rendition is that “prejudice is an emotional commitment to a falsehood that no amount of logic or evidence will alter.” Regardless of preference, however, they all make the same statement and MUST BE ELIMINATED!
All prejudices, whether of race, religion, political or national, must be given up if mankind is to survive in this era of mass communication-–through which it can be spread like wildfire! These prejudices are a major cause of today’s increasing disturbances throughout the world! It is a serious illness which, if not brought under control, is capable of causing the destruction of the entire human race, according to Dr. S.I. Dean in his Baha’i Talks for All Occasions.”
Therefore the innumerable prejudices of masculine supremacy, white supremacy and religious supremacy” among numerous others must be openly acknowledged and prayerfully and consistently dealt with. Such a diverse public gathering existed in rare form in this community on a weekly basis for nearly 10 years as well as in numerous other locations throughout the nation. They began on college campuses during the early days of legalized desegregation through which many lasting relationships still exist.
What better time than in the wake of Fathers’ Day to begin indiscriminately uniting through the One Heavenly Father (by whatever Name), or by whatever alternate means possible while respecting the differences in one another as unity will never be accomplished through uniformity. Everything in nature attests to this fact.
I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it most succinctly when stating: “We have experimented with the meaning of non-violence in our struggle for racial justice in the United States, but now the time has come for man to experiment with non-violence in all areas of human conflict–and that means on an international scale!”
As the worth of any life is not determined by the locality of residency on a map, it would behoove us one and all to also heed Dr. MLK’s advice that indeed, “Now the judgment of God is upon us and we must either learn to live together as brothers or we are going to perish together as fools.”
May we, in the wake of this Father’s Day, vow to unite in recognizing the sanctity of all human life and stop the “killing in the name of peace!
In this New Era” Baha’u’llah has proclaimed the promise of the oneness of humanity!
We must therefore recognize all people as servants of one true God! “At most it is this: Some do not know, they must be guided, trained, taught to love their fellowmen and encouraged in the acquisition of virtues. Some are ignorant, they must be informed. Some are as children, underdeveloped; they must be helped to reach maturity. Some are ailing; their moral condition is unhealthy. They must be treated until their morals are purified. But the sick are not to be hated because they are sick; the child must not be shunned because he is a child; the ignorant are not to be despised because they lack knowledge! They must all be treated, educated, trained and assisted in LOVE!”
