Blogs

Posted January 29, 2010 by Clethass

Faith & Action: Power of Unity
BY JOYCE FULLER KLEIKAMP
Baha’i Community of Pinal County

One of the most disheartening and frustrating aspects of the religions of the world is that they seem to be so different from each other. What’s more, each particular religion has numerous branches and sects that can appear as different from each other as the major faiths themselves.

This is why the central theme and purpose of the Baha’i faith, to unite the human family within one universal cause, within one common faith, has sparked hope and excitement in the hearts of people everywhere.

In the past in all other religions, the followers were left to themselves once their manifestation of God was no longer walking among them. Thousands of disputes arose resulting in the fracturing and splitting of the faithful into sects, denominations and groups. The underlying cause of this disunity was often a strong desire for leadership on the part of ambitious individuals. Differences of opinion about what should be done and what should happen created problems that ultimately could not withstand the pressure. No one, no group, was authorized to act. This is now the day, the era, in which the power of unity has been preserved through the unique functioning of the covenant.

The divine design for unity has been safeguarded; Baha’u’llah protected the faith against division by writing his will and testament, in it designating his eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, to be the sole interpreter of his teachings and Center of the Covenant. Abdu’l-Baha’s life was a gift to humanity. He was the perfect exemplar of the teachings. He lived for 77 years, shared the exiles and tribulations of his father, labored to spread the word of God throughout the east and west, and wrote thousands of tablets and letters which educated the Baha’is in the ways of unity. His writings are an important part of the writings of the Baha’i faith.

By focusing on the life and writings of Abdu’l-Baha, as the center of the covenant, in addition to the life and writings of Baha’u’llah himself, the worldwide Baha’i community remained united in their efforts to create a new civilization based upon the understanding that we are one human family and that there is a blueprint for building unity in our communities. We understand that justice is a key that overlooking the faults of others and developing virtues is vital.

Furthering the protection of the faith, Abdu’l-Baha wrote in his will that his eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, would serve as guardian of the faith, to be the authorized interpreter of the teachings and to guide the expansion of the faith in every part of the world. For 36 years, he clarified and educated humanity. And now, as clearly delineated, the affairs of the Baha’i world are handled by elected councils of people, at the local, national and international levels. The supreme institution guiding the faith is called the Universal House of Justice.

Throughout these years of divine revelation, divine interpretation and authorized action, the Baha’is continue to build unity in the world community; this unity is based upon the foundation of the laws and commandments given to us by the manifestation of God for this day, the promised one of all ages.

Next week, we’ll explore some of the most important and exciting of these laws and guidelines. These are the building blocks of our unity, the lamps of guidance for our footsteps. This series of articles is taken directly from the presentation entitled “The Baha’i Faith”.

Visit the Web site for the local Baha’i chapter at www.bahai.org.

I have come from distant lands to visit the meetings and assemblies of this country (US). In every meeting I find people gathered loving each other; therefore I am greatly pleased. The bond of union is evidenced in this assembly today where the power of God has brought together in faith, agreement and concord those who are engaged in furthering the development of the human world. It is my hope that all mankind may become similarly united in the bond and agreement of love. Unity is the expression of the loving power of God and reflects the reality of divinity. It is resplendent in this day through the bestowals of light upon humanity.

Abdu'l-Baha
Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 274

Tags: Land, Union, Power, Faith, Agreement, Concord, Mankind, Love, Unity, Divinity.

ONE WORD: GOD

Posted April 29, 2009 by Clethass

It is no longer possible to contain the deadly swine flu virus first found in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. As a potential pandemic edges closer, governments around the world have been stepping up precautions against its spread. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ghana</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities have banned imports of pork and pork products. The country has drugs available and a quarantine system in place should any cases be identified. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

In <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>'s most populous state, health minister Babatunde Osotimehin told the BBC his government was increasing surveillance, providing information about the disease to the public and medical centres, and making sure there were sufficient supplies of anti-viral drugs. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> was badly hit by bird flu three years ago. <o:p></o:p>

Outbreak response teams are operational in all provinces. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities have formed an emergency task force to deal with a possible outbreak of swine flu. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The health authorities have been ordered to watch for an increase in respiratory illnesses and to promote vaccinations and preventative hygiene habits among health workers and the public. Flight crews have been urged to tell the authorities immediately if they or passengers experience any flu-like symptoms on flights from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The immigration authorities have been asked to provide information about passengers who arrived from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the last 15 days. The health ministry has said the stocks of Tamiflu are enough to provide 500,000 treatments, the Argentine press reported. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bolivia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The government has declared a "state of health alert". National director of epidemiology Eddy Martinez has said the control mechanisms for swine flu are based on what was done to prevent bird flu. If a case of swine flu were found in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bolivia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, health-service workers would be transferred to all airports and border areas, he said. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Plans are in place to monitor passengers arriving from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Flight crews have been asked to discuss flu-like symptoms with passengers during flights. Travellers who arrive in the country from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> are having their luggage sterilised. People coming from those countries are being advised to avoid close contact with other people for the first 48 hours after their arrival. The company that manages <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s international airports has said it can create special parking hubs for aircrafts coming from countries where the disease has been confirmed. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

After cases were confirmed in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>, all involving only mild illness, the government said it was stepping up surveillance for possible new cases and urged people to take precautions like frequent hand-washing. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chile</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

All passengers arriving by plane from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> are being scanned for signs of infection. The authorities have also warned against travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and border officials are on alert to monitor passengers arriving by land who have flu-like symptoms. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Increased monitoring and preventative controls are in place at hospitals, ports and <st1:city w:st="on">Bogota</st1:city>'s main airport, especially for people arriving from <st1:city w:st="on">Mexico City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state> and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Flights to and from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> are limited and officials are monitoring passengers arriving from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The island is updating its capabilities for epidemiological clinical surveillance and for providing treatment for the population through the public health system. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Health officials are carrying out medical checks on people with flu symptoms arriving via air and sea from affected countries. The country has banned imports of pigs and pork products from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Health officials in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region> are to watch for flu cases at the borders with <st1:country-region w:st="on">Guatemala</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Honduras</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Deaths from the swine flu virus have occurred in <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place><o:p></o:p>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Guatemala</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The country is able to provide 3,000 treatments with Oseltamivir to 1,500 adults and the same number of children. Health ministers from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Guatemala</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Panama</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:place></st1:country-region> will seek to create a "sanitary cordon" in the region. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s southern neighbour has prohibited imports of Mexican animals and agricultural goods. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The swine flu outbreak originated in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. All schools, gyms and courts have been closed until 6 May to prevent contagion. The Mexican government has faced criticism for what some see as its slow response to this outbreak. In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city>, surgical masks have been given to the public. President Felipe Calderon has assumed new powers to isolate infected people. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The health ministry has declared a health alert. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Panama</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Airport officials are screening 40 flights a day from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Airport controls have been reinforced in order to detect anyone with flu symptoms entering the country. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Trinidad and Tobago</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The twin-island <st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place> state is increasing health checks on air travellers arriving from affected countries. The regional political grouping Caricom told the BBC its member countries have different levels of stockpiles and programmes of vaccinations against flu. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> was the second country to confirm flu cases; health officials have declared a public health emergency. President Barack Obama has said the outbreak is "cause for concern but not cause for alarm". The state department says it is not yet prepared to restrict travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> but advises nationals against non-essential travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Inspections have been boosted at US borders and airports. Some schools have been closed in <st1:city w:st="on">New York City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>, <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state>, <st1:state w:st="on">South Carolina</st1:state> and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Health controls at airports have been stepped up to prevent the contagion from spreading. Venezuelans have been recommended to avoid travel to the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Any potentially ill travellers - particularly from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> - are being isolated until the cause of their disease is determined. <o:p></o:p>

Stocks of the relevant medicines are also being built up. The ministry of agriculture says they are "closely inspecting" pig farms in the country and have suspended imports of pork and live pigs. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Minister have approved new powers to detain and disinfect people suspected of carrying swine flu. All incoming flights to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> have to declare any suspected flu cases on arrival. Thermal scanners and extra medical staff are also being sent to airports for screening of incoming passengers. With 8.7 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza drugs stockpiled, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> has enough anti-viral drugs to cover about 41% of its 21m population. It also has large stores of surgical masks. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities have taken protective measures including setting up thermal scanners at airports to check arriving passengers for possible swine flu cases. Prime Minster Hun Sen has made a personal plea for Cambodians to continue to eat pork as usual. "The infection does not come by eating pork," he said. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities appear to have learned the lessons of previous deadly virus outbreaks such as the H5N1 avian flu and Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and this time around have been quick to share information with the WHO. The central government has put in place a joint prevention and control system and hospitals have been told to report any suspected cases of swine flu swiftly. The official press is primed to report swiftly on cases of infection. <o:p></o:p>

Citizens have been advised not to make tourist trips to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> and body temperature checks on passengers and crew at ports of entry have been re-introduced. Stockpiles of disease control equipment, anti-viral drugs and clinical equipment have been increased. <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> has also banned imports of pork and pork products from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> states of <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>, <st1:state w:st="on">Kansas</st1:state> and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place> authorities have 20m doses of Tamiflu and other anti-flu medication, media reports say. Port health protection measures have been increased, including body temperature screening machines at all checkpoints.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place> has recent experience of crises involving respiratory illnesses <o:p></o:p>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Temperature scanners have been installed at 10 airports and ports with immediate effect. At least 3m Tamiflu capsules are in stock. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The central government has Tamiflu and Relenza combined stockpiles which would cover nearly 20% of the population. Local governments have their own stockpiles but figures are not available. Passengers from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> are being checked at international airports. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kyrgyzstan</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The import of meat products from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> has been temporarily banned. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Tamiflu stockpile covering more than 2m people out of a population of 27m. It does not have a stockpile of personal protection equipment such as masks for the general population yet, but has a supply for health staff who will be dealing with any outbreak. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

With a number of confirmed cases already, public health officials say they have "ample stocks" of anti-flu drugs. The country built up a stockpile after the bird flu scare sufficient to cover between 25 and 30% of the 4.3m population. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Airports are equipped with thermal scanners, and additional medical staff have been hired. The government says it has enough Tamiflu for 60,000 possible cases and is buying 10m pesos ($206,000) worth of additional Tamiflu. This covers a fraction of the Philippine population of 90 million. Government says there are sufficient masks in stock. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Thermal scanners are set up at airports and isolation units at hospitals, where staff at some emergency departments are wearing full protective clothing. Asean has 500,000 courses of anti-virals stockpiled in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region> (and a similar amount distributed among member states). <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The agriculture ministry has suspended imports of live pigs from <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>. Health authorities have a Tamiflu stockpile for 2.5 million people and are working to increase that to 10% of the population of about 49 million. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> currently has supplies of swine flu treatment to cover 10% of its 23m population. More than 1m facemasks for emergency use are available. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The government has 320,000 courses of Tamiflu stockpiled. GPO, a state-owned drug-maker, can produce 1m capsules of generic Tamiflu if needed. Temperature screening checkpoints are in place at international airports in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The main targets for the thermal scanners were passengers on eight routes - from <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:city w:st="on">Tokyo</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>, Frankfurt, <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city> and <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state> - which had connecting flights from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Suspected cases of new arrivals will be put under close surveillance for three to five days during their stay in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ho Chi Minh City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s largest city of more than 8m people, has stocks of Tamiflu sufficient for a million people. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austria</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities have stocks of anti-viral drugs sufficient to treat 4m people (half the population), and have secured production capacity for prophylactic vaccines for the entire population. They have also stockpiled 8m protective masks. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belgium</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The country has 500,000 anti-viral treatments and the capacity to make 2m more. In addition, it has 32m masks for patients and 6m for healthcare professionals. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bulgaria</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Customs officers are checking the luggage of passengers arriving from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> to ensure they are not importing pork products. Two thermal scanners have been installed at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sofia</st1:place></st1:city> airport. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Czech</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>

The country has stocks of 2m doses of Tamiflu, enough to treat 20% of the population. General information on the viral strain has been circulated to hospitals, doctors and GPs. At <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Prague</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place>, information boards on swine flu have been put up and medical examinations are available. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denmark</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

A general pandemic plan has been in place since the bird flu scare. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denmark</st1:place></st1:country-region> has stockpiled Tamiflu.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

People in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, unlike this man, are not wearing masks generally<o:p></o:p>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

French nationals have been advised not to travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Checks at airports have been reinforced, especially for people returning from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> has a stock of more than 30m anti-viral treatments, composed of 24m doses of Tamiflu and 9m doses of Relenza. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Nationals have been advised against non-vital travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Passengers coming from countries where swine flu has occurred are being tracked and doctors at the airport will carry out checks. The country has "strategic stocks" of Tamiflu and other anti-viral medication. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Pamphlets are being handed out to passengers at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>'s international airport, although there are no restrictions on travel. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> has 10m doses of Zanamivir (Relenza) and 60,000 doses of Tamiflu, as well as enough Tamiflu powder to make 30m doses. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Norway</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

A "pandemic committee" will be assembled this week. Authorities have stored flu medicine covering one-third of the 4.7m population. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The health ministry recommends Russian citizens avoid trips to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Aircraft personnel arriving from the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Americas</st1:place></st1:country-region> have been instructed to look out for passengers with flu-like symptoms. Planes on which cases are suspected should be taxied to special zones, and passengers and crews examined by medics. Curbs have been imposed on meat imports from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, a number of US states and the <st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Slovakia</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

With population of 5.4 million, it has around 700,000 doses of Tamiflu in official reserves. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The first European country to confirm a case of the virus, in a man who had recently returned from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> is distributing leaflets to other passengers arriving from there, advising them to report to a health centre if they suffer symptoms. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> has a stockpile of 10m doses of Tamiflu. Flights to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> are being supplied with masks and gloves. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

An outbreak in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region>, a honey-mooning couple returning from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, was the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s first confirmed case of swine flu. The British government stresses it has enough anti-viral drugs to treat more than half the population if necessary. Nationals have been advised against non-vital travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p>

Leaflets giving advice about the new H1N1 swine flu virus are to be sent to every home in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The leaflets will contain information about the flu outbreak and advice on preventing its spread. But health authorities are not advising the general public to wear masks. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Imports of live pigs and pork meat from countries where cases of swine flu have been recorded, including <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>, have been banned. All shipments received after 21 April will be subject to the ban. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

The authorities have increased numbers of medical staff at <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> airport to check passengers arriving from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> and will monitor them during their stay. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Defence Minister Ehud Barak's office said in a statement that his ministry had formed a "crisis cell" that would be charged with dealing with the outbreak should the disease spread inside the country. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> and the Palestinian Authority will hold a joint meeting "to discuss ways to prevent the spreading of the epidemic," <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s foreign ministry announced. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Among the measures reported to prevent contagion, Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh has issued advice for schools and employers and suggested that people should "stay away from social kissing". <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Travellers, particularly those coming from countries already hit by swine flu, are to be screened by teams comprising medical officers, epidemiologists and representatives from the WHO and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research in Bangladesh. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Preventative measures such as surveillance at ports and international airports have been taken, and people have been advised to defer non-essential travel to the affected areas. <o:p></o:p>

The states within <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> have been advised to review their preparedness to investigate and contain any suspected cluster of swine flu cases, with central government providing expert, logistics and laboratory support. A toll-free call centre number has been set up for the public to report incidents of illness. <o:p></o:p>

An Indian newspaper reports that the drug company Cipla has received orders from Latin America, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> for the anti-viral Tamiflu. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> has stockpiles of 1m Tamiflu doses and has requested another million doses which it expects to receive within about a week. <o:p></o:p>

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p>

Visitors from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> will be screened, local media report. A team of health professionals will be stationed at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tribhuvan</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">International</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place> with a health-related questionnaire and take immediate action if anyone is suspected to have contracted the flu. <o:p></o:p>

news.bbc.co.uk 29 April 2009<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Action is the essential. Inasmuch as this century is a century of light, capacity for action is assured to mankind. Necessarily the divine principles will be spread among men until the time of action arrives. Surely this has been so and truly the time and conditions are ripe for action now. All men know that verily war is the destroyer of human foundations and in every country of the world this is admitted and apparent.<o:p></o:p>

The foundations of all the divine religions are peace and agreement, but misunderstandings and ignorance have developed. If these are caused to disappear you will see that all the religious agencies will work for peace and promulgate the oneness of humankind. For the foundation of all is reality and reality is not multiple or divisible. His Holiness Moses founded it, His Holiness Jesus raised its tent, and its brilliant light has shone forth in all the religions. His Holiness Bahš'u'llh proclaimed this one reality and spread the message of the "Most Great Peace". Even in prison he rested not until he lighted this lamp in the East. Praise be to God! all who have accepted his teachings are lovers of peace, peacemakers ready to sacrifice their lives and expend their possessions for it. Now let this standard be upraised in the West and many will respond to the call.<o:p></o:p>

(Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, pp. 26-27)<o:p></o:p>

Tags: Action, Light, Mankind, Peace, Agreement, Baha'u, East, West, World, Unity

For Vietnamese

Posted March 15, 2009 by Clethass

True religion is the source of love and agreement amongst men, the cause of the development of praiseworthy qualities, but the people are holding to the counterfeit and imitation, negligent of the reality which unifies, so they are bereft and deprived of the radiance of religion. They follow superstitions inherited from their fathers and ancestors. To such an extent has this prevailed that they have taken away the heavenly light of divine truth and sit in the darkness of imitations and imaginations. That which was meant to be conducive to life has become the cause of death; that which should have been an evidence of knowledge is now a proof of ignorance; that which was a factor in the sublimity of human nature has proved to be its degradation. Therefore, the realm of the religionist has gradually narrowed and darkened, and the sphere of the materialist has widened and advanced; for the religionist has held to imitation and counterfeit, neglecting and discarding holiness and the sacred reality of religion.<o:p></o:p>

-Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 179-<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Tn gio ch䡢n chnh l nguồn gốc của tnh yu v sự nhất tr꠭ giữa loi người, l nguyࠪn nhn pht triển những t⡭nh cch đng ca ngợi, nhưng dᡢn chng bm vꡠo sự giả hnh v bắt chước, qu젪n đi thực thể hon hảo nhất, nn đણ bị tước bỏ hoặc đnh mất ho quang của tᠴn gio. Họ hnh động theo sự mᠪ tn lưu truyền từ cha ng.<o:p></o:p>

Điều ny đ trở nn thịnh h㪠nh đến nỗi họ đnh mất nh sᡡng thin thượng của chn lꢽ thing ling vꪠ ngồi yn trong bng tối của sự bắt chước v고 tưởng tượng. Điều đng ra phải dẫn tới sự sống đ trở th꣠nh nguyn nhn của cꢡi chết, điều lẽ ra l bằng chứng của tri thức nay trở thnh tượng trưng cho sự dốt nࠡt; điều hằng l nhn tố trong sự cao cả của bản chất con người lại tỏ ra lࢠ sự suy đồi. V vậy, thế giới tn gi촡o lần hồi bị thu hẹp v tăm tối, bầu trời duy vật đ mở rộng v࣠ tiến triển; bởi v những người mộ đạo đ b죡m vo sự bắt chước v giả hࠬnh, qun lảng hoặc gạt bỏ sự thnh thiện vꡠ thực chất thing ling của tꪴn gio.<o:p></o:p>

-Đức Abdul-Baha, Quảng b Nền Hoᡠ bnh Thế giới, tr. 179 - <o:p></o:p>

Tags: Religion, Source, Love, Agreement, Reality, Knowledge, Sublimity

ONE WORD: GOD

Posted March 8, 2009 by Clethass

Persistently continuing my reflections on how to solve the practical problems of living in the world, I have sought the answers to the following questions:

Who am I?
What are my needs and how may they be fulfilled?
Which of my needs are not being met? and
How can I overcome this deficiency?

Beginning with the understanding that I am a composite being possessing a spirit, soul, and body, living in society, I have come to formulate the following hierarchy of basic needs through the consideration of my existential situation.

Spiritual Needs (Union):

Knowledge of God and the Self, the practice of prayer, and cultivation of the virtues through faith, religion (tradition), and spiritual guidance

Psychological Needs (Equilibrium):

Noble thoughts and Ideas and their communication through the study of the scriptures and traditional commentaries and their expression in oral or written language.

Beautiful forms of the imagination and their expression through the appreciation and creation of sacred art, music, dance, and literature

Feelings of love, security, and satisfaction, and their cultivation through the love of God and the neighbor, the fulfillment of needs, and accomplishment of the virtues.

Leisure and repose from all of the foregoing activities through the practice of sports, games, and travel

Physical Needs (Health):

Satisfactory and sufficient food, medicine, shelter, clothing, and exercise
through work, physical culture, and the crafts

Social Needs (Intimacy):

Reciprocal support in the fulfillment of all of the foregoing needs through the family, religious community, and marriage partnership.

In principle, my needs may be considered hierarchically with spiritual needs being most important and social needs least important. In practice, however, each proves to be inextricably intertwined with the others such that any of my basic needs is neglected to the detriment of all.

Philalethes, desmontes.blogspot.com March 07, 2009

<o:p></o:p>

The powers of earth cannot withstand the privileges and bestowals which God has ordained for this great and glorious century. It is a need and exigency of the time. Man can withstand anything except that which is divinely intended and indicated for the age and its requirements. Now, Praise be to God! in all countries of the world, lovers of peace are to be found and these principles are being spread among mankind, especially in this country. Praise be to God! this thought is prevailing and souls are continually arising as defenders of the oneness of humanity, endeavoring to assist and establish international peace. There is no doubt that this wonderful democracy will be able to realize it and the banner of international agreement will be unfurled here to spread onward and outward among all the nations of the world. I give thanks to God that I find you imbued with such susceptibilities and lofty aspirations and I hope that you will be the means of spreading this light to all men.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

(Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 20)<o:p></o:p>

Tags: Privilege, Bestowal, Age, Peace, Mankind, Oneness, Agreement, Light

ONE WORD: GOD

Posted February 26, 2009 by Clethass

Much of this morning's coverage of President Obama's address last night dwelled on his new balance between pessimism and optimism.

Michael D. Shear and Anne E. Kornblut write in The Washington Post: "President Obama offered a grim portrait of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s plight in an address to a joint session of Congress last night, but he promised to lead an economic renewal that would lift the country out of its current crisis without bankrupting its future.

"Striking an optimistic tone that has been absent from his speeches in recent weeks, the president said his stimulus plan, bank bailout proposal, housing programs and health-care overhaul would work in concert to turn around the nation's struggling economy. And while he bluntly described a country beset by historic economic challenges and continued threats abroad, he said the solution lies in directly confronting -- not ignoring -- those problems....

"After weeks of persistent questions about whether he had grown too downcast and pessimistic in describing the economic crisis to the American people, White House officials said Obama was seeking to strike an appropriate balance between hope -- the mantra of his campaign -- and realism in an era of serious problems."

Jonathan Weisman writes in the Wall Street Journal: "The speech, 52 minutes long, punctuated by more than 60 ovations, was billed as a rhetorical salve to a nation battered by layoffs and plunging stock prices -- and a tempering of pessimistic rhetoric from the Oval Office over the past few weeks.....

"It was a note he struck early in his address when he declared, to sustained applause from lawmakers, cabinet officials, military leaders and Supreme Court justices in the Capitol's packed House: 'While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.'"

Via U.S. News: "On ABC after the address... Jake Tapper called it 'the most positive speech that President Obama has given since election night'...

"On NBC, David Gregory also remarked on Obama's 'change in tone. The President, who warned of an economic crisis that would be so severe the country may not be able to recover prior to the stimulus plan being passed, now talks about an ability for the country to rebound and come back.'"

But some of the coverage focused more on the breadth of Obama's ambitions. Jeff Zeleny writes in the New York Times: "President Obama urged the nation on Tuesday to see the economic crisis as reason to raise its ambitions, calling for expensive new efforts to address energy, health care and education even as he warned that government bailouts have not come to an end...

"Mr. Obama mixed an acknowledgment of the depth of the economic problems with a Reaganesque exhortation to American resilience. He offered an expansive agenda followed by a pledge to begin paring an ever-climbing budget deficit."

Peter Baker writes in the New York Times: "The young new president projected a voice of generational confidence to a public that by one measure is less confident than at any other time since Mr. Obama was in grade school. He invested his popularity behind a plan that he said would not only 'restart the engine of our prosperity' but also transform the country with 'bold action and big ideas.'"

See my earlier post for the results from the instapolls. Here are some more news analyses and opinions:

Ron Fournier writes for the Associated Press: "President Barack Obama gave <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> the audacity to hope again.

"After describing the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> economy in nearly apocalyptic terms for weeks, pushing his $787 billion stimulus plan through Congress, the president used his address to Congress on Tuesday night to tap the deep well of American optimism the never-say-die spirit that every president tries to capture in words. And great presidents embody....

"The themes of responsibility, accountability and, above all, national community rang throughout an address carefully balanced by the gravity of its times. Job losses. Home foreclosures. Credit crisis. Rising health care costs. Declining trust in government. Obama touched all those bases."

Steven Pearlstein wrote in The Washington Post that Obama "reinforced the image of a serious and purposeful leader who aims to rise above partisan sniping and neutralize much of the cynicism that has infected American politics. His critique of the failures of the past were powerful and unassailable. And while his program is certainly open to criticism, he made clear that he would rather engage critics than simply defeat them. He attempted to be the grown-up in the room, willing to accept responsibility and prodding others to do the same."

Peter S. Canellos writes in the Boston Globe: "President Obama yesterday used the grandest stage of the presidency to reveal how he wants to be seen - as a realist, not an ideologue, as a figure of consensus, not the leader of a movement, as a hard worker grappling with problems, not a visionary seeking new horizons.

Steven Thomma notes for McClatchy Newspapers: "In a striking shift from the Bush era, Obama focused almost entirely on the economy, devoting only about six paragraphs near the end of the address to foreign policy and national security. He said that he'd announce soon his plans to withdraw combat troops from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, reportedly by August 2010."

E.J. Dionne Jr. writes in his Washington Post opinion column: "President Obama's message to the nation Tuesday night was plain and unequivocal: The era of bashing government is over. So, too, is the folklore of a marketplace capable of producing abundance without regulation, government oversight or public intervention. Addressing the deepest crisis of confidence in the market system since the Great Depression, Obama argued that the economic downturn, far from being an excuse for backing away from his ambitious plans, makes his proposals in health care, energy and education imperative....

"Tuesday night's speech was the most comprehensive manifesto he has offered yet for his new rendezvous with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s progressive tradition. 'We will rebuild,' he declared, 'we will recover, and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States of America</st1:place></st1:country-region> will emerge stronger than before.' If he is right, he will also have rebuilt American liberalism."

Columnist David Ignatius blogs for The Washington Post: "For the first time in his presidency, Barack Obama was truly presidential, finding a language and a cadence to speak to a country that has become paralyzed by the economic decline....

"The big asset in our depleted national bank right now is Obama himself. And to this listener, at least, he delivered a big tranche of what the bankers and boardroom titans have failed to provide over the past year, which is leadership. That won't be enough to offset all the bad news that's still ahead, but it was a start."

But fellow columnist William Kristol blogs: "This was not the speech of a man who even contemplates the possibility of using force within the next year to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This was not the speech of a man who thinks <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> needs to be reminded about the dangers out there in the world, because Americans might have to be summoned to deal with them. This was not the speech of a man who thinks of himself as a war president."

The New York Times editorial board writes: "If we have had doubts about the way President Obama has been handling the multitudinous disasters bequeathed to him by George W. Bush, starting with the cascading economic crisis, it was that we wanted to see more of Barack Obama the candidate in Barack Obama the president. He has not been assertive, ambitious, clear ח or audacious enough.

"Mr. Obama's first speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night was his chance to change that, and he rose to the occasion."

The Washington Post editorial board worries about overreaching: "We understand the president's instinct not to let short-term demands obscure the need to meet the country's long-term challenges. His priorities for fundamental reform, the causes that animated his campaign, are admirable ones. Yet we cannot help wondering: Isn't the most critical task to ensure a swift and effective response to the stomach-churning downturn? Does a new, understaffed administration have the capacity to try so much so fast? And does the political system have the bandwidth to accommodate all that Mr. Obama is asking from it?"

The TV pundits were largely complimentary.

David Gergen told CNN's Anderson Cooper: "<T>his was the most ambitious we have heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR fighting for the New Deal. And the second half was Lyndon Johnson fighting for the Great Society. And we have never seen those two presidents rolled together in quite this way before.

"I mean, I think most people would have felt just trying to recover from this recession and stop don't flow of blood and get a recovery going would be enough for one president. He's saying, no, no, no, we're going to do health care reform this year."

Cooper: "And -- and he's saying that they're going to cut the deficit in half by --"

Gergen: "Do energy. We're going to do education. Thankfully, he's going to do national service. And we're going to cut the deficit."

Cooper: "Can he do that all?"

Gergen: "I think that's part of the drama of this presidency."

Howard Fineman told MSNBC's Keith Olberman: "That was as commanding performance, as confident a performance, as in control as I've ever seen a President."

Jeffrey Toobin told CNN: "I give him an A....His best moment yet as President ח except he needs to get a tie which doesn't vibrate on television."

And was it good TV?

<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:place></st1:city> Sun critic David Zurawik writes: "This is the first time that Obama has shown he can use TV not just to get elected, but also to govern. You can call it theater, because that's what it is. But that's still an important part of being President in the final days of this TV age. And nobody since Ronald Reagan in the 1980s has commanded the main stage like Obama did last night."

Washington Post critic Tom Shales seemed a bit bored: "His speeches will always make news, but the fact that he's a pretty great communicator is no longer a revelation. So after perfecting a style, and having given a speech last night that was full of practical content, there isn't much further he can go as a speechmaker. 'It is time for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> to lead again,' he said, but hasn't he said that before? How many times can he say 'it's time' before it really is time? The honeymoon might go on, but if it turns out to be a case of too much talk and too little action, the great communal cry of national disappointment will be crushing, and cruel."

Dan Froomkin, The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place> Post, 02/25/2009

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If love and agreement are manifest in a single family, that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual; but if enmity and hatred exist within it destruction and dispersion are inevitable. This is likewise true of a city. If those who dwell within it manifest a spirit of accord and fellowship it will progress steadily and human conditions become brighter whereas through enmity and strife it will be degraded and its inhabitants scattered. In the same way the people of a nation develop and advance toward civilization and enlightenment through love and accord, and are disintegrated by war and strife. Finally, this is true of humanity itself in the aggregate. When love is realized and the ideal spiritual bonds unite the hearts of men, the whole human race will be uplifted, the world will continually grow more spiritual and radiant and the happiness and tranquillity of mankind be immeasurably increased. Warfare and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away and Universal Peace unite the nations and peoples of the world. All mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament and appear as fruits of the same tree. This is the happiness and felicity of humankind. This is the illumination of man, the glory eternal and life everlasting; this is the divine bestowal. I desire this station for you and I pray God that the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> may achieve this great end in order that the virtue of this democracy may be insured and their names be glorified eternally. May the confirmations of God uphold them in all things and their memories become revered throughout the east and the west. May they become the servants of the Most High God, near and dear to Him in the oneness of the heavenly Kingdom.<o:p></o:p>

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 229)<o:p></o:p>

Tags: Love, Agreement, Family, City, Nation, Humanity, America, Democracy, Oneness, Kingdo

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