unity of governments; political unity
Editorial introduction
Warships refitted as merchant steamers, carrying goods between the nations they were built to bombard: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offered that picture a century ago, and it still measures how far political life has to travel. The unity of governments is not a treaty signed by weary rulers but a change in the relationships that hold a society together. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá return again and again to the bond between a government and its people, which must mingle like honey and milk if either is to prosper, to the schooling of a whole population, and to the freedom that universal peace is meant to secure. Nationality becomes a name rather than a wall. Kant, wondering how a league of peace could endure while states kept their liberty, posed a question the Bahá’í writings answer with a world commonwealth whose member states remain autonomous and whose citizens remain free [1]. Shoghi Effendi describes its institutions plainly: a world legislature, an executive, a supreme tribunal with binding verdicts. From here the journey runs through constitutional and parliamentary government, the stages from the Lesser Peace to the Most Great Peace, and the larger promise of world unity.
These warships will be changed into merchant steamers binding the nations and countries more closely together. The cry of peace is being heard from every throat and the sweet, resonant melody of peace will drown all the screeching noises of war.
In this age, those human problems which create a general interest are universal; their results are likewise universal, for humanity has become interdependent. The international laws of today are of vast importance since international politics are bringing nations nearer to one another.
I hope through the endeavor of the noble ones of humanity who are a divine gift and reformers of the world that in these days when the blood of the helpless is being spilled in the Balkans and the cries of orphans reach to heaven and the burning sighs of mothers inflame human hearts, they will arise with utmost effort and power until this kindled fire is extinguished and the world of creation finds rest and the banner of universal peace is raised and the tent of human oneness is pitched and all humanity gathers under its shade and the star of humanity's eternal happiness shines with utmost brilliance from the horizon of universal peace.
Today the true duty of a powerful king is to establish a universal peace: for verily it signifies the freedom of all the people of the world.
It is most clear and manifest that national affairs will never revolve around their proper axis until the whole people have received instruction, and public thought has been directed to a single end.
This progress is due to the unity of government and people, who have combined and united to such a degree that separation has become impossible. From this agreement and unity, such progress has dawned and shone forth.
Now again it is written that if the government and nation mix like honey and milk and conduct themselves with unity and accord, then well and good; otherwise the great calamity shall come.
Until government and nation mix together like honey and milk, success and prosperity are impossible and unattainable.
As to the situation in Iran, it hath not yet found tranquility. Though outwardly calm, inwardly it is turbulent, and this turbulence stems from lack of unity and agreement of views. It was written from beginning to end that government and people must blend together like honey and milk, otherwise it is certain that the result of opposition is deadly poison and gives rise to hatred and rancor.
Therefore, during the revolution in Iran, it was repeatedly written to the friends that until government and people mix like honey and milk, and blend like water and wine, prosperity and success are impossible. For government and people are like vein and spirit, like body and arteries - until these two have complete connection, "Blessed be God, the best of creators" cannot be realized.
It is incumbent upon the divine friends to unite the hearts of the nation, so that different parties may become one party, and so that through the unity and agreement of the nation every just government may gain strength and stability and become the cause of Iran's comfort and tranquility.
The earth is but one country and all mankind its citizens. All are the progeny of Adam, and religion has no connection with politics.
Then by Thy Supreme Pen Thou didst write the Book of the Covenant and inscribe the Tablet of the Testament, so that no room would remain for doubt or misgiving, and the Cause and Center of God's Cause would be as clear as the sun, and no one could create a breach or cast into Thy blessed Cause - which is the greatest means of unifying the world and removing differences between nations - the odor of discord and dissension, destroying this mighty edifice and turning this Most Glorious Paradise into a thorny wilderness.
I hope that the unity of the human world and the unity of religions and harmony of mankind will be realized with perfect strength.
This Cause has spread all over the world. It has brought peace and tranquillity to different nations and religions, has united diverse peoples and has laid the foundation for the prosperity of mankind. Among its principles are the establishment of universal peace among nations and governments, the oneness of the world of humanity and the uniting of sects and religions under the tabernacle of unity.
If this association acts with independence and strives for the connection of East and West, it is among the principles of the unity of the human world if it becomes established, for minor affairs do not progress without firmness and steadfastness, let alone such great matters.
The result will reach such a degree that soon individuals from Iran will sacrifice their lives for England, and likewise England will sacrifice itself for Iran. … May the connection reach such a degree that it becomes eternal.
Praise be to God that perfect love has been established between Germany and Islam - the Islamic world is enchanted with the German world and loves it infinitely. A good fellowship has been achieved. It is hoped that this love and fellowship will yield great results, meaning that it will spread to others.
Our hope is that their differences will be settled soon and amicable relations based on a sound permanent basis be established.
The Baha'is' purpose is the reformation of the world, that improvement may be brought about among all nations and governments, that strife and contention may disappear, that war and battle may be abolished. Therefore they strive and endeavor with heart and soul, and sacrifice themselves, that government and nation, indeed all peoples and nations, may be united with one another and peace and reconciliation may come about.
Now, since the League of Nations Conference established in London is among the branches of the unity of the human world, we therefore remember you with utmost respect that, praise be to God, you have arisen for this universal service, and God willing, day by day that assembly will expand and become the cause of achieving general benefits and universal fellowship and love between the nations of the world.
O faithful friend! They say that soon the leaders of the world will adorn the universe and establish a universal peace celebration, and all peoples and nations will find rest from war and killing.
The Cry of Peace is being heard from every throat and the sweet, resonant harmony of Peace shall drown all the screeching noises of war. Blessed are those who are enlisted in the rank of Peace!
Therefore America is the readiest and the freest nation to arise in the service of humanity and initiate new plans of philanthropy and encourage the establishment of Peace throughout all parts of the world.
I always pray that the banner of international Comity and the solidarity of human race may be hoisted in America.
'Then,' said he, 'all the nations must come together, there must be a league of nations for the government of the world.'
He sketched out a sort of council appointed by the presidents, the kings, and the democracies.
'And the existing League?' we asked.
He smiled and shook his head. 'That is only the merest beginning. It is not representative of all. It palliates the disease, the disease of discord. It is no remedy.'
This old world of ours is undergoing undreamed of changes and revolutions. It is in a transitional state, shedding off its old skin and taking into itself new ligaments and building up new tissues. The happy and healthy children of a new order of public opinion are being born, the ethical laws of the world are in the process of a radical reformation and an entirely new code of statutes will be legislated for the international relations and the final consolidation of the modern and ancient nations.
Today the distinguished leaders of nations must sing such a song in the ears of the people that the heart of the world of humanity may be stirred into cheerfulness, and draft such a comprehensive plan of universal union that its reflection may be cast upon the mirror of the world of existence and be none other than the real prototype and portrait of the Realm on High.
Considering such aspirations, how would we engage in the conflict and contention between two minor parties? We are the well-wishers of both sides, leading both unto harmony, so that God willing, the state and the people may mix as honey and milk. Without these, the progress and advancement for mankind will not be realized, nay rather, all efforts will be dissipated and lost.
Thou hadst written about the oppression of the people of tyranny in the province of Mazandaran. Glory be to God! Although it was repeatedly written to the divine friends at the beginning of the Iranian revolution that until the government and nation mix together like honey and milk, prosperity and success are impossible, Iran will be ruined and it will ultimately lead to the interference of neighboring powers. Therefore, the divine friends must strive with heart and soul to bring about reconciliation between the government and nation, and if they remain powerless, they should withdraw.
O herald of the Covenant! Your letter arrived and its contents were understood. When you were at the Holy Shrine, the matter of government officials and the people was explained to you in detail explicitly. Surely you have mentioned this in the spiritual gathering. According to recent telegrams, good news of unity between government and people has arrived. His Majesty has ordered the implementation of constitutional government. Praise be to God, everything written in 'Abdu'l-Baha's letters is being manifested successively in its entirety.
It is possible to establish among the powers of the whole world the unity which is found among the states of the United States of America.'
If there has been possible in the past the formation of a United States of America, the next natural step will be the constitution of a United States of Europe, each state autonomous within its boundary, interdependent and working for the common prosperity, general advancement, expansion of commerce, diffusion of learning, the welfare of the whole communit[y], the socialization of industries and the improvement of arts, inventions, crafts and sciences.
Considering carefully these important facts, it behooveth you, from amongst the rulers of the earth, to unfurl the Flag of Universal Peace in the land of the ancient Pharaohs. You can render this priceless service to your country and the world at large by calling together an International Congress of Universal Peace to be held annually in Egypt and invite to it hundreds of the world's foremost thinkers, scholars, philosophers and statesmen - in brief a Parliamen[t] of the world of humanity, a symposia of the East and the West, the North and the South.
As the foundation of His Holiness Baha'u'llah, who is our leader, is international peace in the world of humanity, therefore we have come to visit those who are interested in these problems, and find out to what degree they have advanced.
In the matter of universal Peace, a great universal Power is necessary, what we may name a "Universal Collective Center." In the past there have appeared several "Collective Centers." These "Collective Centers" not being general in their various aspects have given only limited results.
… Therefore all these "Collective Centers" instead of helping the cause of international Peace prevent its realization.
Consequently in this illumined century, the intellectual evolution of humanity has advanced far enough as to create a "Universal Collective Center" around which all the nations may revolve, thus sacrificing their petty interests for the progress of the whole.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Baha'u'llah, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy of its state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them are definitely and completely safeguarded. This commonwealth must, as far as we can visualize it, consist of a world legislature, whose members will, as the trustees of the whole of mankind, ultimately control the entire resources of all the component nations, and will enact such laws as shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy the needs and adjust the relationships of all races and peoples. A world executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth. A world tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system.
...the Guardian has already advised you to stress in your talks the idea of a world superstate, and the concept of the Oneness of Mankind underlying it. In addition, he wishes you also to emphasize the fact that humanity, taken as a whole, has entered the most critical and momentous stage of its evolution, the stage of maturity. This idea of the coming of age of mankind constitutes the central core of the Baha'i Teachings, and is the most distinguishing feature of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.
Consider the habits that make common deliberation fruitful.
Distinguish political unity from a fuller spiritual and social peace.
For thought and discussion