Posted by Arthur E. Gregory (4.47.3.100) on July 02, 2002 at 10:12:40:

In Reply to: Re: Prayer for America posted by Larry on May 15, 2002 at 10:53:21:

On the eve of this Independence Day
are are some thoughts on the significance of teh term "just government":

The "Prayer for America" is I think full of the aspirations expressed by Abdul-Baha that (1) America will become glorius in spiritual degrees... (2) Raising the standard of the oneness of humanity.... (3) Promulgating the Most Great Peace...

He was under no delusions that the Amercia of 1912 had racism, that there were grave desparities between the rich and the poor... and so on.

The United States also had an early Baha'i Community following the Chicago World's Fair in 1892 and thus in some ways showed an early Western response to the Baha'i Message that was then unknown in other Western countries...

The term "just government" as applied by Abdul-Baha should also be seen I think in the proper context as praise for a democratic republican form of government that He may have seen in contrast to say the kind of despotism that controlled much of the Middle East at the time.

The manner of expression of Abdul-Baha was to extoll and compliment first...Then give His vision for the person or entity...and in a way of giving this vision produce the effect of a positive admonition for change rather than a negative attack...

He also would say what He envisioned for the future in the present tense as in the case when He layed the Corner Stone of teh Temple in Wilmette, Illinois and said the Temple is already built!

See the following for an additional way in which Abdul-Baha used the term "just government":

"This revered American nation presents evidences of greatness and worth. It is my hope that this just government will stand for peace so that warfare may be abolished throughout the world and the standards of national unity and reconciliation be upraised. This is the greatest attainment of the world of humanity. This American nation is equipped and empowered to accomplish that which will adorn the pages of history, to become the envy of the world and be blest in the East and the West for the triumph of its democracy. I pray that this may come to pass, and I ask the blessing of God in behalf of you all."
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The Promulgation of Universal Peace
pages 101-103

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