Some years
ago, a well-known comedian (Johnny Carson, perhaps), had a routine which began
with the question, “Would you believe?” This was followed with an absurdly
improbable proposition, and the routine took off from there. Lately, my own
“would you believe” inquiry has been increasingly on my mind: Would you believe
America is destined to lead all nations spiritually? Absurd? You bet! At least
on the face of it. But this is no comedy routine. It is exactly what the Baha’i
Writings say about the destiny of our country.
Looking at
the state of America today, it is very difficult to imagine a time when it will
be in a spiritual leadership role. We are undoubtedly the world’s most powerful
nation and one of the wealthiest, but where has power and wealth gotten us? We
certainly aren’t the happiest people on earth—far from it. This year the U.S.
hit an all-time low on the annual World Happiness Report conducted by the
Gallup organization, falling eight spots to No. 23. We are all too aware of the
myriads of problems besetting our nation, from illegal drug usage, to the rise
of antisemitism, to the increasing disparity in economic class, to the
seemingly intractable political divisions, to the embedded racism which
continues to eat away at the fabric of our society. And, of course we could all
add many more to this list.
How in the
world can such a country have the remotest chance of becoming a spiritual
leader? Obviously, something drastic will have to happen. Something
earth-shaking. The most profound change comes about not through ease but
through hardship.
In addition
to asserting our future spiritual leadership, Baha’u’llah said, “The winds of
despair are, alas, blowing from every direction and the strife that divides and
afflicts the human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions
and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appears to be
lamentably defective.”
These
afflictions, we are told, have an element of purgation. In commentaries on
Baha’u’llah’s words, we can read, “In the spiritual development of man a stage
of purgation is indispensable, for it is while passing through it that the
over-rated material needs are made to appear in their proper light.”
It seems
obvious that our present hardships and calamities will increase until we humans
learn that our spiritual nature, not our physical being is primary.
The Baha’i faith
tells us that the lesson, if you will, that the entire world must learn at this
stage of our development is that we are one people. The oneness of the human
race is an indisputable fact. Our recognition of that oneness, however, is far
from universal. We will learn that lesson one way or the other – probably the
hard way.
The more
specific lesson America must learn to become that spiritual beacon in the world
is how to eradicate the racism which has impacted every aspect of life in these
United States from its inception. Indeed, Baha’is regard racism as “the most
vital and challenging issue” facing our nation. Since racism affects us all, it
is incumbent on all to devote themselves to its eradication.
Speaking of
how racism “infects the hearts of both white and Black Americans (and, of
course, Latinos, Asian-Americans and Native Americans are equally affected), the
national governing body of the American Baha’i community has written, “Since
without conscious, deliberate and sustained effort no one can remain unaffected
by its corrosive influence, both groups must realize that such a problem can
neither easily or immediately be resolved.” And as long ago as the 1930s,
Baha’i leadership told us, “Let neither (Blacks and whites) think that anything
short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound
initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort can
succeed in blotting out the stain which this patent evil has left on the fair
name of their common country.”
Racism is both
insistent and insidious, always lurking beneath the surface of our society and
its institutions. But its effects are felt in the wider world as well. We are
told that the peace of the world depends, in no small part, on the elimination
of racism in our country. Rooting out this evil will take much time and great
effort, but, make no mistake about it, it can and will be done because it is
the will of the Creator of all races and peoples. And, when we finally succeed,
this country will at long last fulfill its destiny to truly be that “shining
city on a hill” from which spiritual enlightenment will stream forth to all the
nations of earth.
Nancy
Flood-Golembeck is a retired teacher and long-time member of the Baha’i faith.
In addition to serving on the local Baha’i governing body, she is currently
writing a memoir.
This article appears in GRILLIN’ and CHILLIN’ 2024.
