The Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience

"A weird Baha'i sub-cult has arisen. It structurally resembles al-Qaida..." Juan Cole

Juan Cole's original posts below can be found excerpted from here.

From: "Juan Cole" <jricole@my-deja.com>
Subject: Kazemzadeh, Semple and al-Qaida
Date: Friday, February 08, 2002 12:21 PM

The Baha'i faith stands for universal love, for tolerance, and for a
separation of religion and state. The need for religious leaders to
let politicians do the ruling is a key value stated over and over
again in Baha'i scripture.

Unfortunately, a weird Baha'i sub-cult has arisen. It structurally
resembles al-Qaida, and differs from al-Qaida only with regard to
methods, not ideals. It does not usually employ violence or terrorism
(though persons with this mindset have beaten up friends of mind).
And, most frighteningly of all, it has taken over and subverted the
main institutions of the Baha'i faith.

Al-Qaida believes in the destruction of secular, civil governments and
replacing them with a fascist theocracy.

Baha'i theocrats believe in the destruction of secular, civil
governments and replacing them with a fascist theocracy. Ian Semple,
a member of the Baha'i Universal House of Justice, has for decades
cast scorn on civil governments and spoken of his dream of a future
when Baha'i Institutions will rule in their stead.

One pilgrim wrote,

"I recall being in Haifa in the '70s ('72 and '78) and hearing long
talks about this from Ian Semple, on how the world was destined to be
ruled by houses of justice and there will eventually be no distinction
between church and state, with rather snide and smug comments about
how at last the world will finally get it right and have God and
Government fused through the power of the Baha'i covenant."

Note that this is the opposite of what `Abdu'l-Baha says in the
Treatise on Leadership:

https://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/trans/vol2/absiyasi.htm

Semple also put out a letter from the Secretariat of the UHJ:

"As for the statement made by Shoghi Effendi in his letter of 21 March
1932, the well-established principles of the Faith concerning the
relationship of the Baha'i institutions to those of the country in
which the Baha'is reside make it unthinkable that they would ever
purpose to violate a country's constitution or so to meddle in its
political machinery as to attempt to take over the powers of
government. This is an integral element of the Baha'i principle of
abstention from involvement in politics. However, this does not by any
means imply that the country itself may not, by constitutional means,
decide to adopt Baha'i laws and practices and modify its constitution
or method of government accordingly."

In this passage he basically argues for a Nazi-like tactic of getting
elected democratically and then abolishing democracy. By the way, the
Islamists (with al-Qaida links) tried this in Algeria, and the
democrats and secularists fought back, embroiling the country in a
civil war that has cost 100,000 lives. This is the sort of conflict
between theocratic Baha'is and the rest of society that Semple is
urging on the world. At that point would the Baha'i theocrats refrain
from violence?

2) Al-Qaida wishes to reestablish the Islamic Caliphate as the One
World Government.

Baha'i theocrats substitute the House of Justice for the Caliphate and
envision it ruling the world.

3) Al-Qaida despises parliamentary democracy as corrupt, money-driven
and unrepresentative. It wishes to overthrow parliaments and
institute authoritarian religious rule instead.

Baha'i theocrats despise parliamentary democracy and wish to
substitute their religious institutions, which are not freely elected,
for civil government. Long-time Baha'i leader Firuz Kazemzadeh said
in 1988:

"If somebody is dissatisfied with a local assembly, he is not
prevented from appealing to the NSA . . . It is something else when
whispering campaigns or petitions are sent around for signatures
objecting to the activities of the institutions. That also may be
something which is countenanced by American democracy but has nothing
to do with the Baha’i Faith. We must always remember that our
institutions are an unusual and unique combination of theocracy in the
best sense of the term with democracy. The institutions of the
Baha’i Faith have not been created by us, the institutions have
been created by God.”

Actually, Kazemzadeh's version of the Baha'i institutions has been
created by Kazemzadeh.

4) Al-Qaida establishes cells throughout the world to work for
theocracy, and recruits innocent Muslims at mosques.

Baha'i theocrats have secret cells within the Baha'i community, and
recruit Baha'is at deepenings and other events into their twisted
world-view. Many "Auxiliary Board Members" and Assistants are secret
theocrats who play dirty tricks on ordinary Baha'is to force them out
of the Faith.

The Ian Semple/Kazemzadeh theocratic ideology aims at destroying
American democracy. It aims at gutting the Constitution and
abolishing Congress in favor of Kazemzadeh's weird, secretive,
authoritarian way of ruling.

5) Al-Qaida demands absolute obedience from its recruits, and no
dissent is permitted.

Baha'i theocrats demand absolute obedience to "the Institutions" and
tolerate no dissent. Kazemzadeh told a group of Baha'i intellectuals,

"the word dissent implies separating oneself from the activities of
the group and putting oneself outside the mainstream of the community,
and that is contrary to Baha'i practice.”

You can't disagree with the NSA.

The dangers to the pristine Baha'i faith, with its values of
tolerance, allowing the expression of diverse points of view, and firm
commitment to the separation of religion and state, of this theocratic
cult that has taken control of the community cannot be overstated.
Moreover, it is a threat to the whole world.

Now that we have seen where such authoritarian theocracy leads, on
September 11, I call upon all Baha'is to step back, reread the
scriptures, and adhere to the real values of our religion.

cheers Juan ColeFrom: "Juan Cole" <jricole@my-deja.com>
Subject: Cowardice of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
Date: Friday, February 08, 2002 3:10 AM

Dear Pat Kohli:

Since you have been out here backbiting me and using foul language and
treating me to a little auto-da-fe of your own in typical
Inquisitorial fundamentalist-Baha'i Style, let me just take a moment
out of my busy life to respond to you, whoever you are.

First of all, you have pretended to hurt that I suggested that the US
NSA was cowardly in its response to the horrible attack on the United
State of September 11. But it is cowardly. In the NSA letter
appended to the message of a private individual below, the NSA urges
that Baha'is in the wake of September 11 avoid criticizing the Taliban
Government of Afghanistan. We were not even supposed to "assign
blame" to Osama Bin Ladin or al-Qaida!

"above any mention whatsoever of government actions,
assignment of blame . . ."

Moreover, no Baha'i writing in as an individual to a newspaper was
allowed to say, "I am a Baha'i, and I condemn this evil attack on the
United States by virtue of my Baha'i values, of tolerance and respect
for human life." Bob Henderson had the gall to tell us that we could
not say this.

What in the world does the Baha'i faith stand for if it doesn't even
publicly stand against terrorism? If adherents cannot publicly
associate themselves both with a condemnation of mass murder and with
the Baha'i principles??

As for this minor issue of whether the NSA had planned to ban the
saying of the Prayer for America, it remains murky. Not only I but
the poster below, posting in the same period, had heard that it might.
I heard the same things, and was not unusual in giving them credence.
I am glad to publicly acknowledge that the NSA does not appear, at
least openly, to have banned the saying of the prayer. What
instructions it has given its legion of Secret Police (Assistants &
ABMs) behind the scenes we do not know. A lot goes on in the inner
core of the Baha'i faith that is hidden from outsiders, even from the
rank and file Baha'is.

So, Pat, you wanted to hear me say I got that detail wrong in the heat
of the moment, and here it is. I got it wrong. Unlike some people, I
don't claim infallibility. I correct my errors. Doug Martin and
Farzam Arbab don't have to ever say they are sorry, because they are
tinpot dictators.

But I did not get the tenor of the NSA response wrong. It is
cowardly. It is running for the hills.

And I mind it. Because when the Iranian Baha'is needed the support of
my government, the United States stuck its neck out for them. The US
Congress passed resolutions, condemning the Iranian government for its
persecution of the Baha'is. Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton all
condemned Iran on this issue. Don't you think that maybe American
citizens could have been hurt by the Khomeinists in response? They
did so at the explicit urging of the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of the United States, which maintained a $500,000 a year
lobbyist for the explicit purpose of lobbying Washington on this
matter. Firuz Kazemzadeh button-holed U.S. officials endlessly over
this in public, while privately heaping scorn on the U.S. Congress.

Now, when my country needs the support of everyone it can get, the
National Spiritual Assembly announces that, well, no, it can't come
out and condemn the Taliban government of Afghanistan. Sorry, USA.
You did it for us but we're selfish cowardly s.o.b.s and we ain't
doing it for you.

So, Pat, say the Prayer for America all you like. But for the love of
God also stand up and say that *the Baha'i Faith* condemns al-Qaida,
the Taliban, and mass murder. Stand up to the pusillanimous
Hendersons of the world.

And just in case you don't get it, my advice to you is to get off my
case. I didn't come out on TRB with that message to which you
objected and I've got other things to do with my time these days that
debate and condemn minor cultists. But if you keep bringing me up I
will be coming after the cultists who have infiltrated and mutilated
the Baha'i administration vocally, with good evidence, every day. I
have file cabinets full of juicy stuff. I'd prefer to spend my time
another way. But if you really want to have me spend it this way,
just keep up your vacuous drumbeat.

cheers Juan

--------------------------------------------------
· From:
· Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 04:35:52

National letter of Caution

Dear all'

It seems many (especially US Bahai's) are still in the dark about the
National letter of Caution.

Although no prayers have been actually spelt out (word for word) in
the
letter from the NSA, any Bahai with a little bit of brain-matter up
top who
knows The words in "Prayers for America" (below), is it not obvious,<
B>
Because of the politically sensitive nature of these recent tragic
events
, these prayers contain language that could seem threatening to
non-Bahá'ís.
namely, many Muslims, which in turn could bring retaliation to Baha'is
living in both the US and Middle Eastern Countries. One now begins to
understand the wisdom of the NSA's letter. (below)

In other words, until this crisis is over, you don't go around waving
a red
flag at a bull. Once the crisis is over apocalyptic references from t
he Bahá'í writings and other prayers can be used once again
(Publically that
is) By those Baha'is who wish to use them. . .

_____________________

National letter of Caution

Posted on NSA site 14/9/01

"To Public Information Representatives, Local Spiritual Assemblies, an
d Individual Bahá'ís:

All of us have been deeply affected by the tragic events in Washington
DC,
Pennsylvania, and New York. Without question, many Bahá'ís will yearn
to
make some response to demonstrate their wish that Bahá'u'lláh's
healing
message might reach every corner of this nation. In the words of the
National Spiritual Assembly in its message to the American Bahá'í
community, "The Bahá'í spirit of universal love and assistance are
more
urgently needed now than ever before." What is needed now is for us to
act
as true Bahá'ís, as
true servants to humankind.

The Office of External Affairs has received requests for guidance on
such
matters as whether it is appropriate to submit prayers to their local
newspap
ers, the appropriateness of writing letters to the editor in response
to
these tragic events and other similar inquiries.

We take this opportunity to remind the friends of the policy of the
National Spiritual Assembly on writing articles to local newspapers:

* Individual Bahá'ís must first seek the approval of the local Spiritual
Assembly before submission to the newspaper if the person is writing
as a Bahá'í.

* Bahá'ís are free to write letters to the editors of publications to
express their personal views if they do not identify themselves as
Bahá'ís, imply that they represent the Faith or a Bahá'í community, or discuss
the Bahá'í Faith.

* Individuals or local Spiritual Assemblies wishing to submit articles
to national publications must first seek the approval of the Office of
External Affairs.

* If individuals are uncertain about the relationship of their letters
to the interest of the Faith, they should consult with their local
Spiritual Assembly.

* Any local Spiritual Assembly that wishes to contact local government
officials including for the purpose of presenting Bahá'í materials
should first consult with the Office of External Affairs.

Because of the politically sensitive nature of these recent tragic
events, we ask that local Spiritual Assemblies consult with the Office of
External Affairs before submitting anything to a local newspaper. The Office of
External Affairs can be reached by phone at (202) 833-8990 or e-mail
at usnsa-oea@ usbnc.org. Please note that the Office of Public Information in New
York City is currently experiencing difficulty in receiving telephone and
e-mail communications.

General guidelines for appropriate tone of communications to the
media:

Any Bahá'í-connected message to the public should try to elevate the
response to the attacks to a higher, more spiritual level that is
above hatred and recrimination, above any mention whatsoever of government
actions, assignment of blame, and above the attempt to use this tragedy as an
opportunity to advance our own interests. It would also not be
appropriate to cite apocalyptic references from the Bahá'í writings
or to submit prayers which contain language that could seem
threatening to non-Bahá'ís.

We welcome you to contact the Office of External Affairs anytime with
your questions.

Loving Bahá'í greetings,

Office of External Affairs

OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

1320 19th Street NW, Suite 701

Washington, DC 20036-1610

Phone: 202-833-8990

Fax: 202-833-8988

__________________

"Prayers for America"

"This [Cleveland, Ohio] is a beautiful city; the climate is

pleasant; the views are charming. All the cities of America seem to be large and beautiful, and the people appear prosperous. The American continent gives signs and evidences of very great advancement; its
future is even more promising, for its influence and illumination arefar-reaching, and it will lead all nations spiritually. The flag o
ffreedom and banner of liberty have been unfurled here, but the
prosperi ty

and advancement of a city, the happiness and greatness of a country

depend upon its hearing and obeying the call of God. The light of

reality must shine therein and divine civilization be founded; then
the

radiance of the Kingdom will be diffused and heavenly influences

surround." (`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, Page:
104)

"Ya-Baha'u'l-Abha! Abdu'l-Baha did not rest a moment until He had

raised Thy Cause and the Standard of the Kingdom of Abha waved over
the

world. Now some people have arisen with intrigues and evil
aspirations< BR>
to trample this flag in America, but My hope is in Thy confirmations.
Leave Me not single, alone and oppressed! As Thou didst promise,

verbally and in writing, that Thou wouldst protect this deer of the

pasture of Thy love from the attacks of the hounds of hatred and

animosity, and that Thou wouldst safeguard this persecuted sheep from
the
claws and teeth of the ferocious wolves, - now do I await the
appearance

of Thy bounties and the realization of Thy definite promise. Thou art

the true Protector, and Thou art the Lord of the Covenant! Therefore,

protect this Lamp which Thou hast lighted, from the severe winds."

(`Abdu'l-Baha: Baha'i World Faith, Page: 433)From: "Juan Cole" <jricole@my-deja.com>
Subject: Re: Kazemzadeh, Semple and al-Qaida
Date: Friday, February 08, 2002 9:42 PM

I wrote,

> "Juan Cole" <jricole@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:619f1452.0202080921.188965bc@posting.google.com...
> > The Baha'i faith stands for universal love, for tolerance, and for a
> > separation of religion and state.

Our own version of Jihad Johnny Walker Lindh, Jihad Ricky Schaut,
replies:

> Such is the Juan Cole official reinterpretation of Baha'u'llah. Shoghi
> Effendi's statements on the matter, however, say otherwise.

Uh, Jihad Ricky, Shoghi Effendi does not deny that the Baha'i Faith
stands for universal love, tolerance, and for a separation of religion
and state.

Shoghi Effendi wrote, "Theirs is not the purpose, while endeavoring to
conduct and perfect the administrative affairs of their Faith, to
violate, under any circumstances, the provisions of their country's
constitution, much less to allow the machinery of their administration
to supersede the government of their respective countries."

But Jihad Ricky wants to supersede the U.S. Constitution and to throw
down the U.S. government, implementing rule by his buddies in the
Baha'i "administrative order" in direct contravention of Shoghi
Effendi's clear instructions.

Baha'u'llah wrote in His own Will and Testament,

"Kings are the manifestations of the power, and the daysprings of the
might and riches, of God. Pray ye on their behalf. He hath invested
them with the rulership of the earth and hath singled out the hearts
of men as His Own domain. Conflict and contention are categorically
forbidden in His Book. This is a decree of God in this Most Great
Revelation. It is divinely preserved from annulment and is invested by
Him with the splendour of His confirmation."

He not only gave political power to civil rulers ("kings" and
"presidents,"), but he forbade Baha'is from making any turmoil the way
the Babis had in demanding that religious institutions take over. And
he even emphasized that this principle of non-intervention in politics
by God, who wants only the hearts of men for his Institutions, is
"divinely preserved from annulment."

And yet Jihad Ricky (along with those other Jihadis, Ian Semple,
Farzam Arbab, Doug Martin, and Firuz Kazemzadeh) has mounted the
minbar of hubris and delivered himself of a Fatwa seeking to annul
what is divinely preserved from annulment, and to grab civil political
power for the Baha'i religious institutions.

`Abdu'l-Baha writes of the dire need to keep religious leaders and
institutions from trying to run the country:

"The function of the religious leaders and the duties of the clerical
jurisprudents are to attend to spiritual affairs and to promulgate
divine attributes. Whenever the leaders of the manifest religion and
the pillars of the mighty divine law have intervened in the world of
political leadership, put forward their rulings and attempted to
manage affairs, it has ever caused the unity of the believers in the
one true God to be destroyed, and resulted in the dispersal of the
faithful into factions. The flames of turmoil flared up, and the blaze
of rebelliousness scorched the world. The country was plundered and
pillaged, and the people became the prisoners and hostages of
oppressors."

Not only has religious rule and theocracy ruined Iran, Afghanistan and
now the World Trade Center, it has ravaged the Baha'i faith itself,
putting it under the thumb of a small, secretive group of cultists who
deliberately keep it tiny and exploited.

As for Ian Semple, he has long crowed about the future Baha'i
theocracy in his caves, just as Bin Ladin does in his. The proof is
overwhelming.

Thousands of pilgrims, not just one, have heard him say these things.
And not just him. David Hoffman has an audiocassette filled with such
ideas that you can order from the Baha'i publishing trust. It is all
al-Qaida ideals, from beginning to end.

Semple also had the Bahai World Centre secretariat write,

I commented,

> > In this passage he basically argues for a Nazi-like tactic of getting
> > elected democratically and then abolishing democracy.

Jihad Ricky, who admits he wants to repeal the first amendment to the
U.S. Constitution and overthrow the US government in the long run,
writes:

>The statement refers to standing Baha'i policies
> regarding political non-involvement, which Dr. Cole knows forbits Baha'is
> from running for office within a democratic system that's premised on
> getting elected through membership in political parties.

What the statement says is that when Baha'is get to be the majority,
so that they in a democratic framework represent "the country," then
they ("the country itself") may "decide to adopt" [i.e. impose on the
whole society] "Baha'i laws" [i.e. a far rightwing literalist
interpretation of the Baha'i shariah, similar to Islamic law] and
"modify" [i.e. repeal] "its constitution" [i.e. the U.S.
Constitution]. The whole passage is doublespeak for Khrushschev's "We
will bury you!" The only difference is that Semple thinks he can
accomplish the overthrow of the U.S. constitution and the institution
of a Baha'i theocracy by simply roping enough John Walker Lindhs into
his cult-like perversion of the Baha'i faith, so that ultimately they
can pull a Nazi-like maneuver and use their majority itself to destroy
democracy.

>Do
> Baha'is believe the Universal House of Justice will, some day, be the center
> piece of what is referred to as the World Order of Baha'u'llah? Yes.

In other words, Jihad Ricky is among the small group of Baha'i
cultists that wants to establish a global Baha'i theocracy, just as
Jihad Johnny Walker Lindh wants to establish an Islamic caliphate.

> However, at that point, any similarity between what Baha'is envision and any
> Al-Qaida dream for establishing a caliphate ends.

The more cult-like members of Baha'i institutions brook no dissent,
act in an authoritarian manner, impose censorship on all Baha'is,
routinely investigate people for thought crimes, summarily toss them
out of the community, spread nasty rumors about them, demonize them,
and deprive them of the most basic human rights. Sounds an awful lot
like al-Qaida's Caliph to me.

> Dr. Cole . . . clearly seeks to brush aside any legitimate distinctions of
> which many can be made, not the least of which is the complete absence of
> any use of force or of any effort to undermine existing governments in
> Baha'i activities.

The Nazis came to power peacefully, too. That the means are
nonviolent makes the Baha'i fundamentalists less dangerous in the
short run than the al-Qaida and Taliban, which they resemble so much.
But in the long run maybe it makes them more insidious. Anyway, I
don't much care how my Constitutional rights are destroyed, whether by
violence or peacefully. I care about the *outcome*. I don't intend
to allow them to be destroyed at all.

> > Baha'i theocrats despise parliamentary democracy and wish to
> > substitute their religious institutions, which are not freely elected,
> > for civil government.
>
> Baha'i institutions are, indeed, freely elected.

No nominations, no campaigning are allowed. Speaking negatively of an
incumbent is considered "negative campaigning," for which Baha'is have
been punished. Even criticizing policies is disallowed. A small
group of like-minded people is reelected every year at the national
level, especially to offices like Secretary & Treasurer.

Well, you can run your religious elections however you like. But you
are not taking away the democracy we have and which the Master so
forcefully praised and replacing it by this weird cult-like
manipulation of community politics.

>Nor, for
> that matter, do Baha'is seek to substitute Baha'i institutions for civil
> institutions. Baha'is believe that, some day, when the majority of the
> population had become Baha'i, Baha'i institutions will form the pattern by
> which civil government is exercised. That, however, is very different from
> simply seeking to supplant civil government with Baha'i institutions.

Well, if the current more cult-like Baha'i governance procedures are
imposed by a tyranny of the majority on civil institutions as their
"pattern", then that would mean abolishing Congress, forbidding
political parties (=de facto a one-party state), imposing censorship
on the press, repealing the Constitution and the First Amendment. In
other words, Jihad Ricky is welcoming us to al-Qaida-Ville.

> > Baha'i theocrats have secret cells within the Baha'i community, and
> > recruit Baha'is at deepenings and other events into their twisted
> > world-view.
>
> A charge that's been repeated many times without substantive evidence to
> back it up. Yet, given the track record so far in this post, one has little
> faith in Dr. Cole's ability to produce any such evidence without twisting it
> to mean what he wants it to mean.

Jihad Ricky, of course, is one of the Cell Leaders. Somehow the Cell
Leaders are most vociferous in denying there are any Cells.

> > Baha'i theocrats demand absolute obedience to "the Institutions" and
> > tolerate no dissent.
>
> Actually, Baha'i institutions tolerate a great deal of "dissent" when it's
> voiced through proper channels.

No, they don't. But when the dissent is voiced, and punished
privately, then nobody on the outside can know about the repression.
Cultist Baha'i officials monitor community members, attempt to
intimidate them into silence, interfere behind the scenes in LSA
elections, and generally act in an authoritarian and corrupt way.
Then they smile and put on a 'nice' face for the public. Actually,
just listen carefully to Jihad Ricky and you'll see the real face of
Baha'i cultism and fundamentalism.

>It is a very different model of governance
> than that which is prevalent in common western democracies, and, of this,
> there can be little doubt.

In other words, what Jihad Ricky advocates is not democratic at all.
It is a form of fascist theocracy that deprives us of our God-given
democratic rights.

>Whether or not it can be accurately
> characterised as an outright "theocracy" would only depend on the extent to
> which one would highlight similarities while ingoring important differences.

That's easy for you to say. It isn't your ox that is being ingored.
Theocracy is the government of a society by the religious
institutions. That's what Jihad Ricky wants for our beautiful,
tolerant America, to make it like Iran and Taliban Afghanistan. Hint:
It is a Theocracy.

See above for what Shoghi Effendi really said.

cheers JuanFrom: "Juan Cole" <jricole@my-deja.com>
Subject: Weirdness of the NSA of Baha'is of America
Date: Saturday, February 09, 2002 12:22 PM

So let's look again at the reaction of Bob Henderson and Firuz
Kazemzadeh to the tragic events of September 11.

>National letter of Caution
>Posted on NSA site 14/9/01

>"To Public Information Representatives, Local Spiritual Assemblies,
and >Individual Bahá'ís:

>All of us have been deeply affected by the tragic events in
Washington
>DC, Pennsylvania, and New York. Without question, many Bahá'ís will
>yearn to make some response to demonstrate their wish that
Bahá'u'lláh's
>healing message might reach every corner of this nation.

In other words, the first thing that came to the minds of the Baha'i
fundamentalists on September 11 is, "What is in this for us? Maybe
we'll be able to rope in more converts out of it." Wouldn't the right
first response be enormous sorrow for the suffering of innocents, and
for the blow to the United States, which has always treated the
Baha'is well and given them liberty?

>In the words of the National Spiritual Assembly in its message to the
>American Bahá'í community, "The Bahá'í spirit of universal love and
>assistance are more urgently needed now than ever before."

And, could we please know what "assistance" the National Spiritual
Assembly has given any of the victims? Or any non-Baha'is a all? Or
any Baha'is, for that matter, in the United States? They have an
annual budget of $25 million a year or so. What percentage of that
does the US NSA spend on "assisting" people in need?

>What is needed now is for us to act as true Bahá'ís, as true servants
to >humankind.

Could we have some specifics here please? What exactly would that
entail? How have Baha'i communities done anything differently since
September 11? Bob Henderson lives in a 9 bedroom mansion with free
maid and gardening service and takes a huge salary and perks out of
the National Fund. Has he made any sacrifices in his lifestyle since
September 11? Has he done anything for anyone? Has he spoken out
against al-Qaida terrorism?

>The Office of External Affairs has received requests for guidance on
>such matters as whether it is appropriate to submit prayers to their
local
>newspapers, the appropriateness of writing letters to the editor in
response
>tothese tragic events and other similar inquiries.

My advice is, if you want guidance, go right to Baha'u'llah's
writings. Kazemzadeh will just send you on a fool's errand.

>We take this opportunity to remind the friends of the policy of the
>National Spiritual Assembly on writing articles to local newspapers:

>* Individual Bahá'ís must first seek the approval of the local
>Spiritual Assembly before submission to the newspaper if the person
is writing
>as a Bahá'í.

In other words, they are running the community as a controlling cult
where you can't so much as say in public "I as a Baha'i feel that . .
." They impose prepublication censorship on tens of thousands of
people, just like the dictatorships in the Middle East do.

>* Bahá'ís are free to write letters to the editors of publications to
>express their personal views if they do not identify themselves as
>Bahá'ís, imply that they represent the Faith or a Bahá'í community,
or discuss
>theBahá'í Faith.

How would this be different from apostasy and denying you are a
Baha'i? These authoritarians deprived thousands of Iranian Baha'is of
their administrative rights because they avoided mentioning they were
Baha'is on their exit visas at Tehran airport. But now when it suits
Kazemzadeh and Henderson, they order Baha'is *not* to reveal their
identities. We are Baha'is. Our values come from being Baha'is. We
have a responsibility to say so when we speak in public.

>* Individuals or local Spiritual Assemblies wishing to submit
articles
>to national publications must first seek the approval of the Office
of
>External Affairs.

Yeah, yeah. Hafez al-Asad, Ayatollah Khamenei and Mullah Omar have
the same policy. It is called CENSORSHIP, folks. It is wrong. It is
dictatorial.

>* If individuals are uncertain about the relationship of their
letters
>to the interest of the Faith, they should consult with their local
>Spiritual Assembly.

In other words, don't touch that dial, we are in control of your
television screen. You will see what we make you see. You will say
what we tell you to say.

>* Any local Spiritual Assembly that wishes to contact local
government
>officials including for the purpose of presenting Bahá'í materials
>should first consult with the Office of External Affairs.

Well, don't waste any time weeping over the victims of September 11,
for heaven's sake! Call up your Congressman and try to slip him a
copy of your latest fundamentalist tract. Here's the opportunity!

>Because of the politically sensitive nature of these recent tragic
>events, we ask that local Spiritual Assemblies consult with the
Office of
>External Affairs before submitting anything to a local newspaper. The
Office of
>External Affairs can be reached by phone at (202) 833-8990 or e-mail
>at usnsa-oea@usbnc.org. Please note that the Office of Public
Information in >New York City is currently experiencing difficulty in
receiving telephone and
>e-mail communications.

I wonder why their communications were disrupted? Maybe religious
fanaticism had resulted in this outcome? Wouldn't you conclude that
WE NEED LESS RELIGIOUS FANATICISM? And yet this whole message reeks
of cult-like control on people not so far from what al-Qaida itself
imposes.

>General guidelines for appropriate tone of communications to the
media:

>Any Bahá'í-connected message to the public should try to elevate the
response to the attacks to a higher, more spiritual level that is
>above hatred and recrimination, above any mention whatsoever of
government
>actions, assignment of blame,

Uh, folks, I think we can assign some blame here. September 11 was
perpetrated by a secretive religious cult with Middle Eastern origins
called al-Qaida. Al-Qaida was part of the Taliban government in
Afghanistan. There, I'm a bad Baha'i. I said it. Moreover, I think
al-Qaida and Talibanism are evil. I think `Abdu'l-Baha would have
said so, as well; he said similar things about similar movements in
his own time. How deep a hole are you going to dig to get away from
*reality* in the more cult-like reaches of the Baha'i faith? Should
we get to the point where we are NEUTRAL about what happened on
September 11? This is the weirdest thing I have ever seen, and it is
a profound betrayal by Baha'i officials like Kazemzadeh of a country
that has sheltered and nurtured him when his own would have bulldozed
him into a mass grave. He is a world-historical ingrate.

>and above the attempt to use this tragedy as an
>opportunity to advance our own interests.

Well, since the letter so far seems to think of it mainly as a
proclamation opportunity, I fear that cow is out of the barn.

>It would also not be
>appropriate to cite apocalyptic references from the Bahá'í writings
>or to submit prayers which contain language that could seem
>threatening to non-Bahá'ís.

Well, maybe Baha'is should give up altogether on the Calamity
business. It ain't gonna happen, 2000 came and went, and it is
*always* scarey to us normal people, not just when there's been a
terrorist attack. 'Oh, yeah, I just joined this nice religion where
people believe the world is about to end.' Any mother's eyes would
shine with pride if her child came back to her with these words.

>We welcome you to contact the Office of External Affairs anytime with
>your questions.

I have a question. Could you get more weird, please?

>Loving Bahá'í greetings,

Oh, yeah, Kazemzadeh has showered me and my friends with love all our
lives. Hypocrite.

>Office of External Affairs
>OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Remember Ross Perot talked about lobbyists with "alligator shoes and
thousand-dollar suits"? That's what "External Affairs" is. It is a
lobbying organization. But it only lobbies for itself.

The Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience

"A weird Baha'i sub-cult has arisen. It structurally resembles al-Qaida..." Juan Cole

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