Responses to Questions on
Unificationism on the Internet - Volume 65
From damian@unification.net Fri May 4 23:30:34 2001
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 22:43:32 -0400
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Evangelism List <unif-evangelism@listserv.aol.com>,
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
Subject: Re: The Spiritual and Religious Dimensions of the Environmental Crisis
"Chibum" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in message
news:w1II6.1834$vg1.152585@www.newsranger.com...
> Damian,
>
> Thanks for your detailed and considerate response . I am concerned
> about SMM and his plans. Over the last 40 years he has shown little
> concern if any in regards to enviromental issues. I remember sitting
> in a speech he gave in my Ocean church days where he was very excited
> about 15 mile fishing nets that brought in tons of catch. he went on
> and on about how the oceans are inexhaustable. I think we know better
> now. What do you think?
>
> Chibum
Chibum,
I am not an expert on fisheries management, but I did see an article in the
World & I magazine recently, when I was cleaning up the house. It was
talking about the "tragedy of the commons", meaning that resources held in
common tend to be neglected and abused. Fisheries is a prime example. If a
country cuts down on fishing in its own waters in an effort to conserve and
replenish fish stocks, then other nations are free to come in and overfish
those same fish stocks as long as they are in international waters. The only
way to go about fisheries management in international waters is to have
international agreements with teeth. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble.
Again, remote sensing data from satellite imagery can help some in fisheries
management by tracking ocean color which measures plankton availability for
fish feeding. Here is a NASA page on the subject:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Topics/oceans.html
"Microscopic marine plants (called phytoplankton) contain chlorophyll, a
green pigment they use during photosynthesis. Using satellite sensors, we
can measure chlorophyll concentrations in oceans, lakes and seas to indicate
the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are the base
of the marine food chain and, therefore, are a good indicator of the
abundance of life in a body of water."
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/chlor.seawifs.html
Also, surface ocean temperature can be measured by infrared radiometers:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/Datasets/sst.avhrr.html
"Sea surface temperature data are used to help us predict weather patterns,
to track ocean currents, and to monitor El Niño and La Niña. Sea surface
temperature influences the growth of phytoplankton, as well as precipitation
patterns across continents, thus indirectly influencing land vegetation as
well. (Data from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer [AVHRR])"
Here is an image of the Maldives coral reef atolls showing marine life
surrounding the reefs:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images_topic.php3?img_id=4815&topic=oceans
Here is an article showing the growth of coccolithophores in the Bering Sea,
plant life on which the fish feed:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Coccoliths/
The Bering Sea between Alaska and Siberia is a very rich fishery, although
it is frozen part of the year. By bringing remote sensing data to bear on
fisheries resource management, hard science can be pressed into the cause of
sound policy development. I don't claim to have any good answers, but I
would feel confident to have such information be used to develop livable
international agreements on fisheries management.
As for 15 mile nets, sometimes Rev. Moon lets his enthusiasm run away with
him. He is very respectful of scientists who are experts in their fields and
it is a common thing for him to convene a conference to study a problem with
the leading experts in the field invited to discuss the issue, and come up
with policy advice for political leaders. That was the case with the
Pantanal conference I attended. Present were hydrologists, tropical
botanists, freshwater marine biologists, environmental policy makers from
Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and so on. You can see a list of the papers
submitted at the Pantanal conferences here:
http://www.pantanal.org/Mainpubl.htm
These papers have been published in the book:
http://www.pantanal.org/Mainbook.htm
The Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay
Selected Discourses on the World's Largest Remaining Wetland System
Rev. Moon was content to have the experts discuss the issue and advise the
policy makers on the wisest course of action. By finding such consensus, he
is able to influence the process without getting in the way. That is a wise
course of action.
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Fri May 4 23:30:42 2001
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 23:02:30 -0400
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Evangelism List <unif-evangelism@listserv.aol.com>,
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
Subject: Censoring Rev. Moon's speeches
"Chibum" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in message
news:lfHI6.1799$vg1.149310@www.newsranger.com...
> Dan,
>
> Haven't there been an effort to clean up some of the juicier stuff in
Moon's
> speeches?
>
> In article <20010504192213.15330.00001524@ng-mf1.aol.com>, Dan Fefferman
says...
> >
> >>Nobody sanitized anything without my knowledge.
> >
> >The problem with Damian's database is not that it has been sanitize, but
that
> >there is still much missing from it... not because of his editorial
decision
> >but because he hasn't had time to complete the job.
> >
> >The quote I gave about the woman taken in adultery for example, did not
come
> >from Damian's site but from a old paper i happen to have by a seminarian
> >compiled many of Rev Moon's sayings about Jesus.
> >
> >One thing I can say about Damian. He is a straight shooter.
> >
> >Dan F
>
> Chibum
Well, the truth is that there is censorship of his words on many levels. For
one thing, Rev. Moon uses quite colorful language in his native Korean, but
the translator frequently will translate what he says in more palatable
euphemistic expressions in English. I don't like that, but I cannot complain
until I am willing to become a fluent Korean speaker who can translate
better than Rev. Peter Kim or Dr. Bo Hi Pak. That is a time resource issue
for me. Another problem is that the translators apparently sometimes
inadvertently misconstrue what he says and we get a garbled version of what
he says. The good news is that it is all recorded on audio and video tape
which can be obtained from New Future Films:
New Future Films
481 8th Ave # E-19
New York, NY 10001
Mr. Hiro Shimoyama,
Tel. 212 947-1448
Fax. 212 947-2780
E-mail: fprods@aol.com
Still, if you do not understand the original Korean, it may not help you.
Also, NFF may not sell the tapes to just anyone. If you really want to get a
very good translation from Korean to English of Rev. Moon's words, one of
the very best I have ever heard is Lynne Kim. She catches all the nuanced
slang (and cuss words) and dialogue which the other translators miss. You
will get a much better rendering from a native English speaker fluent in
Korean than a native Korean speaker fluent in English. Translating into your
own native language is usually best. Also, many translators end up
translating into broken sentences so that one has to do some creative
editing to make sense of what is said. That can lead to inaccuracies too.
Secondly, Rev. Moon's words are proofread by lawyers before they are ever
published because he has a habit of getting himself into trouble by saying
things that are better left unsaid in public. You may say they are
protecting him from himself, or from the long arm of Big Brother.
Once that is done, once the speeches are made public, then I do not sanitize
what has already been edited. The other problem is that these days, so few
resources are put into speech transcription that mostly all we have is
unofficial notes which is a very poor representation of what the man says. I
am very dissatisfied with that, and have made it one of my goals to fund an
effort to translate the 300 or so volumes of his words from Korean to good
English. Rev. Chang Shik Yang has expressed interest in this project, but so
far, no budget has been appropriated for the purpose.
And that's my two cents on the subject. It is one of my pet peeves.
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Fri May 4 23:30:51 2001
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 23:09:26 -0400
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
Subject: Re: Constitutional monarchies
"Chibum" <nospam@newsranger.com> wrote in message
news:XUHI6.1829$vg1.151958@www.newsranger.com...
> Damian,
> Would this new "heavenly" constitution allow political parties opposed
> to Rev. Moon? Would there be room for an atheist, gay , Maoist, Pro-Fidel
> Castro, Black Lesbian Nuns for Anarchy political parties? Where do you
> draw the line?
In the USA, there is freedom of speech, but for a party to get federal
matching funds for an election, it needs 5% of the vote in the previous
election. I think that is the rule. So, there is no banning of any party
based on ideas. Any party that can get support can run. The collective
conscience of the country therefore determines which parties should get
government support. There is no limit on people putting up their own money.
That seems like a wise policy to me.
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Thu Jun 14 10:47:58 2001
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 10:47:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Chybe@aol.com
Subject: Re: [TFV News] Study Examines Why Young Urban Women Have Sex
Our church teaches the sanctity of marriage, family and sex. We teach
abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage, however that
marriage comes about.
Sincerely,
Damian Anderson
On Sun, 10 Jun 2001 Chybe@aol.com wrote:
> Are all of your missionaries, believers of being in a committed relationship
> before having sex? Is that what your religion teaches and preaches? What
> about those missionaries that are sent away from home and engaged, if they
> become involved with an outsider and fall away from the church, how does that
> affect their standing with the church? When I say involved, I mean fall in
> love with an outsider and accept a proposal of marriage even though they've
> already been matched with someone in the church. Would the church give them
> their blessing and let them go one with their lives, however wrong it would
> be, or would they support them and release them from their prior committment?
>
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Thu Jun 14 17:39:35 2001
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 17:39:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Cc: Hyoong Je Erpelding <CChamPuMoNimFed@aol.com>
Subject: Liquidation of original sin
Father has said that the only difference between us and him is:
(1) he has control over his physical body
(2) he has control over his temper.
If that is the case, then he was not born without original sin, but rid
himself of original sin by making indemnity conditions. This may sound
like Pelagianism, but it would appear that Father has done exactly that,
and is telling us that if we do the same, following his example, and
Jesus' example, then we can also be liberated from original sin, namely,
the curse of inheriting Satan's character due to the fall.
It gives me a lot more hope to believe that I can follow Father's example,
than to believe that he was born with some special gift, namely being
free from original sin, so that it is somehow easier for him than for
me. As for children born of people who have rid themselves of original
sin, I know for a fact that their perfection is not automatic, given the
numerous counter-examples which we all know. However, I do believe that
they have the merit of their ancestors, just as we do.
Furthermore, I am convinced that the fallen nature is real, and not
just a theological fiction. We inherit Satan's character because
we have a blood relationship with him. This is the fundamental human
problem, and the only cure is a highly focused effort to rid ourselves
of that nature through following the principles taught by the Divine
Principle. Primary among those is the condition to remove the fallen
nature by Cain submitting to Abel, someone closer to God than he is,
and by doing so, incrementally removing that evil nature that does not
belong in our souls or bodies.
How many generations does it take to remove original sin? It depends
on how hard you work at it. How many generations is it going to take to
win a Superbowl? I guess it depends on whether you are committed to it
and how hard you work at it.
Sincerely,
Damian Anderson
On Thu, 14 Jun 2001, Dan Fefferman wrote:
> In a message dated 6/14/2001 2:41:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> jmgvlfamily@YAHOO.COM writes:
>
> > our children have zero original sin and we need a collective energy and
> > aggressiveness just to keep them from getting contaminated down to their
>
> I agree with the conclusion, but I'm not sure of the premise. Better start
> another "ye-gwa aniyo" thread.
>
> Do our children have "zero" original sin, or more than zero original sin?
>
> On Nov 29, 2000, Father said
> "We all have to receive God’s lineage. It takes at least three generations."
>
> He has said similar things many times. Yet he has also said that the holy
> wine eliminates original sin and establishes God's bloodline.
>
> I recall a similar tension between what Lady Dr. Kim used to teach (three
> generations to eliminate original sin) and what Mr Sudo used to teach
> (children of blessed families are sinless).
>
> How do we resolve this?
>
> Dan Fefferman
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Fri Jun 15 12:30:47 2001
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 12:01:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: [UE] Liquidation of original sin
Can you win the Superbowl without a coach? It was possible for Father
but very hard and took many years, to rid himself of his Satanic lineage
and fallen nature. Jesus guided him, but mostly he did it himself. We
could do the same, but it is a whole lot easier to take advantage of the
foundation that Father is bequeathing to us and to whomever wants it.
Damian
On Thu, 14 Jun 2001, Donna B wrote:
> Just I wonder..
>
> If it was to follow an example, if it was to get the mind and body working
> as they should in God's eyes, if it was by removing fallen nature thru Cain
> and abel, if it were to just cleanse fallen nature for three generations,
> two, ten.. ..if it were just any of these things,
>
> then why do we need a messiah and his blessing? and why hasn't it been done
> by anyone of the many millions of people on earth?
>
> I am just wondering.
> Donna
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Fri Jun 15 12:30:51 2001
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 12:29:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: [UE] Liquidation of original sin
Good question! The Divine Principle does not say that you need the
Unification Church to be saved. But it does say that those who believe
in the Messiah are given the power to become sons and daughters of God,
as John 3:16 says. It does not mean that you cannot do it on your own,
but it would be a lot harder. Father often speaks of the analogy of the
highway. He built a highway through the wilderness that he pioneered so
that those who came after him could drive rather than take a mule train
over the mountains, or hike on their two legs.
He also speaks in terms of a mountaineer climbing a mountain. He asks if
you are connected by ropes to him or to Satan. You need to cut the ropes
tying you to Satan and hang on to the rope tying you to True Parents. Even
if you do nothing else than just hang on, there is merit in that. But
Father would like to see us also becoming skilled mountaineers, who
could let the old man of the mountain have a rest and help others up to
the peak.
I do not need the Unification Church. It needs me, and God needs me.
I love and I am proud of True Parents, and I value their work and
words. Father needs the church to accomplish his mission, and I suppose
we work better collectively than individually.
Regards,
Damian Anderson
On Thu, 14 Jun 2001, Steve Dufour wrote:
> Damian, what you say is very noble and idealistic, and
> a good attitude to have. But I see a problem if you
> carry it too far. If you are going to save yourself
> you don't need the Messiah after all, maybe just as a
> good example. And what is the real advantage of
> belonging to the Unification Church? It seems to me
> that you could perfect yourself anywere. So why are
> we witnessing to people? Steve
--- "Damian J.
> Anderson" <damian@UNIFICATION.NET> wrote: > Father has
> said that the only difference between us > and him
> is: > > (1) he has control over his physical
> body > (2) he has control over his temper. >
> > If that is the case, then he was not born without >
> original sin, but rid > himself of original sin by
> making indemnity > conditions. This may sound > like
> Pelagianism, but it would appear that Father > has
> done exactly that, > and is telling us that if we do
> the same, following > his example, and > Jesus'
> example, then we can also be liberated from > original
> sin, namely, > the curse of inheriting Satan's
> character due to the > fall. > > It gives me a lot
> more hope to believe that I can > follow Father's
> example, > than to believe that he was born with some
> special > gift, namely being > free from original sin,
> so that it is somehow easier > for him than for > me.
> As for children born of people who have rid >
> themselves of original > sin, I know for a fact that
> their perfection is not > automatic, given the >
> numerous counter-examples which we all know. >
> However, I do believe that > they have the merit of
> their ancestors, just as we > do. > > Furthermore, I
> am convinced that the fallen nature > is real, and
> not > just a theological fiction. We inherit Satan's >
> character because > we have a blood relationship with
> him. This is the > fundamental human > problem, and
> the only cure is a highly focused > effort to rid
> ourselves > of that nature through following the
> principles > taught by the Divine > Principle. Primary
> among those is the condition to > remove the fallen >
> nature by Cain submitting to Abel, someone closer to >
> God than he is, > and by doing so, incrementally
> removing that evil > nature that does not > belong in
> our souls or bodies. > > How many generations does it
> take to remove original > sin? It depends > on how
> hard you work at it. How many generations is > it
> going to take to > win a Superbowl? I guess it depends
> on whether you > are committed to it > and how hard
> you work at it. > > Sincerely, > > Damian Anderson
>
> __________________________________________________
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>
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>
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From NordaVinci@AOL.COM Fri Jun 15 12:31:57 2001
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 23:21:32 EDT
From: Peter Nordquist <NordaVinci@AOL.COM>
Reply-To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
To: UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Subject: Re: [UE] Liquidation of original sin
In a message dated 6/14/01 6:59:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dboudr@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
> then why do we need a messiah and his blessing? and why hasn't it been done
> by anyone of the many millions of people on earth?
I was at one of the few leader's meetings that I ever attended several
years ago now, and Father was sitting in a chair thinking before the meeting
really commenced. Then Father said the following: "God would have raised up
anybody in human history who thought the way that Father thinks, and even if
that person was not supposed to be the Messiah, that person nevertheless
would have become the Messiah, but no one did."
Thank You for Your Attention,
Peter Nordquist
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From damian@unification.net Fri Jun 15 14:30:39 2001
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 14:30:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: [UE] Liquidation of original sin
Ron,
Well, yes I HAVE heard Father say that the only difference between us and
him is desire, and self-mastery. So he has not said he was born without
original sin.
What is original sin anyway, other than a condition for Satan to claim
us? That is why Father talks about our need to restore the eight vertical
stages and the eight horizontal stages, which were fulfilled in the
ceremony of Pal Jong Shik in 1989. Father went the long hard grueling
road as a pioneer, expecting us to follow. It is only in our maturity,
I believe, that we can see that we each have to go our own version of
Father's course, just as Jesus had to go Moses' course, and Father had
to follow them both and Jacob. We have to take up our cross and follow
in our Master's footsteps, but it will never be as hard for us as it
was for him. In the proclamation of Tribal Messiahship, Father told us
that if we fulfill the first three stages, individual, family and tribe,
then we can gain the benefit of having fulfilled all eight stages. But
we cannot get the benefit without effort or investment.
Dirty clothes cannot clean themselves, but you can put them in the laundry.
Damian
On Fri, 15 Jun 2001, Ron Barrett wrote:
> Damian,
>
> With all due respect, and you deserve a lot of
> respect, taking the position that True Father was born
> with original sin IMHO is way off base.
>
> True Father has explained explicitly that providential
> history, the victory of Jacob over Esau, the course of
> Tamar, etc. was to purify the womb so that a child
> could be born without original sin (i.e. Jesus).
> Individuals born with original sin can do NOTHING to
> remove that sin from themselves as it is part of them
> from the beginning of their existence. Fallen mankind
> can only be forgiven of the original sin through
> engrafting with the sinless lineage. Dirty clothes
> cannot clean themselves.
>
> I have heard True Father clearly explain that because
> of providential restoration the womb of Mary was
> purified and Jesus could be born without original sin.
> I have NEVER heard True Father say Sun Myung Moon was
> born with original sin, but cleansed himself of it.
> Have you?
>
> As to whether or not our blessed children have
> original sin, let us be reminded that in receiving the
> Blessing our blessed children do not need to take Holy
> Wine, they do not need to wait 40 days before
> consumating their blessing, and they do not need to
> perform the 3-day ceremony. This is indication enough
> of their status as human beings without original sin.
>
> Most sincerely and respectfully,
> Ron
>
>
> --- "Damian J. Anderson" <damian@UNIFICATION.NET>
> wrote:
> > Can you win the Superbowl without a coach? It was
> > possible for Father
> > but very hard and took many years, to rid himself of
> > his Satanic lineage
> > and fallen nature. Jesus guided him, but mostly he
> > did it himself. We
> > could do the same, but it is a whole lot easier to
> > take advantage of the
> > foundation that Father is bequeathing to us and to
> > whomever wants it.
> >
> > Damian
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Tue Jun 19 22:26:44 2001
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 22:26:31 -0400
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: fourdufours@earthlink.com,
Unification Evangelism List <unif-evangelism@listserv.aol.com>
Newsgroups: alt.religion.unification
Subject: Re: Barbarian Invaders
On Tue, 19 Jun 2001 fourdufours@earthlink.com wrote:
> Damian, do you think our church should take a stronger stand against
> abortion?
I would be happy to see much more restrictions on abortion, but that is
really not the fight I choose to engage in. Abortion is really a symptom
of a bigger problem, namely, the lack of respect for the sanctity of
life, and sex which is the origin of life. I think killing your own
child by abortion is evil, but people who do that are better off not
being parents. God is just, and those who procure abortions or provide
them will reap what they sow.
--
Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net
From damian@unification.net Fri Jun 22 11:23:14 2001
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 11:22:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net>
To: Unification Church Internet Evangelism mailing list
<UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Subject: Equal Opportunity vs Racial Preference
On Thu, 21 Jun 2001, Carlton-Mihoko Moon wrote:
> >From: "Eric B. Richardson" <lbyron@HOME.COM>
> >To: UNIF-EVANGELISM@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
> >Subject: Re: [UE] Is Racial Preference (sic) Unfair?
> >Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 08:13:19 -0400
> >The truth is that affirmative action is a racist policy and can only
> >end with people having to have their race registered at birth and
> >have to sue in court to have it changed. Just like in South Africa.
> >
> >yours, itl
> >--
> >
> >Eric Richardson
>
>
> (Carlton)
> Just like in South Africa... Hmmmmmm...
> The playing field is balanced, there? Years of confiscation and apartheid
> suddenly and justly rectified? Registration and courts can heal a history
> of generations dehumanized?
>
> What is restoration, any?
>
> South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
> http://muhammadfarms.com/Biowarfare-S.Africa%20I.htm
Carlton,
You have a way of going off on unthinking emotional tangents. Read what
Eric said. He is saying that affirmative action is racist, and that the
end result of that racist policy is having to register your race at birth
and sue in court to have it changed. He is not praising that policy,
but showing the evil that will come of it.
I favor equal opportunity, and it is the law of the land in the USA. I
do not however favor giving preference to anyone based on race.
The whole notion of race has no basis in biology. It is a social
fiction.
What race is Tiger Woods? I have heard black leaders criticize him for not
saying he is black, an African American. Well he is NOT just black. He
calls himself a Cablinasian, a fanciful name for his being Caucasian,
Black, Indian and Asian.
How come a black American is called an African American but a new
immigrant from Egypt or South Africa is not? Well, you say, his ancestors
were not enslaved. Okay, then how about a Kenyan or an Ethiopian? They
are from east Africa, whereas the slaves on the whole came from the
West African coast. Then you say whites have to make reparations to
blacks for slavery. But only a small percentage of whites actually had
slaves. You say, well all whites benefited. Well how about me? I came
from Europe as an immigrant, from a poor white family. What connection
do I have to slavery? At some point, you have to be willing to say that
you forgive your enemy, whatever his ancestors did to your ancestors in
the distant past. I did not enslave your ancestors, so why should I pay,
or why should Asians pay for it?
I am willing to take responsibility to help solve the problem, but I am
NOT willing to take the blame for a crime I did not commit.
This constant talk of "you owe me" because of slavery is a crock. It
is high time that black Americans took responsibility for their own
problems, and racism is not the biggest. Fathers abandoning their
offspring, doing drugs and landing in jail, generations of welfare
dependency, these are far bigger problems, so you see the tragedy of
the blacks in America. Many are entering the ranks of professionals and
homeowners, yet too many are kept in the ghetto mentality by those who
constantly play the race card for their own cynical aims. Perhaps you
are particularly sensitive to this issue as you live in Japan, which I
would say is a much more xenophobic and racist country than the USA. I
have asked black friends about racism, and they tell me that they do
not have problems with being victimized because they are black.
The sin of racism in America was paid for by the blood of many young
soldiers who fought and died, solidifying the emancipation of the slaves
which Abraham Lincoln declared in 1863. Still, there was prejudice and
intolerance and injustice, yet the civil rights movement went a long way
to resolving that, ensuring voting rights, and equal opportunity in the
workplace and in schools and colleges. It seems to surprise you that I
would support Martin Luther King Jr.. Father said in 1976 that he was
the greatest American of the 20th Century. I read his book of sermons,
"The Strength to Love" and was moved by his philosophy of loving your
enemies. The civil rights banner was taken up after his death by the
likes of Jesse Jackson who is a much lesser man, and does not promote
the same values Dr. King did.
True Father's solution to racism is interracial marriage, so that people
can come to love one another across the racial divide and forget the
centuries of bitterness over the wrongs each side did to the other.
Sincerely,
ITPN,
Damian Anderson
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Damian J. Anderson <damian@unification.net> http://www.unification.net