As we celebrate this joyful Carnaval season, it is a time to also reflect on the spiritual values that generate life, happiness, and wellbeing.
It is saddening to see war and conflict looming among highly advanced countries. As a Baha'i-inspired School, we strive to abstain from divisive political positions and encourage individuals, groups, and nations to apply the principles of consultation, diplomacy, and peaceful means of resolving conflict. In the end, we are all members of one human family, one human species, that varies as little as 1 percent in our DNA. We all inhabit the same home—planet earth. As humans, we need to learn the lessons of history and apply methods and systems of communication and interaction that allow us to cooperate, collaborate, and advance together.
"Wars, religious, racial or political, have arisen from human ignorance, misunderstanding, and lack of education." Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 22
"Bahá’u’lláh has proclaimed and promulgated the foundation of international peace. For thousands of years men and nations have gone forth to the battlefield to settle their differences. The cause of this has been ignorance and degeneracy. Praise be to God! In this radiant century minds have developed, perceptions have become keener, eyes are illumined and ears attentive. Therefore, it will be impossible for war to continue." Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 287
Our prayers go out to all those affected by the conflict extending from northern Asia to eastern Europe and causing concern about world security and stability in general. Our best response is to educate our current and future citizens of the world to know, love, and serve humankind and have the many capabilities needed to make peace a reality.
Ms. Lisa Perskie
Executive Director