Matthew Levine—Originally published 9/20/20
Foreword: For the past 6 months I, like many others, have been concerned for the future of humanity. I have prayed and taken long walks but I’ve also exercised my independent investigation of the truth by considering different points of view from worldwide sources. Since the "science,” behind the pandemic has been conflicting, it has been difficult to know which religious principles apply. Now that we have more data, we are beginning to see a clearer picture that differs from what we were originally told. The challenge I discussed with several Bahá’í friends is how to replace misinformation— which spreads confusion, fear, hopelessness and prejudice—with understanding. This commentary is the product of our deliberations on how to promote unity and justice in a world falling apart and to stimulate discussion incorporating different points of view mostly suppressed by mainstream media. I believe that if we assume a humble posture of learning, we can go beyond being victims of the disintegration of our world and together actively transform society.
Much love, Matthew I-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends Levine
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When Táhirih decided to remove her veil in public in Badasht, Persia in 1848, she wasn’t concerned for her safety, reputation, or the possibility that she might create disunity among her fellow believers. She knew that unity not based on truth was shallow, artificial, and ephemeral, that the tree of justice is fed with deeds and sacrifices, and that her safety was not in her hands. She was a spiritual warrior and she must have known that her job was to inspire positive change which is not always concordant with playing it safe. So be it. She had a purpose greater than her own popularity and personal well-being. She had to challenge the status quo. This is what spiritual warriors do.
Fast forward to June, 2019. Zach Vorhies, a senior software engineer working in the YouTube division of Google downloaded 950 pages of incriminating information involving censorship and search result manipulation from Google’s internal documents, quit his job, delivered the evidence to the Department of Justice, and surrendered to police who surrounded his house along with a bomb squad, a police helicopter overhead and riflemen on adjacent roofs.1 He was smart, though. He knew if he surrendered publicly he would be videotaped by bystanders. He did so while handing the police a copy of the letter he sent to the DOJ and they released him. He immediately moved to a safe house in Washington D.C. and continued planning to put to justice the fifth largest company in the world. This is what spiritual warriors do.
Fifteen months later, Google still hasn’t been put to justice but instead has acquired hundreds of millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry, now itself produces vaccines, and more heavily censors viewpoints opposed to big pharma among others.2 Numerous whistleblowers have exposed corruption from all sectors of society while the country has been in lockdown for six months with Covid19 as its rationale. Our economy has been taken to its knees with widespread poverty while the elite rich have made billions of dollars.3 The virus has been dealt with completely differently from the past. For the first time in U.S. history there doesn’t seem to be any consensus in science or statistics, let alone how to solve the myriad problems created by the lockdown; those with a different point of view from the agenda narrative are censored by mainstream media and de-platformed from social media sites, those who cause trouble are “shadowbanned,” fact checkers funded primarily by the Bill Gates Foundation spread lies4, and those who go against the status quo are often victims of the “cancel culture.” No direct debates or exchange of ideas of any kind occur—instead, politically motivated shaming has taken the place of the scientific method and civil and open exchanges. Despite hundreds of journalists exposing the corruption behind the pandemic, most people opt out of independently investigating the truth out of fear, denial, or disinterest. But mostly fear which disables critical thinking.
What about the Bahá’ís? Where do they stand? What have the central figures said that address our current situation? Are we obeying the directives of the mainstream media without question? Are we skeptical? Or are we waiting for others to take care of our problems? Has the principle of independent investigation of truth been replaced by hopes and assumptions? This author feels that if we assume things will be okay without taking responsibility for participating in that change, we are stuck in limbo from blind faith which always lacks evidence or a plan. We recall one of the Bahá’í definitions of true faith is knowledge plus action. Upon what knowledge are we basing our actions? What would spiritual warriors do?
Ways Bahá’ís often justify not engaging with controversy.
One rationalization we hear from our friends is that Bahá’ís must obey their government. But there are prerequisites:
The attitude of the Bahá’ís must be two-fold, complete obedience to the government of the country they reside in, and no interference whatsoever in political matters or questions. What the Master's statement really means is obedience to a duly constituted government [author's emphasis], whatever that government may be in form. —Directives from the Guardian, Page 56: gr1
As I stand here tonight and look upon this assembly, I am reminded curiously of a beautiful bouquet of violets gathered together in varying colors, dark and light. This is an evidence and indication that the United States of America is a just and free government, for I see black and white seated together in perfect harmony and agreement. Hearts are united. This just government makes such a meeting possible.
—The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 49-52: gr1
The above two quotes are references to social situations and we know from what we are taught about progressive revelation that the spiritual laws are eternal but the social laws change as society changes. Since the above directives were uttered many decades ago, our world has changed significantly. America is no longer a duly constituted government by any standard. Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead writes:
The assaults on our freedoms that began with the post-9/11 passage of the USA Patriot Act laid the groundwork for the eradication of every vital constitutional safeguard against government overreach, corruption and abuse.
The COVID-19 pandemic with its lockdowns, mask mandates, surveillance, snitch lines for Americans to report their fellow citizens for engaging in risky behavior, and veiled threats of forced vaccinations [in violation of the Nuremburg code passed after medical experimentation on captive Jews] has merely provided the architects of the American police state with an opportunity to flex their muscles…Free speech, the right to protest, the right to challenge government wrongdoing, due process, a presumption of innocence, the right to self-defense, accountability and transparency in government, privacy, press, sovereignty, assembly, bodily integrity, representative government: all of these and more have become casualties in the government’s ongoing war on the American people. In the process, the American people have been treated like enemy combatants, to be spied on, tracked, scanned, frisked, searched, subjected to all manner of intrusions, intimidated, invaded, raided, manhandled, censored, silenced, shot at, locked up, denied due process, and killed.
What the past 20 years have proven is that the U.S. government poses a greater threat to our individual and collective freedoms and national security than any terrorist, foreign threat or pandemic.567
So if we no longer have a just government, how can Bahá’ís react? How can they facilitate true justice? The above quotes from the Master and the Guardian seem to indicate that if a government is not just, we should do something about it. First, become aware of the world we really live in.
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes. —The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh
In addition to imparting the supreme importance of justice, it implies that justice can only be achieved through one’s own understanding and not by blindly following others. These are salient words for consideration in this age where herd-think is a real threat. The Guardian writes:
Neither the local nor national representatives of the community, no matter how elaborate their plans, or persistent their appeals, or sagacious their counsels, nor even the Guardian himself, however much he may yearn for this consummation, can decide where the duty of the individual lies, or supplant him in the discharge of that task.—Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith
So when we see injustice in the world, do we retreat into our Baha'i communities and avoid confronting others who are promoting lies and forcing people to do things against their will? What would a spiritual warrior do?
Kindness cannot be shown the tyrant, the deceiver, or the thief, because, far from awakening them to the error of their ways, it maketh them to continue in their perversity as before. No matter how much kindness ye expend upon the liar, he will but lie the more. —Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:138
Where we see poverty allowed to reach a condition of starvation, it is a sure sign that somewhere we shall find tyranny. Men must bestir themselves in this matter, and no longer delay in altering conditions which bring the misery of grinding poverty to a very large number of people. —‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks 153-154).
Like Tahirih, we are meant, it seems, to confront injustice, however uncomfortable this may be. Citizens have a civic duty to actively and peacefully engage in moving society towards justice. Are you a warrior for justice?
As we know, Bahá’ís cannot be involved in partisan politics but this doesn’t mean we can’t engage in activities that affect the whole body politic such as standing up for human rights.
In response to such propitious developments, may you, with “fixed resolve and perfect confidence,” and avoiding involvement in partisan politics, seize every opportunity to join your fellow citizens in promoting ideals conducive to the prosperity of your cherished homeland…—Universal House of Justice, December 25, 2007
Baha'is must be careful not to confuse partisan politics with human rights. While partisan politics often have a stance on human rights, the latter has nothing to do with the former. Human rights, like the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, are universal. Assisting human rights groups is a way to fight for universal truths, to live the Baha'i teachings, and to intermingle with like-minded souls who are more likely to be interested in what we believe. None of it needs to be at the expense of what we already are doing to deepen and grow our Faith.
So what can Bahá’ís be doing in addition to all the important activities we are already doing?
1. Do not be driven and immobilized by fear. We can’t think critically when we are fearful; it puts us in fight-or-flight mode which calls on our biases to make decisions (an evolutionary coping mechanism used only in emergencies where there is a lack of information and an immediate decision to be made). Consequently, herd-think drives the public narrative which is easily controlled by those who control the media; people act according to what information they are exposed to so the media moguls control the information they know will make people act a certain way. Relax. Take a few deep breaths. Know that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Furthermore, fear in itself weakens the immune system.
2. Independently investigate the truth. Look at reputable sources that have no vested interests, no history of corruption, and hard science confirming their viewpoints. I often work backwards by investigating the source of the information first to see if they are trustworthy.
Trustworthiness is the greatest portal leading unto the tranquillity and security of the people. In truth the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it. All the domains of power, of grandeur and of wealth are illumined by its light.8
The essence of all that We have revealed to thee is justice, for man to free himself from idle fancy and imitation. Discern with the eye of oneness His glorious handiwork and look into all things with a searching eye.9
3. Don’t assume anything. The future never unfolds as expected by most people. Go deep and wide in your research. Connect the dots. See what those in power have planned. Study their history. Know that anything is possible. When the lockdown began in March, 2020, we were told it would last just a few weeks. Six months later, we are still under the thumb of mostly unelected officials that use their authority to circumvent laws to control citizens to fulfill their hidden agendas. Do you really trust a government that limits your ability to worship and socialize, breathe fresh air, engage in commerce, run your business and enjoy the freedoms God granted and our Constitution guarantees?
4. Prepare for what’s to come. From the Bahá’í writings: “Any intelligent person can understand from the experiences of the last world war, and keeping abreast of what modern science has developed in the way of weapons for any future war, that big cities all over the world are going to be in tremendous danger.…He strongly believes that the field outside the big cities is more fertile, that the Bahá’ís in the end will be happier for having made this move, and that, in case of an outbreak of war, it stands to reason they will be safer, just the way any other person living in the country, or away from the big industrial areas, is safer.”10 (Rúhíyyih Khanúm repeated this exhortation at the 1992 World Congress). This is assuredly a spiritual battle against tyranny and injustice, and the removal of human rights. Part of counteracting these forces is being prepared physically and spiritually.
5. Don’t bow down to the forces of tyranny. We are living in a world-wide conflagration. Some have described it as WWIII.11 What we do today may depend on how many survive in the near future. Comply with the technocracy’s directives and you endorse and enable the strategies of the very people trying to take all your rights away which translates into more deaths and more slavery. Find ways to throw a monkey wrench into their plans. Peggy Hall of thehealthyamerican.org, knowing that the death and infection rates of covid19 were way below that of a pandemic, single-handedly demanded that Orange County, California rescind the mask-wearing ordinance citing the laws that govern the people and prevent the government from doing whatever they want. The next day they did just that. One person can move mountains. When your rights are violated, fight back peaceably with patience, persistence, and long-suffering. Depression comes from not having a purpose in consonance with the needs of the time in which we live.
You can follow the links at the bottom of this document to become better educated as to the major issues threatening our democracy. (By doing so you will become knowledgeable about the dangers of 5G, the dangers of unsafe and poorly tested vaccines and a monetary system that strips you of privacy such as that used in Communist China.) You can contact your representatives and congresspeople and ask if they are supporting 5G, mandatory vaccinations and absolute monetary tracking and put your vote where justice lies. You can contact your sheriff's department and ascertain whether they are going to uphold our Constitution, as is consonant with their oath. This is what a spiritual warrior does.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. —Benjamin Franklin
If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.—Thomas Jefferson
Coda
It bears repeating that unity not based on truth is shallow, artificial, and ephemeral. The Nazi youth that obeyed the Fuhrer were in unity but not the kind that could last for it was based on propaganda. Our condition is similar only we play the parts of both prisoners and executioners; in fear, we pray for justice, while at the same time we go along with the dangerous directives of those that are trying to control every aspect of our lives, some of us becoming snitches, contact tracers, and shamers of those who are only trying to save us from fascism.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman of Children’s Health Defense stated eloquently:
Led by Bill Gates, Silicon Valley applauded from the sidelines as medical charlatans fanned pandemic panic, confined the world population under house arrest, and shattered the global economy. Silicon Valley fattened as masked and isolated families turned to social media and Amazon. In five months, their quarantine put 58 million Americans out of work, permanently bankrupted over 100,000 small businesses including 41,000 Black-owned businesses some of which took three generations of investment to build.…The Tech Barons used the lockdown to accelerate construction of their 5G network of satellites, antennae, biometric facial recognition, and “track and trace” infrastructure that they will use to compel obedience, suppress dissent, and to manage the rage when Americans finally wake up to the fact that they have stolen our democracy, our civil rights, our country, and way of life while we huddled in orchestrated fear from a flu-like illness.12
Now is the time to wake up. We must see the connection between big tech, their damaging policies, and their financial interests in a universal “cure-all” (vaccines) which stand to make them billions while they denigrate inexpensive, known cures that can save millions of people.13
Final Comments: My wish is that our community will be more physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepared for what’s to come. If we realize that everything in this earthly existence is temporary but that our souls are eternal and will be reunited with the Concourse on High soon enough, we might be less afraid of taking chances. Our souls are immortal and nothing can harm us in the long run. We are soldiers in God’s army. Fearless. Ready to face the music.
In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest. —Titus Livy, Roman historian
Ours is the duty to fix our gaze with undeviating attention on the duties and responsibilities confronting us at this present hour, to concentrate our resources, both material and spiritual, on the tasks that lie immediately ahead, to ensure that no time is wasted, that no opportunity is missed, that no obligation is evaded, that no task is half-heartedly performed, that no decision is procrastinated. The task summoning us to a challenge, unprecedented in its gravity and force, is too vast and sacred, the time too short, the hour too perilous, the workers too few, the call too insistent, the resources too inadequate, for us to allow these precious and fleeting hours to slip from our grasp, and to suffer the prizes within our reach to be endangered or forfeited.—Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated 15 June 1946, in This Decisive Hour: Messages from Shoghi Effendi to the North American Bahá’ís, 1932–1946, no. 158, par. 22)
People and organizations worthy of our support:
https://thehighwire.com – Del Bigtree’s weekly show featuring high-profile guests https://thehighwire.com/videos/the-pandemic-hindsight-is-2020/ Great Overview https://www.icandecide.org – Fights for your right to make your own medical decisions https://childrenshealthdefense.org – Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s site: decades of fighting for justice https://makeamericansfreeagain.com YouTube: type Pamela Popper for updates on freedoms https://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/ – Dane Wigington explains weather warfare and latest events https://www.thehealthyamerican.org – Peggy Hall fights city hall on covid19 matters and wins. https://www.greenmedinfo.com/ – Sayer Ji hosts one of the largest health databases + current news https://www.mercola.com/ – Dr. Mercola’s health articles and current covid19 blogs https://www.activistpost.com – Articles and videos of current events you won’t see on MSM https://www.itnj.org – International Tribunal for Natural Justice
Information on the three critical issues:5Ghttps://childrenshealthdefense.org/protecting-our-future/facts-you-can-use/5g/chds-dafna-tachover-clears-up-the-confusion-surrounding-5g/https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/chds-dafna-tachover-talks-about-5g-dangers-with-rt-america/
Vaccinationshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=bYKGXDm3a00&feature=emb_logo – overviewhttps://youtu.be/IfnJi7yLKgE – Kennedy vs. Derchowitz debatehttps://www.icandecide.org – The Great Vaccine Safety Debatehttps://www.nvic.org/about.aspx – An independent clearinghouse for information on diseases and vaccine science, policy, law and the ethical principle of informed consent. https://thetruthaboutvaccines.com – Portal to lots of info on vaccines
Digital economy and loss of privacyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1524&v=1Pb5-qkMdFM&feature=emb_logo –Catherine Austin Fitts
FOOTNOTES:
1 https://www.bitchute.com/video/x4U4FLgBkAE9/
2 https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/investigation-google-search-autosuggestions-program-users-pro-pharma-anti-health-
3 https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/tech-titans-and-censorship-the-same-people-profiting-from-the-quarantine-are-censoring-criticisms-of-it/?utm_source=salsa&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=362cc1c6-4ad0-472f-9cd5-3ff16de1f106
4 https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/how-bill-gates-controls-global-messaging-and-censorship/
5 https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights/what-does-it-say
6 https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/mile_markers_of_tyranny_losing_our_freedoms_on_the_road_from_9_11_to_covid_19
7 https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/lockdown-lunacy-the-thinking-persons-guide/
8 Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 33-44: gr17
9 Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh
10 Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 134
11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPQFNY0jZQ
12 https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/tech-titans-and-censorship-the-same-people-profiting-from-the-quarantine-are-censoring-criticisms-of-it/
13 https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/two-tiered-medicine-why-is-hydroxychloroquine-being-censored-and-politicized/
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