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Standing up for others is the right thing to do, every human goes through a period of invincibility to vulnerability, if we don't stand up for those who are vulnerable, then who will stand up for us when we are vulnerable? Father Moon emphasizes the idea, "Living for the sake of others" indeed there is a lot of wisdom in it as Martin Niemoller also reflects it in his eternal poem, "first they came for the Jews, I wasn't a Jew, so I did not say a thing, then they came for Communists, I didn't care, I wasn't a communist, then he concludes, then they came for me and it shattered me to know that there was no one left to speak up for me." The idea of alms, charity, taking care of the elderly, weak, sick and the children is a common theme in every religious tradition. It is indeed an insurance for every one's well being. I cannot be at peace when others around me aren't, and hence it behooves me to take care of the ones who need assistance.
I have stood up for Jews, Catholics,
Ahmadiyyas, Immigrants, Hindus, Falun Dafa, Zoroastrians,
Muslims, Native Americans, Christians, Baha'i, Wicca, Sikh
and other identities of humanity. It is the right thing to
do.
Please note that I am no more of a volunteer than you
are, if I have not spoken out against one of your dear
causes, it is simply because not being aware and having only
24 hours in a day. If you would like to share it with me,
please do so in the comments section. I hope you see
the trend and not focus on "me, me and me" and only see you
in these and not others. On Saturday, September 4, 2010 in Houston at the interfaith symposium at the Ahmadiyya Mosque, I quoted Father Moon's drive, "Living for the sake of others" and expanded on it. We don't have to do it for God, or even claim it to be the noble" thing to do. We have to do it, because it is the right thing to do. That is also the wisdom from Bhagvad Gita. Keep doing the work and let the creator decide which way it goes, but don't look for the fruit, your job is to just do it. Twice in my life I have seen Mahatma Gandhi, the first time was when I was in College around 1971, when Mahatma Gandhi, the vice-chancellor of Bangalore University Sri V. Narsimaiah and I were having a dinner together and Mahatma puts his hands on my shoulders and says, "tujhe bahut kaam karna hai beta", you have a lot of work to do son, and again around 2003, he appears in my dreams and with the same affectionate hand (as my Dad's), he pats on my back, "you have to do it"... the only thing I consistently get from this message was the work of Pluralism, help me God, I am committed to do.
Today, I received a note from John Halsey, Dallas ACLC (American
Clergy leadership conference) how we would not let go of a
Minister's negative remarks towards Muslims. Then the thought of
putting together some the of work I have done came to my mind,
and here it is, by the next week, I will have most of the work
listed. Thank you John. # # # To be updated, God has blessed me to be a part of many a societies and I am thankful for the same. I urge you to knock off one hour's TV or gossip and spend that time standing up for others, the least you can do is to let them know that you are with them and that they are not alone. Standing
up for Sikhs Standing
up for Muslim Women's rights Standing
up for Zoroastrians Standing
up for Buddhists Standing
up for Atheists Standing
up against Holocaust denial Standing
up for Wicca Standing
up for Palestinians Standing up for African Americans Standing
up for Dalit's in India
Standing up for Bosnians You are welcome to leave your comments at: Comments |
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