What if we had One Auxiliary World Language??

As one of its social principles, the Bahá’í faith teaches that an auxiliary world language should be selected by the representatives of all the world's nations.

“Language follows its own path. It can bridge gulfs of class and geography in
the most remarkable ways.”[1]

Would an auxiliary world language be the solution to many of the afflictions in which lays the society of today?
Could such an instrument enhance and implement the progress that a new civilization would bear once the lack of direct communication and the resulting misunderstanding would be leveled?
The answer to those questions is certainly “Yes!”
How many languages and dialect will be abandoned and die in this process we do not know. It can be argued that selecting an auxiliary world language above the others, could help preserve the traditional languages of each culture and sub-culture, provoking in a short period of time the whole world to shift from a monolingual education into a bilingual; as already prophesized by Graddol, but not yet widely realized.
If this could be prompted in the education system of every nation, in two or three generations we would see the effects. The possible scenario could be that of an environment where the study and use of the English Language, channelled into specific domains of the daily interaction, would run parallel to that of the mother language even to a regional dialect, maybe a city's slang too. The vernacular language of a region or country, the native dialect and the English Language would then coexist everywhere.
That an auxiliary world language should be selected by the representatives of all the world's nations is an undeniable resolution, which the governments have to take for the betterment of the conditions of the present world. English Language has demonstrated to be the auxiliary world language more than just in a mere potentiality. It is already used, though unconsciously by its speakers, in such a way. What will enhance its position and release its powers in the future could only be the possible recognition by a council in majority of governments to adopt it as official instrument to free the world; freeing it from the hindrance that keeps humanity aback from communicate effectively between peoples of different nations. It can be argued that this recognition would lack of impartiality; that choosing English over other system of communication requires defining a standard; that Chinese speakers are still superior in number to English speakers; that the language of the future could be invented today or tomorrow; and many numerous other objections of this kind. If just for one moment we could step out of the confusion and objectively consider that what humanity really need is not a refined perfect system to express them selves, because this role is already impeccably occupied by the infinite number of tongues; which have been developed so beautifully since the dawn in which the first speech has been uttered. Everyday this diversity permits to every speaker to express the endless range of thoughts that are generated by every single mind, it makes mankind the only creature in the condition to dominate the world of existence by claiming the ownership with a simple action: to name everything they discover; amplifying every kind of dominion that could possibly be considered in the abstract or concrete form. What the future civilization, the next offspring that will inherit this planet would need is an auxiliary language, that would cover the lack that the world’s variety has produced and be a bridge connector to develop new patterns towards the rise of further latent conquests. For such a role English Language is already giving its silent contribution. As history has taught, once it will be taken seriously in consideration it will start to change and mutate at a higher speed rate, according to the necessity of an even smaller world of that in which we live in today. Since the one emerging now it is not a new born idiom, but a foetus still developing its features and organs. Eventually it will be delivered widely through a more organized and structured education’s system, and then every new generation, from that turning point on, will add its own to the refinement of the English Auxiliary World Language.

[1] Robert McCrum, British novelist, editor, and critic, in McCrum et al. (1986) The Story of English

Fast - Day 4...

"O Son of Utterance!

Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe forevermore, thy quest will be in vain." Baha'u'llah

The holy period of the Fast has started! As it was approaching my soul was sensing the infinite possibilities of bounties that derive from each hour of these 19 days in which my habits are changed and I find myself thrown off the ususal "balance" we all create in daily life. With new time on my palm and 100 things I wish to do, have to give a priority!

Now that is here I realized I am still not living it a it fullest... I'm not following the list of bad habits to be replaced by good ones, I'm not yet studying the book chosen for this period! But the spiritual energy I usually feel coming from a higher source is already surrounding me. Therefore, today will be devoted to fill these gaps, with no excess, but moderation! It's never too late to start from where we've planned to!

This period is the best one for me in the whole year, litteraly new energies flow in me and I feel re-borning day by day!

The key virtue is DETACHMENT... "in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self." to practice it is the challenge because all in me, my body, my thoughts demand in me different input...

When I'm in bed and the alarm clock rings at 5.30 (I want to do all things quietly, no rush for breakfast and starting prayers just as the sky becomes clearer) I have to pull myself out of bed. I miss doing the breakfast with my family in the happy chattering and try to fill the silence with some music or the news... but this silence actually gives me time to reflect on the day ahead! The struggle starts immediately after I've finished with prayers and meditation, because a part of me says "it's early.. go back to the warmth of the bed!!" especially when have no lesson, like yesterday and today! But here will come in my help the book and with some sun a walk to the park will be next! Apart from these practical motivations, these time recalls me to deeper meditation on the big and small questions of life....

And that's only the beginning of this period! Wish everyone a great Fasting!

Bahai Conference in London 3-4 January 2009

A wave of Love has been ripple out of the Center of the Covenant in the heart of the Middle East, the port city of Haifa, Israel. Summoning the believers from every corner of the globe, to meet in 41 Conferences that took place all around it, for the only purpose of celebrate the achievements the Baha'ì world community has produced in its services to humanity.

"At the top of Mount Carmel a little light goes on when 9 souls meet and then wonders happen...." -That's how my sister on the telephone tried to convey to me her feelings, while serving in the Most Holy Place on earth for the Baha'is of all the World. I thought of her and all the marvelous youth I know, which are serving there and have the bounty to see, meet and talk to these 9 souls, who dedicate their lives to the Administration of His Cause.

The 3 days I've spent with my brother Badi, and the 2friends who were hosting us, Nushin & Reema, were absolutely celestial. While going each morning to the conference, held at the Business Centre in Inslington, London, we witnessed the participation of 3100 people from the British Isles, Ireland, Island, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, Finland gathering from every side of the city. Childre,Youth, Adults and Old. A colorful garden, an impressive river when in the morning, at lunch break and evening, people would ripple in and out of the venue.

There is more I'd like to convey... but emotions are too many.
I just wish you all to be reached one day by these waves of Love!

For more info click on this: 41 CONFERENCES

Where do we stand?

"The crisis consist precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new
cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms
appear." Antonio Gramsci - Prison Notebooks

I went to watch a movie that the spanish professor was screening at Uni, there ought to be English subtitles... well, I end up watching it all in Spanish and Catalan, understanding the general idea, though it was interesting from the linguistic view point as discovered the many similarities with Italian (I never studied Spanish, therefore have no clue about this language).

The movie: Salvador Puig Antich, is about one of the last execution that Francisco Franco ordered, in a Spain not yet in transition towards the democracy.

I must admitt that I'm totally ignorant about Spanish history of the 70' and have no idea of what meant living under Franco tiranny... what I well understand is that like every dictatorship, many things weren't allowed (like speaking Catalan); freedom was a word many were longing to actualize, but all were afraid to even utter it.

Of course there were people enjoying such a life as had an axe to grind. Salvador is depicted as this handsome, well-educated, brilliant student. Is loved by his parents and his 4 sisters, is a sweetheart in the eyes of those that come to know him, even to his prison warder.

But there is a reason if such a person is in prison... with his university's mates he has set up an anarchist movement called MIL (Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación), which they fund through an escalation of robberies... he is a bank-robber!

The boy is also charged for the death of a young policeman and convicted to death penalty through a painful system... soon becomes the symbol of the need of change.

Things turns very emotional and Salvador is regarded as a hero, a martyr. I wasn't crying (though horrified for the cruel death)... no matter what Machiavelli says... "Il fine giustifica i mezzi" ----> "The end justifies the means"... (sorry for the pour translation... is the only one I found), but I don't agree! How could we think that to eliminate injustice we should use the same tools? Tiranny, lies, war... can't be overcome by their equals... sure, what was happening moved the coscience of his countrymen, but I suspect that they started to wonder and react when the worst occured.

Salvador's life is put to an end in a horrible way, the death was given by a medieval tool, which doesn't kill immediately and the poor boy is left in agony as no one has the heart (or doesn't have??) to finish him.

The debate that followed the movie was pointing out the necessity we have to rationalize and regain the memory of events which have been obscured while happening... is it really like this? No one, in power to do something, knew what was happening in Franco's Spain?

For sure today's media are in power to let know and can reach every level of society, informing throughout the world what happens in the lowliest country... still reactions are slowly, in certain cases even non-existent.

I wonder how many death, how many people suffering injustice occour today before we start reacting.... I bet today Hitler would have been stop.... or not???

Or are we that numb that we let things happen and then grieve over them?? Decreeing Memory Days and let our children judge what we did on their history book!! Having them to watch touching movies to know the truth... what really happened and why no one did nothing to change things, to prevent things!!

Will we say that a mad man accidently came in power and that the horde of blind, order-followers couldn't help... will we excuse ourself somehow??

Is this what we will see in the future for the Bahai religious minority in Ahamdinejad's Iran??

How many signs of oppression and injustice should we count before realizing what is happening under our own very eyes?? Yesterday as Today...

The Bahais in Iran have decided to act differently from Salvador, their means aren't the oppressor's means... no! Their weapon is love! Love towards God, Love and Service for their fellow countrymen and women!!

Deaf & blind, the world goes on

This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so glorious, faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He it is who constitutes the warp and woof on which the quality and pattern of the whole fabric must depend. He it is who acts as one of the countless links in the mighty chain that now girdles the globe. He it is who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which support the structure and insure the stability of the administrative edifice now being raised in every part of the world. Without his support, at once whole-hearted, continuous and 131 generous, every measure adopted, and every plan formulated, by the body which acts as the national representative of the community to which he belongs, is foredoomed to failure. The World Center of the Faith itself is paralyzed if such a support on the part of the rank and file of the community is denied it. The Author of the Divine Plan Himself is impeded in His purpose if the proper instruments for the execution of His design are lacking. The sustaining strength of Bahá'u'lláh Himself, the Founder of the Faith, will be withheld from every and each individual who fails in the long run to arise and play his part.
(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 130)


ARSONISTS IN IRAN TARGET BAHA'I HOMES, VEHICLESNEW YORK, 28 July 2008 (BWNS) --

Acts of arson targeting homes and vehicles are the latest violent tactics directed against the Baha'is of Iran."In the early hours of the morning of 18 July, the house of the Shaaker family in Kerman went up in flames, only weeks after their car had been torched and in the wake of a series of threatening phone calls," said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations."As would be expected in the light of the mistreatment Baha'is in Iran are routinely receiving, the officials who investigated the fire either ignored or dismissed obvious signs of suspicious activity, including a muffled explosion, simply saying that it was the result of an electrical problem," she said.At least a dozen cases of arson that target Baha'is have been reported in Iran in the last 15 months, Ms. Dugal said. She gave the following examples:-
- On 15 July at 1:15 a.m., Molotov cocktails were thrown into the front courtyard of the home of Khusraw Dehghani and his wife, Dr. Huma Agahi, in Vilashahr, only months after anonymous threats directly related to her being a Baha'i forced Dr. Agahi to close her clinic in nearby Najafabad where she had practiced medicine for 28 years.-
- On 25 July, the car of a prominent Baha'i in Rafsanjan, in Kerman province, was torched and destroyed by arsonists on motorbikes. Soheil Naeimi, the owner of the car, and 10 other Baha'i families in the town had received threatening letters from a group calling itself the Anti-Baha'ism Movement of the Youth of Rafsanjan that, among other things, threatened jihad (holy war) against the Baha'is.-
- On 10 June, an outbuilding on the property of the Mr. and Mrs. Mousavi, elderly Baha'is living in the village of Tangriz in Fars province, was destroyed by fire when it was doused with gasoline. The Mousavis, along with their two sons who were sleeping close to the building, narrowly escaped injury when the gasoline tank used to start the fire exploded. The Mousavis believe that the perpetrator thought they were all sleeping in the hut when he set the fire. Mr. Mousavi issued a formal complaint against the person they suspected, but the legal office has declined to pursue the case because the suspect swore on the Qur'an that he was not guilty. Out of respect for the Qur'an, the Mousavis have dropped the charges.-
- On 4 April, the home of a Baha'i was set on fire in Babolsar, in the north of Iran. -
- In February in Shiraz, a 53-year-old businessman was attacked on the street, chained to a tree, doused with gasoline, and assaulted by unknown persons who then attempted to throw lighted matches at him. -
- Also in Shiraz in February, several arson attempts were made against vehicles and a home belonging to Baha'is.-
- On 1 May 2007, arson destroyed the home of 'Abdu'l-Baqi Rouhani in the village of Ivil, in Mazandaran.-
- In Karaj, the burial section of a Baha'i cemetery was set on fire."These latest attacks follow the authorities' attempts to deprive the Iranian Baha'i community of its leadership," Ms. Dugal said, referring to the arrests in March and May this year of the seven members of Iran's national Baha'i coordinating group, all of whom are still locked up in Evin Prison in Tehran without any charges and without access to an attorney or to their families."

As Baha'is worldwide watch with alarm this escalation in violence," she added, "their fears that a sinister plan of persecution is unfolding become increasingly confirmed. Their only hope is that enough voices of protests are raised around the world to compel the government in Iran to put an end to this violence."