THE ELIMINATION OF PREJUDICE
 
The  fundamental  purpose of all the  teachings  of  Baha'u'llah, 
Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, is the promotion of  concord 
and cooperation among all the peoples of the world.  He states:
 
     "Ye  were created to show love one to another  and  not 
     perversity  and  rancor.  Take pride not  in  love  for 
     yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures." 
 
Baha'u'llah  teaches that prejudices, whether religious,  racial, 
patriotic  or  political are destructive to  the  foundations  of 
human development.  Prejudices of any kind are the destroyers  of 
human  happiness and welfare.  Until they are dispelled  the  ad-
vancement of the world of humanity is not possible.
 

The  Universal  House  of Justice, world governing  body  of  the 
Baha'i Faith, states in its treatise titled "The Promise of World 
Peace",
 
     "Racism, one of the most baneful and persistent  evils, 
     is a major barrier to peace.  Its practice  perpetrates 
     too  outrageous  a violation of the  dignity  of  human 
     beings  to be countenanced under any  pretext.   Racism 
     retards the unfoldment of the boundless  potentialities 
     of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and  blights 
     human progress.  Recognition of the oneness of mankind, 
     implemented  by  appropriate legal  measures,  must  be 
     universally upheld if this problem is to be overcome."  
 
Prejudice  takes many obvious forms - from physical violence,  to 
economic oppression.  But we must also eliminate the more  subtle 
manifestations  of  prejudice, such as  assumptions  of  personal 
superiority  over other classes, races or nations.  This  is  the 
most  difficult aspect of eliminating prejudice because it  deals 
with our deepest feelings and beliefs, many of which we hold on a 
subconscious  level.  It is critical to realign our thoughts  and 

highest  convictions to those of true acceptance of  all  people, 
because these thoughts are what drive our conscious actions.
 
'Abdu'l-Baha, eldest son of Baha'u'llah, explains,
 
     "Concerning the prejudice of race: it is an illusion, a 
     superstition  pure and simple!  For God created us  all 
     of  one race.  There were no differences in the  begin-
     ning,  for  we  are all descendants of  Adam.   In  the 
     beginning,  also, there were no limits  and  boundaries 
     between  the  different  lands; no part  of  the  earth 
     belonged  more to one people than to another.   In  the 
     sight of God there is no difference between the various 
     races.   Why should man invent such a  prejudice?   How 
     can we uphold war caused by an illusion?"  
 
In the same way that the variety of hues and shapes of flowers in 
a  garden contribute to its overall beauty, Baha'is believe  that 
the  diversity of the human family is something to celebrate  and 
protect, not fear.