The following letter, dated 15 June 1992, was sent to President Bush 
by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States 
and underscores the importance placed by the Baha'i Faith on the issue 
of race unity.
 
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TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
 
  A CALL TO ELIMINATE RACISM
 
 
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT:
 
No American can look with indifference upon the tragedy relentlessly 
unfolding in our cities.  Its causes lie beyond a particular verdict 
or a particular act of oppression.  The fires and deaths in Los 
Angeles are only symptoms of an old congenital disease eating at the 
vitals of American society, a disease that has plagued our country 
ever since slaves were brought from Africa to these shores by their 
early settlers.
 
The Abolitionist movement, the Civil War, the Reconstruction, the 
various legislative acts dealing with civil rights, are so many 
milestones on the path of progress, but they have fallen far short of 
society's needs and have not eliminated the ingrained racism that 
blights our existence as a nation.  America's history is a history of 
advance and retreat, efforts toward improvement and the abandonment of 
such efforts before they had borne fruit.
 
The solution to the problem of racism is not simple.  Its material 
requirements are well known.  They include the provision of economic 
security and elimination of poverty, the education of the young and 
care of the old.  But the spiritual requirements have been 
persistently neglected.  America has not done enough to demonstrate 
her commitment to the equality and unity of races, to the dignity of 
all human beings whatever their color, and to the moral imperative of 
extending love and respect to the entire human family.
 
Ever since its inception a century ago the American Baha'i community, 
inspired by the teachings of Baha'u'llah has made the elimination of 
racism one of its principal goals.  Baha'is have ceaselessly warned 
that discrimination and oppression would lead to strife, that "enmity 
will increase day by day, and the final result will be hardship and 
...bloodshed."  They have worked, and pledge to continue to strive, 
for the eradication of all forms of prejudice, hatred, and injustice 
and for the fulfillment of the noble dream of peace and unity of all 
peoples, races, and creeds.
 
We appeal to you, Mr. President, and all our fellow citizens, not to 
turn away from this "most vital and challenging issue."  We plead for 
supreme effort on the part of public and private institutions, 
schools, and the media, business and the arts, and most all of all to 
individual Americans to join hands, accept the sacrifices this issue 
must impose, show forth the "care and vigilance it demands, the moral 
courage and fortitude it requires, the tact and sympathy it necessitates"
so that true and irreversible progress may be made and the promise of 
this great country may not be buried under the rubble of our cities.
 
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF THE UNITED STATES
536 Sheridan Road 
Wilmette, Illinois 60091 
(708) 869-9039   (202) 265-8830