rity gives them
the right to exploit for their own advantage, or even to exterminate,
weaker races. Many of the blackest pages in the world's history are
examples of the pitiless application of this principle. According to the
Baha'i view people of every race are of equal value in the sight of God.
All have wonderful innate capacities which only require suitable education
for their development, and each can play a part, which, instead of
impoverishing, will enrich and complete the life of all the other members
of the body of humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha says:--

Concerning the prejudice of race; it is an illusion, a
superstition pure and simple, for God created us all of one
race.... 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
different between the various races. Why should man invent such a
prejudice? How can we uphold war caused by such an illusion? God
has not created men that they should destroy one another. All
races, tribes, sects and classes share equally in the bounty of
their Heavenly Father.

The only real difference lies in the degree of faithfulness, of
obedience to the laws of God. There are some who are as lighted
torches; there are others who shine as stars in the sky of
humanity.

The lovers of mankind, these are the superior men, of whatever
nation, creed or color they may be.

Equally mischievous with racial prejudice is political or patriotic
prejudice. The time has now come when narrow national patriotisms should
be merged in the wider patriotism whose country is the world. Baha'u'llah
says:--

Of old it hath been revealed: "Love of one's country is an element
of the Faith of God." The Tongue of Grandeur hath ... in the day
of His manifestation proclaimed: "It is not his to boast who
loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world." Through
the power released by these exalted words He hath lent a fresh
impulse, and set a new direction, to the birds of men's hearts,
and hath obliterated every trace of restriction and limitation
from God's Holy Book.--Tablet of the World.

Territorial Ambitions

Many are the wars which have been fought over pieces of territory whose
possession has been coveted by two or more rival nations. The greed of
posse