The Baha'is of Flower Mound will meet tonight to make preparation for the most important date of the calendar:

Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith. Below is a letter for discussion.

"As this auspicious year of the 200th anniversary of the Blessed Beauty’s Birth continues its rapid progress, we

felt it timely to remind you of valuable resources currently available to you in the planning of your bicentenary

observances, and to share our joy in the exciting news recently received from the Universal House of Justice

of some additional resources that are forthcoming. One option given is:  Hosting a special dinner party to share

the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh with friends, neighbors, and other guests. Finally, we share your joy in news

recently received from the Supreme Body that? to support your efforts to mark the bicentenary?it has

commissioned the production of a film on the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. In its letter announcing this

development, the House of Justice expressed the hope that the friends, “will put on screenings that stimulate

conversations about the Person of Bahá’u’lláh, about how He was willing to bear extraordinary hardship so that

humankind might be rescued from its confusion and suffering, and about how He now inspires the efforts of

millions of people who derive from His teachings inner strength and spiritual direction for their lives.”

Be assured of our prayers that abundant blessings and confirmations may attend your efforts to befittingly

celebrate this historic occasion and to seize “to its fullest extent” the unparalleled teaching opportunities it presents!

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

Baha'is of Flower Mound received some welcome news on December 17, 2015! What a JOY!

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed resolution 148 “condemning the government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.” The Resolution directly calls on the government of Iran to release the seven leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community, who have been imprisoned since 2008; the Baha’i teachers and administrators who have been imprisoned for providing education to Baha’i youth; and all other prisoners held on account of their religion in Iran. The Resolution also urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to “utilize available authorities . . . to impose sanctions on officials of the government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for serious human rights abuses,” including those against the Baha’i community. Senate Resolution 148 was passed hours after the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution expressing concern about a range of human rights violations in Iran, including the persecution of the Baha’i community, which is the largest non-Muslim religious minority group in the country.

 “More than 5 million members of the Baha’i Faith worldwide celebrate and respect the equality of all mankind – but in Iran these members continue to be persecuted simply for being Baha’i worshippers,” said Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who introduced Senate Resolution 148. “The prisoners of conscience in Iran, like the Baha’i seven who have been unjustly imprisoned, must not be forgotten and the regime must be held accountable for the injustices committed against innocent religious groups like the Baha’is." Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), one of the Resolution’s authors and an original cosponsor, noted that Iran’s persecution of the Baha’is is emblematic of wider repression in the country: “The Iranian regime continues to imprison journalists and human rights defenders, restrict the rights of women, and persecute ethnic and religious minorities. America must continue to stand with the Baha’is and with all Iranians who are struggling to lead free and peaceful lives.”

The situation of the Baha’is – who constitute Iran’s largest religious minority – is increasingly precarious. A total of 71 Baha’is are in prison, including the seven leaders of Iran’s Baha’i community, who were jailed in 2008. While recent reports indicate that their sentences have been belatedly reduced from 20 years to 10 years, in line with changes to the Iranian Penal Code introduced in May 2013, Baha’is continue to suffer arbitrary arrest and detention. There are currently nine Baha’is who have been imprisoned for their efforts to educate Baha’i youth who are excluded from the nation’s university system due to their religion. One educator, Azita Rafizadeh, last month began serving a four-year sentence, and her husband, Payman Koushk-Baghi, is expected to begin serving a five-year sentence imminently – leaving their six-year-old son without his parents.

Baha’is continue to face other serious forms of systematic persecution, as well. They are barred from government employment, their homes are raided and their property seized, their marriages are not recognized, and their cemeteries are desecrated. In recent months, the government has targeted Baha’i-owned businesses, sealing dozens of shops for their observance of Baha’i holy days, and the government controlled media has dramatically increased its efforts to incite hatred against the Baha’is using anti-Baha’i propaganda. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), another original cosponsor of the Resolution, underscored the need for continued action: “I am glad to see the passage of this important resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s violations of human rights and urging the Administration to do more to aid the situation. All over the world, fundamental human rights are violated for reasons of religion, race, gender, disability, political views, and other characteristics. It is crucial to speak out for fundamental rights and freedoms if minority communities like the Baha’is in Iran are to live without fear.”  “We are heartened to see the passage of this resolution with strong bipartisan support. The human rights situation in general – and for the Baha’is in particular – has worsened in the last two years since President Hassan Rouhani took office,” said Mr. Kenneth E. Bowers, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. “This resolution lets the Iranian government know that the eyes of a watching world are upon it.”

Several local Baha'is have either personally experienced persecution, have relatives that are included in the list mentioned above, or have fled Iran due to fear of persecution. Despite these hardships, the Baha'is remain goal-oriented towards building a spiritual community in whichever country they may reside.  The Baha'i community of Flower Mound appreciates the ability to network with other like-minded service-oriented faith organizations to serve our community's spiritual needs. To be a Baha'i simply means to love all humanity to try to serve it. We must all lend a hand to fellow humans of every race, color, creed, gender, nationality, origin, social status, and capacity in order that we can begin a new worldwide civilization for mankind where we are united in peace and harmony.

Peace on earth begins with one step by each person in eradicating prejudice of all kind. This step by the U.S. Senate will go a long way towards promoting safety, welfare, and security for the Baha'is in Iran and many other Muslim countries.

Race Unity Day will be celebrated day June 14, 2015 in Flower Mound.

This is a national event to celebrate race unity. Baha’is of Flower Mound have been sponsors of the Martin Luther King day celebrations for 22 years. This day provides another opportunity for everyone in the community to celebrate and appreciate each other. On this wonderful occasion, as we all learn to become color-blind, let’s look at a talk given 113 years ago on this topic. The talk was given on 23 April 1912, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Translated by Amin Banani.

Today I am most happy, for I see here a gathering of the servants of God. I see white and black sitting together. There are no whites and blacks before God. All colors are one, and that is the color of servitude to God. Scent and color are not important. The heart is important. If the heart is pure, white or black or any color makes no difference. God does not look at colors; He looks at the hearts. He whose heart is pure is better. He whose character is better is more pleasing. He who turns more to the Abhá Kingdom is more advanced. In the realm of existence colors are of no importance. Observe in the mineral kingdom colors are not the cause of discord. In the vegetable kingdom the colors of multicolored flowers are not the cause of discord. Rather, colors are the cause of the adornment of the garden because a single color has no appeal; but when you observe many-colored flowers, there is charm and display. The world of humanity, too, is like a garden, and humankind are like the many-colored flowers. Therefore, different colors constitute an adornment. In the same way, there are many colors in the realm of animals. Doves are of many colors; nevertheless, they live in utmost harmony. They never look at color; instead, they look at the species. How often white doves fly with black ones. In the same way, other birds and varicolored animals never look at color; they look at the species. Now ponder this: Animals, despite the fact that they lack reason and understanding, do not make colors the cause of conflict. Why should man, who has reason, create conflict? This is wholly unworthy of him. Especially white and black are the descendants of the same Adam; they belong to one household. In origin they were one; they were the same color. Adam was of one color. Eve had one color. All humanity is descended from them. Therefore, in origin they are one. These colors developed later due to climates and regions; they have no significance whatsoever. Therefore, today I am very happy that white and black have gathered together in this meeting. I hope this coming together and harmony reaches such a degree that no distinctions shall remain between them, and they shall be together in the utmost harmony and love. But I wish to say one thing in order that the blacks may become grateful to the whites and the whites become loving toward the blacks. If you go to Africa and see the blacks of Africa, you will realize how much progress you have made. Praise be to God! You are like the whites; there are no great distinctions left. But the blacks of Africa are treated as servants. The first proclamation of emancipation for the blacks was made by the whites of America. How they fought and sacrificed until they freed the blacks! Then it spread to other places. The blacks of Africa were in complete bondage, but your emancipation led to their freedom also—that is, the European states emulated the Americans, and the emancipation proclamation became universal. It was for your sake that the whites of America made such an effort. Were it not for this effort, universal emancipation would not have been proclaimed. Therefore, you must be very grateful to the whites of America, and the whites must become very loving toward you so that you may progress in all human grades. Strive jointly to make extraordinary progress and mix together completely. In short, you must be very thankful to the whites who were the cause of your freedom in America. Had you not been freed, other blacks would not have been freed either. Now—praise be to God!—everyone is free and lives in tranquillity. I pray that you attain to such a degree of good character and behavior that the names of black and white shall vanish. All shall be called human, just as the name for a flight of doves is dove. They are not called black and white. Likewise with other birds.

I hope that you attain to such a high degree—and this is impossible except through love. You must try to create love between yourselves; and this love does not come about unless you are grateful to the whites, and the whites are loving toward you, and endeavor to promote your advancement and enhance your honor. This will be the cause of love. Differences between black and white will be completely obliterated; indeed, ethnic and national differences will all disappear. I am very happy to see you and thank God that this meeting is composed of people of both races and that both are gathered in perfect love and harmony. I hope this becomes the example of universal harmony and love until no title remains except that of humanity. Such a title demonstrates the perfection of the human world and is the cause of eternal glory and human happiness. I pray that you be with one another in utmost harmony and love and strive to enable each other to live in comfort. Abdul-Baha met audiences of all back grounds when he was in these United States in 1912.

KRISH DHANAM  KEYNOTE  SPEAKER FOR DR. KING COMMEMORATION

The Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be hosting the 22^nd Dr. King Commemoration on Sunday, January 18, at 6:30pm at the Lewisville High School Auditorium.  The theme this year is “Diversity: Our Beloved Community”. Mr. Krish Dhanam, will be the speaker, and entertainment will be provided by the Downing Middle School Orchestra; the Lewisville High School Choir and African American Step Team; an oration by Rev. Paul and students and the Servant House Children’s Choir.

Mr. Dhanam, a native of India, arrived in the United States, in 1986, with only nine dollars in his pocket and a desire to achieve the American Dream. In 1991, he became a member of the Zig Ziglar Corporation. With Zig Ziglar as a mentor, he learned firsthand the lessons from Ziglar’s book, See You at the Top and eventually became Vice President of Training Worldwide and Director of International Operations for Ziglar Training Systems. In addition to being a phenomenal motivational speaker and worldwide trainer, he is the author of the book, The American Dream: From an Indian Heart.

 Prizes will be awarded to the fourth through twelfth grade winners of the Dr. King Art and Essay Contests.  The winners’ art will be on display at the program and will later be displayed at the LISD Bolin Administration Building.  Excerpts from winners’ essays will also be displayed.  

The program is sponsored by:  The Town of Flower Mound, Lewisville Independent School District, Medical Center of Lewisville, Lewisville HS African American Club, Baha'is of Flower Mound, Davoodi Family Medicine, Tau Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Greater Denton County Chapter of The Links, Inc., Vernell Gregg, JoAnn Weaver, Supercuts of Flower Mound-Lewisville, Masood-Buford Family, Saberre Law Firm, Mark Saunders and Joan Park-Saunders and Minuteman Press-Lewisville-Grapevine.

For Info. (972) 410-3682  Dr. Fariborz Davoodi, Chair               www.MLKofNorthTexas.org