College Students urged to "Survive the Sexual Revolution"

by Gary Caron-NYC

A new educational presentation for reaching college students about the consequences of the revolution in sexual attitudes and values that took place in the U.S. and around the world starting in the 1960's was released by the Center for Educational Media in March, 1994. The inaugural program was presented to approximately 30 students at Mt. St. Mary's College in Newburgh, N.Y. on March 30, 1994.

The presentation, called "Surviving the Sexual Revolution", consists of 127 slides. The program was presented by Richard A. Panzer who has developed several educational programs that deal with love and sexuality including a recently released 40 page booklet, Love, Sex, and AIDS: teaching our children in the Age of AIDS which discusses the different approaches to AIDS education, their underlying assumptions and track records. Mr. Panzer is founder of the Center for Educational Media.

One college student's response was: "very realistic, moral values were not imposed, very relevant to our everyday lives. I feel this should be shown to young adolescents to show the realities of sex". Another commented: "not one-sided, shows what happens to children who are not raised by 2 parent families". Another stated: "everyone should watch this starting at Junior High School". Finally, one student stated his agreement with the program's theme: "the sexual revolution has turned sex into just another thing. It's not a meaningful thing anymore."

The slide presentation is divided into two parts. Part One, "Welcome to the World of HIV and other STD's" discusses the explosion in sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) in the U.S. that began after the "Sexual Revolution" in the 60's and 70's. Many graphic slides of gonorrhea, syphilis, condyloma, AIDS, and other STD's are shown as well as of several young men and women who were infected with the AIDS virus as teenagers. Part One concludes by pointing out several studies indicating that the use of contraceptives and condoms is unlikely to reduce the spread of AIDS and any of the other STD's.

Part Two of the presentation discusses the impact of the Sexual Revolution on our society, discussing the shift in attitudes regarding marriage and family . The exponential rise of family breakdown, divorce, and out-of-wedlock births and the link to such chronic problems as crime, poverty, poor physical and mental health, and declining academic performance is documented. The presentation concludes by challenging students to reflect on how their own personal decisions about sex and marriage will affect the future of our country.

An Unforgettable Experience For Rys Participants In Atlanta, Georgia

by Scott Quinn

For once, this RYS project wasn't held in another country and didn't last for several weeks. This particular RYS seminar took place in Atlanta, Georgia and lasted for only four days.

The participants who took part in the seminar were from many different countries and represented different religious backgrounds and cultures. Most of us arrived there as strangers and after just four days departed as brothers and sisters. One might ask how it was possible in just four days to have such deep experiences that made people cry and say that the experiences during those few days could not be expressed in words. One participant said that those few days had been the most important days in her life.

About half of the time was spent together on different worksites and the other half was spent with lectures, group discussions, role plays and skits. The lecturers, a couple from Mississippi-Dr. Burr and his wife, Dr. Sherry Burr-provided us with many interesting and insightful lectures and challenged us to not only invest ourselves in the group activities but also come up with a vision for the community project which we were working in. If we want to save our families, communities and this nation and the whole world, then we need to have a vision first for ourselves and how we want to change the "world" around us in a positive way. Action not words are the key. As Rev. John Gehring, the director of the RYS in America, said:

"Now it's time to walk the talk. Politicians and talk show hosts just keep talking about the problems, but now it's time to act and help save the dying communities in the inner cities in America."

By working together, side by side, cleaning up the trash in the Summerhill community, breaking old concrete plates and helping in many different ways, we all developed quickly a deeper sense of camaraderie and interest in what was needed to change that particular area for the better.

This project was a pilot project and it had taken many months until it could finally take place. We all are deeply indebted for the generous financial and material contributions to people like Dr. Burton and his wife Mrs. Burton, who had been chosen "Mother of Georgia" by the state senate. They made this project possible thanks to their vision and contributions. There were so many others who were involved in the planning and preparations of this big undertaking and helped make this seminar so successful and the experiences so moving and powerful.

This experience gave us UTS seminarians a new understanding and hope for an undertaking which can change young people's lives. We learned that we can all create our own RYS projects in our hometowns or wherever we are, inspire countless others, let them take over and- eventually-these community projects can make the news on TV and give real new hope to this crime-plagued society.

An Islamic Unificationist perspective on Religious Education

Mr Mesbah has just finished the course : "Foundations of Religious Education" taught by Dr. Kieran Scott at UTS. The revised content of his research paper presented at the end of the class will be publised here in two parts. This is the first.

The focus of this article is the various aspects of Religious Education, particularly its importance and its perspective from an Islamic Unificationist viewpoint.

I was born and raised in an Islamic tradition, where An Islamic Unification perspect on RE is part of daily life and an expression of faith.

At the age of four I first became aware of religion. It was the day after my circumcision , when my mother told me , "I am grateful to Allah because today I brought my sons (my brother and myself) to Islam." More than thirty years later, I'm still asking myself whether I was born a Muslim or I absolutely needed that physical act, namely, circumcision, in order to become a Muslim . No matter what the answer is, for my mother it was obvious that I had to go through that ritual in order to purify myself and to become "officially" a Muslim. That was my first lesson in An Islamic Unification perspect on RE.

My mother was my real first religious teacher and educator. From her I learned how to be a good Muslim at home. She taught me how to keep my body and clothes clean for religious purposes, to be grateful to Allah, remembering him before eating and sleeping and to show compassion to poor people by sharing food and clothes with them. She religiously educated my deeper heart.

This reminds me of the following Hadith:

One companion of the Prophet Mohammed asked him, "O Apostle of God! Who is the person worthiest of my consideration? He replied, "Your mother." Again he asked, "And second to my mother." The Prophet said, "Your mother." The companion insisted, "And then?" The Messenger of God said, "After your mother, your father."

Islamic tradition is aware of the ultimate importance of the education in childhood. It compares it to the importance of the foundation in a building. The more stronger the foundation, the stronger and safer the building will be andthe longer it will last. We all know by experience that we reap in our old age what we had sown in our childhood. But then, the question arises: Did we really have the choice to sow the best seed in our childhood ? If the answer is no then, who is responsible ?

This question makes us reflect upon how important and decisive the role played by parents and educators is in shaping the child's whole life. Educating parents and educators, especially religiously, is as important as educating the children themselves.

Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari wrote in his book Fundamentals of Islamic Thought that This world and the next are related in the way the stage of sowing and the stage of harvest are related, in that each finally reaps what he sows. It is like the relation between childhood and old age in that one's old age is formed in one's childhood and youth. By taking me with him to the mosque for prayer, to the religious meeting to listen to Qur'an and Hadith and by teaching me the alphabet, my father religiously educated my intellectual side .

As my father did with me, the Qur'an says in Surah 31, verses 13 to 19, so did the sage Luqman with his own son, educating him with this precious teaching:"

Behold Luqman said to his son by way of Instruction: "O my son ! Join not in worship (others ) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing," And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to me and to thy parents: to me is (thy final) goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to me (in love): In the end the return of you all is to me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of that ye did. "O my son! (said Luqman), if there be (but) the weight of a mustard seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (any-where) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finer mysteries, (and) is well acquainted (with them). O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong; and bear with patient constancy whate'er betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose)in (the conduct of) affairs. And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth: for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in the pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."

The Unificationist viewpoint

From the Unification Movement viewpoint, children's education takes place first and foremost within the family. God dwells within the ideal family, where Ideal Parent educate their children according to God's desire. There are three forms of Education: 1) Education of Heart, which is the Education for the perfection of the Individual; 2) Education of Norm, which is Education for the perfection of the Family; 3) Education of Dominion, which is Education for the perfection of the nature of Dominion.

The Unificationist viewpoint concerning Education is given in the book Essentials of Unification Thought:: "Therefore, in its most fundamental form, education is the guidance that parents give to their children so that the children may fulfill the Three Great Blessings. Hence, the original form of education is family education. In fact, aboriginal types of education seem to have been primarily family education. Yet, as civilization developed, the amount of learning and information increased, and life styles became diversified. Thus, education took the form of private classes, and later adopted the educational system of public schools. Such is the situation today. Since it is difficult for parents to provide education to their children, this task is left to teachers, who impart education in schools on behalf of parents. Therefore, teachers must instruct students as the representatives of parents, with parental heart. This is the original way of education."

In his book Religious Education Development, Gabriel Moran highlighted the importance of the care of a child's physical body. For Moran, the care of child's body is very important in his education as a whole:

"Educational language has to include the preservation of the physical organism in infancy. Most obviously, the verb to teach should include what parents do with infants; all the elements of feedings, clothing, and conversing are educative for the child.

The Islamic Unification perspect on RE principle, once again, is to destroy the destroyer. In this case, that means being attentive to environmental conditions that harm family life and lessen the infant's chances of physical health."

Education and Indoctrination

All parents naturally educate their offspring in their own belief or religion. Likewise, Muslim parents educate their children by transmitting to them the Islamic tradition. Someone may pejoratively call it indoctrination, but does not a child need to connect his roots to a tree somewhere? Would there be any problem or harm for a child, as long as the soil to which he is connected is pure and good?

The ultimate purpose of any An Islamic Unification perspect on RE is to strenghten the child's faith in his parent's religion. Religious parents would consider their child's education a great success if their child had even more faith than education. In his book Religious Educaion As a second language, Gabriel Moran points out the relation between Religious Education and Faith: "While Christians, Jews, and Muslims may think that faith is ultimately more important than religion, it is the visible, tangible, socially available elements called religion that can be dealt with educationally. A Christian, Muslim, or Jew, may believe that education is successful when it has reached a formation in faith.

The Qur'anic School

Going back to my childhood, I still clearly remember my experience in the Qur'anic School. It was a small room , where the religious educator (Fquih) and the students (Toulab) were sitting on a very simple mat on the floor. Fquih was like Father for Toulab. He was a "professional" religious educator and was greatly loved and esteemed by the community. Beside teaching, he was also available to hold different religious ceremonies.

For instance, the seven and hundred day dedication ceremony for the new born , circumcision, marriage, and the burial ceremony. He was appointed and paid by the community according to the number of students he had. Because his "salary" was often not enough, Fquih would live off any extra money he made from tailoring traditional clothes (Djellaba). In Islamic tradition , a "teacher" is venerated almost like a" prophet". A Muslim feels in debt of gratitude toward the person who teaches him or her even just one word. Islam also encourages and recommends strongly the seeking of any kind of good knowledge in any place of the world.

Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari explains in the same book above the importance and the necessity of Education for Muslims.

"The real Muslim, man or woman, according to his spirit of search after truth, adopts and integrates wisdom and truth wherever and from whomever he finds it. In searching for truth and knowledge, he does not display the least fanaticism, but instead hastens to find it in the farthest parts of the world. The real Muslim does not confine this search for truth to a certain period of his life, a certain area, or certain persons because the great leader of Islam has ordered that the search for knowledge is incumbent upon all Muslims (men and women alike). He likewise has ordered, "Assimilate wisdom wherever and through whomever you find it, even through a mushrik (unbeliever)". He has further ordered, "Seek know-ledge, even if you must travel to China." This also has been attributed to him : "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."

It is obvious that through this recommendation, Prophet Mohammed would not expect a Muslim to study Islam, neither Arabic language and culture in China. He certainly was talking about the necessity of a "second language" that could make communicating and understanding possible between Muslims and non -Muslims. By learning Chinese (or others) language, culture and religion, Muslims are most likely to understand correctly these people and to live with them in peace.

For Gabriel Moran "second language" is "Religious Education ": Consider how hostility may arise. Two communities of people who do not share a common language cannot be close friends. If for some reason they come to have regular interactions, hostility is likely to arise because of misinterpretation of gestures, tone, and movement. If the situation is not to degenerate into warfare, community "A" must learn the language of community "B" or community "B" must learn the language of community "A" or both communities must learn a mediating language "X". A truly mediating language would not do violence either to "A" or to "B". I am proposing that one way to imagine An Islamic Unification perspect on RE is as a second language for people in communities "A" and "B". This language would be grounded in experiences broad enough to offer a bridge between "A" and "B", but it would not substitute for the languages of either "A" or "B".

America's Crisis: The Solution

by George Russell

It seems impossible to go a day without becoming confronted with the gruesome headlines of more and more malaise encroaching upon our nation. We have been drugged and drunken into violence and permissiveness, and in unbreakable partnership they rule our streets and families. Many of us are searching: walking the streets in daylight with lit lamps in search of an honest man, as did Diogenes of ancient Greece. Our institutions have become places of ossified bureaucracy, and our youths and families disoriented and scattered remnants of a hope that once was.

Perversion and licentiousness have become the daily bread of many. Our nation is locked in a vicious warp of selfish individualism conjoined with many other "isms"-among them: racism, consumerism and denominationalism. These together have been gnawing at the root of the foundations of our nation. If this continues at its present rate, our generation will be sure to witness a second complete collapse of a superpower nation.

The question now arises: who or what can rekindle vision and hope for our distraught nation? Where can we find the solution?

The real solution to the serious crisis that we are confronting as a nation does not lie in democratic liberalism or democratic conservatism. Both have run their courses, and in doing so, have swung our nation from one extreme to another. Today, we find fossils and sedimentation of both thought trends littering the urban and suburban lifestyles of our country. Based on liberalism, our nation has become awash in promiscuity and drug abuse, and as for conservatism, we have to a large extent polarized our country with the narrow-mindedness of fundamentalism, unable to appreciate what others have to offer.

The real solution to our nation's problems, and indeed to the world's, is a new revolution of thought and practice rooted in the vision of God-Godism. This thought system which is being proposed by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon of Korea, founder of the Unification Church, is neither right-winged nor left-winged but is head-winged. It is a God-centered worldview for our time. It possesses the power to reconcile the liberalism and conservatism of our sick nation.

The power of Godism engenders the practice of true love and a renewed sense of freedom and responsibility. It seeks to restore our rightful place in the cosmos as true sons and daughters of one God who is the Universal Parent of all mankind. Godism acknowledges the God- centeredness of all relationships and the individual and collective purposes of each entity and being. It also embodies the spirit and power to restore the ideal of the family wherein man and woman are naturally complemented by their original nature and purpose-their offspring being the rightful lineage of their love and life.

On the higher dimensions of public life, such as in the religious, political and socio-economic arenas, for example, Godism will give birth to a renewed sense of common purpose. The religious traditions of the world will come to discover their common identity and shared heritage. Likewise, the universal principles and values of faith and love inherent in all the world's religions will become self-evident. The end result: harmony among the world's religions.

In politics, Godism as headwing thought will unite left and right and rechannel the energies of both to serve the broader purpose of our nation. The socio-economic arena will likewise experience the healing and restorative qualities of Godism. As we fully recognize, the society is essentially based on the state of families. If families are sick, this is mirrored in the society. The restoration of families, therefore, is an essential prerequisite for socio-economic reordering and restructuring.

The complexity and magnitude of the problems facing us today cannot be resolved by simplistic methods such as cutting, shifting or increasing of taxes, or spending. Nor can it be accomplished by economic, social or any other external maneuvering. A true solution can only emerge from a profound revolution of selfless love deep from within the heart of each individual and carried to the levels of family, society, nation and world.

What atheistic communism attempted to do for 70 years, was something of the former, based on a naive economic agenda and a revolutionary zeal steeped in violence. Communism was the culmination of historical philosophical materialism. It lacked the vital essence of the reality of God and a clear understanding of the true value and dignity of man. It was destined to reach its demise. Western idealism, however, came to find solace in the American revolution of the founding fathers of this country. For about two centuries our democracy was kept alive by the blessings that came with the God-inspired vision and dream to fulfill the American ideal. Today, we have been drained of this lifeblood through the invasion and internal corruption caused by consumerist materialism and perverted moral lifestyles and trends.

Our destiny-if we are unable to heed-is set parallel to that of atheistic communism and ancient Rome. The signs of this reality are obvious today-no elaboration needed. The light of the Judeo-Christian ethic that once made this nation truly great has been drastically dimmed, and its salt has lost much of its savor. A divided and morally wounded faith cannot heal a divided and morally wounded nation. Judeo- Christianity must be resurrected to a new level first.

The white blood cells of our nation are being overwhelmed, and the red cells are diseased. Thus, the diseases of apocalyptic proportion in our time. Our nation needs a doctor and a powerful medicine to remedy our sick state.

The essential reason for the collapse of communism and that of ancient Rome was one of moral and spiritual decay. It has been well said that those who have not learned from the mistakes of history are condemned to repeat them. Atheistic communism did not learn from ancient Rome. Have we learned from either?

Rev. Sun Myung Moon's idea of Godism is indeed a worthwhile consideration to resurrect our nation's floundering moral lifestyle and state of spiritual disorientation. Godism exists to be the completion of the ideal of the American revolution, and is the "Abel- type" "ism" of our time. And, as stated above, it possesses the power to restore and reconcile. Rev. Moon himself has had an unchanging love for this nation. He is absolutely convinced that God has called this nation to be the leader of nations for the sake of the consummation of His will. This (to a certain degree) is attested by the fact that our country at present stands as the undisputed superpower of the world after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Rev. Moon has founded hundreds of projects nationally to serve this country, and has poured billions of dollars into this nations to fund them. His sole motive is to help resurrect this country back on the road of its original calling. In conclusion, he has given instead of taken from this country. However, the general response to him has been most horrendous. He has met with unprecedented misunderstanding, persecution and character assassination far beyond that of any foreigner who has landed on this nation's shores. Today, Rev. Moon persists and continues to prosper; it is American which is declining. If this country is able to regain its spiritual and moral senses, and in so doing, listens to what he has to offer, maybe we will stand a good chance of entering the 21st century with our nation's soul intact.

All You Really Need to Know About AFF, CAN, and ICEP

by Peter Ross-NYC

The poet Edgar A. Guest wrote: Hate is that evil / State of mind / Which feeds the worst / In Humankind.

With this perspective in mind, one can begin to put into context the activities of organizations in America like the American Family Foundation (AFF), the International Cult Education Program (ICEP), and the Cult Awareness Network (CAN). What appear to be benign and sincere attempts to contribute to the welfare of society on the part of these organizations, deeper scrutiny reveals alternatively, enterprises entirely beset by the power of hatred. While those individuals publicly representing these organizations might in other social contexts appear as rational, sincere, and conscientious, yet in their public persona as representatives of these organizations, Herbert Rosedale, Marcia Rudin, and Cynthia Kisser, appear debilitated, blinded, and otherwise undermined as a result of their manifest hatred.

When a parent or relative of someone who joins a community or organization that they disapprove of calls an organization, like the Cult Awareness Network, the American Family Foundation, or the International Cult Education Program, for information they are deceived. Instead of receiving objective information, the parent/relative is forced to suffer pain and anguish as a result of the policy and practice of these organizations to disseminate disinformation.

For example, instead of receiving a copy of the Divine Principle, a biographical introduction to the Reverend Moon, and a list of the organizations and institutions that he has founded world-wide, along with informed criticisms of the Church, the caller is instead served up atrocity apostate tales, junk science, and a litany of unfounded allegations. Moreover, soon after the call, the parent in turn receives a call from a deprogrammer, a mercenary, who for a fee of up to $50,000 will kidnap the relative from the group and hold him/her against their will, until they recant their faith. Practicioners of this abusive activity now prefer the term exit counselor in lieu of the term deprogrammer.

The Unification Church has been informed by parents of members from America and various other countries, Yugoslavia, the Philippines, and South Africa, that they received these types of solicitations. This information has in turn been passed on to the Federal Bureau Investigation and United States prosecutors.

Galen Kelly, the infamous deprogrammer and former national security director for CAN is currently serving a seven and one quarter years sentence in a federal jail. Kelly was convicted in Federal Court in Alexandria, Virginia, for the 1992 kidnapping of a woman in an effort to sever her affiliation with her religious community.

However, Cynthia Kisser, Executive Director of CAN, has repeatedly stated in public that she and her organization do not engage in kidnappings.

"Kisser said that Kelly was not a member of her group and that the network was not involved in the alleged conspiracy. However the prosecutors said that he [Kelly] 2belonged to the group." The Washington Post (10/01/92). "Prosecutors said Kelly is part of the Cult Awareness Network, which court papers said uses kidnapping to 'deprogram' members of cults." Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/07/92).

"Cynthia Kisser, who is now the national director of CAN, assisted me on at least two kidnapping type deprogrammings involving members of The Way International. On one of these cases, where we had been holding the person against their will in the basement of a home in Wisconsin, she actually came and spent two days helping with the case. It was because of Kisser's involvement that we were able to complete the deporgramming. I specifically recall this case because the target had been struggling quite a bit." (Affidavit from Mark Blocksom, former CAN deprogrammer, July 1992.)

Early in his career as a moonophobe, Herbert Rosedale, President of the American Family Foundation, in an article published in The Times Herald Record, described a Unification retreat site as "a center which spreads physical and emotional disease among its members and infects the community with the results therefrom."

AFF's literature announcing Mr. Rosedale's appointment as President of AFF stated: "Mr. Rosedale has been, and will continue to be, an active advisor and resource for the Cult Awareness Network....He will also continue to be a bridge between [CAN] and AFF as we pursue our common purpose."

Marcia R. Rudin, is the Director of the International Cult Education Program, (and wife of A. James Rudin, national interreligious affairs director of the American Jewish Committee). ICEP defines itself as "a joint program of the American Family Foundation and the Cult Awareness Network. The national Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the Association of College Unions-International (ACU-I) are ICEP participating organizations."

Ms. Rudin is also an employee of the American Family Foundation and sells CAN literature, books, and videos from her mid-town Manhattan residence in an apparent violation of local zoning laws.

In observing the activities of hostile apostates of the Unification Church like Steve Hassan and in listening to his self-promotional rhetoric, it is appropriate to recall another definition of hatred: "the coward's revenge for being intimidated." In addition to his self-promotional criticisms of the Unification Church, in 1989 Hassan stated at a CAN conference in Trenton, New Jersey, that "the Catholic Church is the biggest cult in America."

In his book, Combating Mind Control, Hassan states that he served as the national coordinator for a group called FOCUS which is "affiliated with the Cult Awareness Network." He has also admitted to having participated in involuntary deprogrammings. Hassan is a featured speaker at CAN conferences and routinely receives referrals from CAN.

AFF, CAN, and ICEP routinely work closely together, share the same literature, share the same funding sources, sponsor conferences together, share mailing lists, and otherwise conspire together in pursuit of their shared goals and aims.

These individuals and organizations have served as catalysts for the opposition to, among others, the work of the Reverend Moon in America and to the egregious misrepresentation of the Unification Church to the American public. They have pursued this endeavor through the exploitation of national tragedies like Jonestown, and more recently the government's actions against the Branch Davidians. They have systematically presented to the American people distilled images of the Unification Church and others, elicited from individuals who they themselves have so greedily "deprogrammed". They have intentionally and knowingly presented the theories of quacks and the proponents of junk science as tenable and legitimate, while refusing to disclose to the American public the refutations of those same theories by the established scientific and legal communities.

In the face of universal condemnation from the established religious community in this country they have tried to deny their own anti- religious agenda. They have accused the Unification Church, and others, of illegal and deceptive conduct, while they themselves have engaged in a conspiracy to deprive individuals of their civil rights and in a conspiracy to deceptively generate fear and hatred. In several instances, associates of these organizations have been convicted of crimes in pursuit of their agenda.

April 1994

WFWP Club Challenge

The Women's Federation for World Peace in Australia hopes to initiate a youth support group called Club Challenge.

The aim of the Club is to create an environment of peer support to offset the many risk factors leading many young people into self destructive attitudes and behaviors. The Club also aims to build self confidence and a sense of responsibility towards our nation which will in future call upon the youth of today as the leaders of tomorrow.

Here is how the Club will work.

l. Youth who are single and aged between 13 and 25 years old, will join the Club by signing a statement of intention to abide by the Club rules. The rules in brief, are as follows; i. to live a moral life, abstaining from drugs, alcohol premarital sex and any anti-social behaviors. ii. to promote the ideals of interracial and inter-cultural harmony. iii. strive to develop ones' leadership qualities as a responsible world citizen. iv. to challenge oneself in at least one "sponsored activity" v. to participate in the organization, running and support of Club activities wherever possible. vi. to serve younger members, as an elder brother or sister, with care and respect for their individual character and needs.

2. Then, the new member needs to register an "official" grade or standing in any sponsored activities of his /her choosing, at the beginning and end of each year, with the Clubs' committee. The committee will then rate each members' improvement and recommend outstanding achievers for awards in various categories designated by the Clubs' Sponsors. These categories could be, for example, academic improvement at school in science, or overall, or improvement in sporting activities at school or in external clubs, public speaking, community service, peer counseling at school, writing for the Clubs' own newsletter, contributions to drama or the arts etc.

It is also envisaged that with encouragement and support from adult advisors and sponsors, that Club members, will embrace the handicapped in a warm accepting atmosphere of love and respect. It is an important point to note here, that the older youth themselves will play a major role in conceiving, planning and implementing many of the Clubs' activities. This is deliberately incorporated into the Clubs' policies since it is felt that, especially the older youth, need to feel a "vested interest" in the Club if they are to maintain a long term commitment.

Sponsors, both corporate and individual, will be approached to provide awards for excellence in the fields or categories of their choosing, in the form of certificates, plaques, vouchers for goods or services, even, we hope, scholarships to encourage university training and international educational travel to enhance their world vision and leadership skills.

Sponsored activities can be any existing club, school, or organized activity normally, enjoyed by youth. The only proviso, is, that the organizers must be able and willing, to provide some objective measure of performance for the young people wishing to count their particular activity as part of the Clubs' range of activities.

As one of the major incentives for the youth to participate in the Club, we are seeking Blessed Families, who would be willing to take in one of these exemplary youths for about one week, once a year and be able to arrange an exciting experience. Some examples of what we are hoping for, are; attending a professional football, baseball or other sporting event, whitewater rafting, a visit to Disney World, Great America, Hollywood Studios, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, a tennis lesson from a legend, attending a Principle workshop on leadership, sightseeing, etc, etc.

What we hope to establish eventually, is an international network of "Hobby Tour Operators". If the idea of the Club is established in many other cities in many countries, then eventually we will have a viable way to educate young people in the qualities of character and the techniques necessary to restore the worlds' problems.

If you feel that you would like to help or you want further information, please write to: WFWP Australia, Club Challenge Organizers, c/o David and Deanna Cooper, 38 Mace St., Prospect Vale, Tasmania, 7250 Australia.

We need to know: a description of the experience(s) you can offer, the best time of year to experience it, the estimated cost for a week long stay, plus the experience (we will be able to pay you for any direct costs incurred, for example, purchase of safety equipment, fares, entry fees, travel expenses etc.), your name, address, number and ages of your own children. The information you provide will be held in the strictest confidence.

True Parents' Birthday In New York City - 1994

On February 15, 1994, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon hosted the celebration of their birthday in New York City. Some 1,500 members gathered to celebrate with them at the World Mission Center, Manhattan Center, and the following day at East Garden.

The couple had been outside of the United States since the occasion of Mrs. Moon's United Nations address on September 7. In the intervening months she has spoken throughout the world, and the Reverend Moon has been hard at work teaching in Korea. So it was with a great deal of appreciation and gladness that the Unification members here greeted the first couple.

As do all Holy Days, the celebration began with prayer and offering to Heavenly Father in the early morning. Rev. and Mrs. Moon and their entire family bowed before God's altar, followed by the elder membership and representative couples from across America and around the world. After the prayer, Reverend Moon spoke at length, until two of his grandchildren skipped back into the the room to remind him that it was time for breakfast.

Following a quick repast, Rev. and Mrs. Moon hurried downstairs to the Grand Ballroom of the World Mission Center to the gathered membership. There was a special contingent of Christian clergy from the city and around the nation, almost 100 strong. Reverend Moon addressed them directly several times during his morning speech, which focused on the dire need for God's hand to guide this nation, and the responsibility of Christianity in that connection. He stressed the terrible reality of sin, and its origin in the fall of man. Since Christians have never understood the real meaning of the fall, they have not been able to solve the problem of sin.

At the close of the speech, Reverend and Mrs. Moon returned to the stage for presentations from Dr. Robert Grant, Dr. Donald Sills and other representative ministers. In particular they brought a page from the first edition of the King James Bible, published in 1611. Insterestingly, the page which they obtained was the page containing the account of the human fall, Genesis 3.

In the afternoon there was a lecture competition, with a dozen competitors from across America. The winner was Long Island's own Rev. Chen Fong, with the perennial runners-up Rev. Will Suttles (Detroit) and Mr. Eric Holt (Unification Theological Seminary). In his remarks on presenting the awards and cash prizes that evening during the performance, Dr. James Baughman, President of the American Church, called for the WFWP sisters as well as the second generation to challenge the brothers in lecturing excellence.

That evening we convened at the Manhattan Center to enjoy a stellar performance. It opened with several dances by young stars of the Kirov Academy Ballet in Washington, DC. As Reverend Moon has commented, ballet is the highest expression of dance, because the dancers are always on their tiptoes reaching upwards. They were not only on their tiptoes, they were leaping and flinging each other across the stage. It was a delightful performance, including a charming comic piece by one young boy.

Music dominated the balance of the program, beginning with a shared set by Sheila Vaughn and Patsy Casino. Both alumni of the pioneering 70s Unification band, Sunburst, Sheila and Patsy displayed tremendous vocal harmony and dulct sensitivity to their material and to each other. Their artistic abilities have developed over the years, as befits daughters of God growing in His love and truth. From Japan via Manhattan Center Studies came a rock vocalist and guitarist, Shunya Sawada. Mr. Sawada was instrumental (pardon me) in bringing about the opening of mainland China to our Unification culture, orchestrating (there I go again) the advent of the Japanese band, Sunrise Ocean, to several mainland venues. The government of China while desiring to satisfy the people's appetite for contemporary music, feel that music should uplift the people's spirit and contribute to their well-being and discipline to live for the sake of others. Since this is in harmony with the Unification spirit, there is a perfect fit.

Mr. Sawada is a soulful singer and excellent guitarist. He performed a Chinese song, which transitioned from Chinese tonality to American rockabilly with remarkable smoothness. His opener was his own composition, "Polaris." His tour de force was Hyo Jin Nim's song, "Rebirth." In that third song he proved himself a brilliant object to a brilliant subject, completely faithful to the originating genius and adding through that objectivity his own natural genius. Hyo Jin Nim's music is of course powerfully masculine, and Shunya is a relatively feminine object, bringing out new aspects of Hyo Jin Nim's work by his delicate treatment. His love for Hyo Jin Nim and True Parents showed through every note of his guitar and inflection of his voice.

We were treated as well to a famous Korean mezzo-soprano, Hak Nam Kim, who performed two traditional Korean songs. By the way, Ms. Kim was a featured soloist at the inauguration of President Young Sam Kim. Manhattan Center Television provided an illuminating piece on True Mother's 40-nation speaking tour correlated with Father's teaching on Cheju Island, entitled "Love Has No Boundaries." In a wonderful segment we saw Father and Mother conversing and singing together on both ends of the phone while 10,000 miles apart. As the lights came up, our happy hearts witnessed them sitting together in our presence, enjoying the performance held in their honor together with us. Their parental love and our children's love combined for that moment, giving us the taste of heaven. And a happy birthday was had by all.