Dear American Family,
My wife and I recently attended the 3.6 million couple blessing in Washington, and are writing to express our thanks for the tremendous effort made by brothers and sisters in organizing all the events. This was our first visit to the U.S.A. and we were most impressed by the American family. We hope to come to America again and trust that our stay will be longer the next time.
ITN, John & Viveka Freeland, Sweden
(118 Couples, 1978)
The 4th World Peace Conference of the Federation for World Peace was a total success! As part of the 3rd World Culture and Sports Festival, we were able to enhance the value and importance of the festival through the participation of the esteemed guests.
Held at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. from November 27 to the 30th, the 4rd WPC was co-hosted by the Summit Council for World Peace and AULA (the Association for the Unity of Latin America). Under the theme, A World Vision for the 21st Century, the event was chaired by Dr. Aziz Sidky, Prime Minister of Egypt (1972-73). The keynote speakers were the Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1970-74) and the Rt. Hon. Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland (1992-94).
The international event brought together forty current and former heads of state, government and prime ministers, vice presidents and deputy prime ministers; and more than one hundred and sixty distinguished statesmen including ambassadors, senators, congressmen, cabinet ministers, university presidents and scholars from eighty-seven nations.
Opening Plenary
In the Presidential Ballroom of the Capital Hilton, Dr. Sidky eloquently introduced the Founder to the august gathering of 350 guests that included our conference participants, local dignitaries, embassy officials from the diplomatic community and members of the press. Dr. Sidky said,
"Since early youth in his native country of Korea, Rev. Moon has been a voice for justice and faith. He has championed true brotherhood man under the fatherhood of God. He has mediated conflicts and embraced those separated by different creeds. In so doing, he has created many organizations earnestly working toward the solution and elimination of conflict. His goal is nothing less than a totally unified and harmonious world."
In the founder’s address, Father gave a landmark speech on the unique times that we live in.
"Today I would like to share with you about the course that I have gone over the past 50 years in search of a common vision for humankind. After the devastating experience of World War II, all nations were searching for peace. God gave me the direction to build a global movement and help establish God’s Kingdom on the foundation of 2,000 years of Christianity. The central message of this revelation is to find the formula course for "True Parents" and "True Family," which means those who live for the sake of others. But the failure of Korean Christian leaders to receive this message brought great disappointment to God, and I had to go a suffering course of rejection and humiliation, which led to my being imprisoned many times even though I was innocent. This providential mistake by the established religions provided the spiritual foundation for evil to run rampant in Korea, beginning with the division of that nation, and for the other calamities that have plagued the world this past half-century."
Father addressed some of the problems of the developing countries and cautioned them not to follow the example of the developed countries that sought irresponsible self-centered satisfaction at the cost of the creation and environment. He said,
"Esteemed leaders! You need to know that God created all things for the sake of "True Love" and "True People." All creation is structured in pairs. Animals, plants, and minerals are arranged in subject-object relationships, and the harmonious give-and-take between them forms the base for all existence, for all energy for productivity, and for love and goodness. Humans were also created with this duality between the mind and body within the individual and between man and woman. God’s ideal was for an individual’s mind and body to be united, centered on His love, and then for perfected men and woman to unite in the family unit. In this way, Adam and Eve could become a true reflection of God’s divine nature and become an object of God’s love. Then they could bequeath to their descendants true love, true life, and true blood lineage emanating from God."
In an eloquent manner he expounded on the meaning of the blessing of the 39.6 million couples and invited the entire assembly to participate in the worldwide movement to restore the world. He said:
"I would like to personally invite you to a very special event at RFK Stadium on Saturday morning. Along with representative leaders of the world’s religions, my wife and I will officiate the blessing of 39.6 million couples in 185 countries around the world. The goal for this ceremony was 3.6 million couples, but we went far beyond that to more than 36 million couples. Many couples from your countries will be participating. More than 30,000 couples will be at the stadium, and ceremonies worldwide will be connected via satellite and video. These couples are dedicating their marriages to God, promising to remain eternally faithful to their spouses and to raise their children with commitment, fidelity, and strong moral values. These couples are of different religious backgrounds, languages, races, and national origins, but what draws all of them together is a love of God and a belief that world peace begins with stable, healthy, and God-centered families.
I would like you all to observe this history-making ceremony but, more than that, I strongly encourage all of you gathered here to also participate and renew your own wedding vows before God."
The practical significance and depth of Father’s message was complemented by Sir Albert Reynolds who spoke on "The Significance of the Family Unit Toward Making a Cohesive and Contented Society." Sir Albert challenged the conference participants to improve the world. He said,
"The current drift towards individualism, materialism and unrealistic expectations of science and progress to provide the fulfillment and social harmony need to be counteracted… While technology provides new possibilities in communication through the information superhighways and the rapid dissemination of information, it does not provide key solutions to the central search for meaning, contentment and harmony."
"If the political will exists, the war will be won. All generations will be judged by the kind of world they leave behind."
Plenary Sessions
There were three plenary sessions. (1) "The Restoration of the Environment in the 21st Century" and was chaired by H.E. Steingrimur Hermannsson, Prime Minister of Iceland (1983-87 and 1988-91), who is one of the world’s foremost experts on the environmental issues.
Human activities have damaged the earth's environment throughout the 20th century in unprecedented and tragic ways. This coming century must be dedicated to cleaning up and restoring the wholesomeness of the earth's resources while improving the quality of life for all humanity, by avoiding the environmental mistakes already made. Can our water, air, and land-based resources be restored and used to secure a legacy for future generations? The fears of overpopulation in the face of a perceived limitation of food production and resources dominate our concerns. What are the bases for optimism that this world can adequately address and resolve these concerns as the 21st century unfolds?
Speakers included: Dr. Terry R. Galloway, President of Intellergy Corp. and Dr. Hugh W. Ellsaesser, Meteorologist, Lawrence National Laboratory (1963-86).
(2) "Bridging the World Cultures through New Technologies" and was chaired by H.E. Michel Rocard, Prime Minister of France (1988-91). As the surge of global information technologies, including satellite links, the Internet, and long-distance learning; bridges communities throughout the world – from the Amazon jungles to the U.S. Library of Congress; from the heartlands of Russia and China to the data banks in Paris, Tokyo and New York – what impact does this have on culture? Will nations inevitably lose their distinctive identity? Or is a supra-culture emerging that embraces and preserves ethnic and national characteristics while fulfilling the needs of all? How will distance-learning and utilization of present technology connect developing nations and the developed world and how can we counter the aggressiveness of the merchants of vice from Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and advertising who are perverting world culture and traditions?
Speakers included Michael Medved, author, "Hollywood vs. America," and Dr. Charles Sheffield, author, "Earthwatch" and "Man on Earth."
(3) "Worldwide Economic Empowerment Through Broad-Based Capital Ownership" and was chaired by H.E. Amine Gemayel, President of Lebanon (1982-88). The 21st century will welcome an era of economic justice through a third option, transcending the limits of both socialism (the politics of "envy") and capitalism (politics of "greed") to creatively overcome global poverty. The fact that the majority of people are left out of participating in their local or international economies is due to the lack of productive credit. What solution will be applicable to specific conditions of workers and employees around the world in developed as well as in developing countries? What kind of economic security and participation can they envision in a world that is marching toward one global economy? How will central banks and international financial institutions regard the challenges of world poverty and development for billions of people in the next century?
Speakers included: Norman A. Bailey, Ph.D., former special assistant to President Reagan for National Security Affairs, the White House, and Norman G. Kurland, Managing director, Equity Expansion International.
At the conclusion of the two-day conference, many motions and resolutions were passed. The participants unanimously adopted the Fourth World Peace Conference Declaration.
The Blessing
We are happy to report that 100 attendees at the Fourth World Peace Conference were pre-Blessed on Friday, November 28. Among them were former heads of state, prime ministers, ambassadors and current congressional leaders from around the world. It was a joyful moment to see dear friends and champions who have dedicated their lives as public individuals at the national and international level to embrace the eternal quest for physical as well as spiritual peace in their communities and the world under the inspiration of our True Parents and the ideals of the Unification Movement. The ceremony was officiated by Antonio and Kyoko Betancourt.
All of this was to help in preparation to bring a victorious conference. By all accounts the Conference was a total success. We brought top leaders from around the world. They surrounded True Parents and gave the Festival an important dimension of authenticity and people with credentials.
A Word of Gratitude
An event of this magnitude required enormous efforts and cooperation on the part of the entire movement. It is the result of countless hours of witnessing and prayers by brothers and sisters around the world. We thank you all and especially Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak, and the countless people who all supported this tremendous effort. With a sense of deep gratitude we offer this conference to Heavenly Father and our True Parents.
William Selig is the Administrative Director of the Federation for World Peace.
by Yves Champollion-Mozambican
The country of Mozambique is out of a 15-year civil war, the mood is optimistic and positive (things can only improve), there is food, sunshine, songs everywhere. It's a fascinating place. (I met a Russian in the street of Maputo. Said he: Mozambicans earn 10 times less than us Russians, but they eat 10 times better - meaning, there are plenty of fruits for pennies).
The people here are really nice. One particular point is, they don't bother at all for the complicated things and thoughts of the richer "civilized" people. So, when speaking with them, you can go straight to the essential things, like why God created the world, what the Fall means, how the key to our problems is establishing a Family spirit around the world (and when he next meal is). In "complicated" countries, it's a lot more difficult to go deep into those questions. That's perhaps why Jesus said, the Kingdom is for children.
Visiting pastors, then, as well as politicians, people etc in preparation for the Blessing was a very good experience. I now understand Father better. Whenever Father sits next to Gorbatchev, Heath or Bush, Father speaks plainly, straight, of "God made Adam and Eve, from absolute, unchanging love, but the Angel, etc". Father does not get into the complicated, cautious and "educated" talk of the civilized person: he gets to the point, regardless of who you are. (Father is the scourge of translators, protocol people etc). It is the world's responsibility to understand Christ, not the other way around. Mozambique, to the Completed Testament preacher, is a relief.
So, when meeting anybody, I do what father does: a DP crash course, wether in 5 or 55 minutes. What amazes most Mozambicans, I found, is that Father holds a world record for being jailed for his activities. A good 99% of Mozambicans pastors have been jailed for quite some time, and an estimate shows that about half of them have lost their lives during the marxist craze of 1978-1992. Even in older colonial time (before 1975) when the Portuguese were in charge, it was forbidden for Blacks to believe in anything but the Catholic truth, and many black pastors were jailed because they had created their own church. So, in their opinion, anybody jailed or slandered in the last 50 years has got to be good.
The hall for the Blessing was provided by a large church, whose pastor got inspired by the idea of the Blessing. That church (The Assembly of God of Mz) is huge: it's a former Airplane maintenance hall , it takes a lot of people, really. We had the banner made by a professional workshop (those guys who used to workd for the Marxist regime, making those May First banners etc. You just change the text). We had two popular christian singers come and sing. I don't know how they can play guitar and sing so well, since they did not study music: it's the African mystery of learning-by-imitation, plus their astounding gift for improvisation. We invited pastors and congregation from about 50 different churches, so, besides the Blessing, it was an inter-religious meeting as well. The crowd was large enough to call it a "victory" in the U-C jargon. Right in front, there were 33 representative couples in white wedding dresses, brought by our Korean elder. There was a super-loud opening prayer by all pastors joigning hands, then the blessing of those 33 representative couples (chosen from over 10,000 pre-blessed couples), etc. My part was M-Cing through the event, and delivering the Blessing Speech in portuguese, with a translator into Shangana, the local language.
The rain had begun pouring 8 days before, on november 21st. 3 days later, all the streets of Maputo had become rivers and plazas, swimming pools for kids. We thought, all the water from heaven has fallen, this can't go on for ages. But one should not understimate Murphy's Law, especially in Mozambique. It kept raining and raining. Saturday morning, one pastor said that when it rains too much, people stay home, because they can't swim, and perhaps, if that Blessing means the Kingdom of God to Mozambique, well, perhaps, it's for the next time. We said: wait and see, we moonies have seen much worse, we'll all canoe or pirogue our way there and it'll be great. (The hall is next to the airport, and it's away from central Maputo, getting there is a real challenge). So the sceptical pastor could see, on saturday afternoon, people coming anyway, soaking wet (it rained cats and dogs all through the Blessing). I was afraid Rev Moon would be known henceforth as the "rain man" (but after all, for Africans just like American Indians, the rain man is a good sorcerer who knows how to get Heaven's Blessing).
The unity between all of us, the Korean Elder ("Adam") couple, the Japanese elder, 4 japanese sisters and myself was the key factor. We followed the ways of our Korean elder, and it turned out just fine. God's "mysterious ways" aren't so mysterious after all - they became mysterious after the disunity caused by Babel, and they're de-mystified when open hearts make for de-babelization.
by Chris Corcoran-NYC
During Blessing '97, I had the great fortune to work with the Festival media team in Washington, DC, headed by Mike Smith and Howard Self. We had an unprecedented number of media attend the week long event and while there were some biased reports, overall coverage tended to be objective and thorough.
Our team in DC eventually grew to about eight full-time and five part-time people and everyone was kept busy day and night. One or two people on our team worked mostly with the entertainers and the rest of us organized press conferences, issued press releases, set up interview opportunities and answered questions.
I knew we were in store for an unusually energetic campaign when in one afternoon I received calls from the media of Ireland, United Arab Emerates, Japan and England. As the tidal wave of media washed over our office, at times it became laughable; people scrambling from one office to another, clutching handfuls of papers for the overworked fax machine, shouting to one another "Pick up line 8, its CBS Evening News, Hard Copy's on line two, People Magazine on line three, Japanese television on line 6." It was actually like this.
All media personnel who wished to cover the Festival were required to have special credentials which we issued after checking their identification. This enabled us to screen any potential frauds as well as keep a handle on how many and who to expect at the Blessing. All totaled, some 300 credentials were issued, an astonishing figure!
With the help of talented reinforcements such as Jim Flynn, Naomi Payer, Mark Boitano and Eugene Harnett, we were able to keep on top of the avalanche of requests for information and interviews.
Before and on the day of the Blessing, we made available various newly matched and blessed couples for the media to interview. This was very successful and put a human face on the huge numbers that we were reporting. The newly matched couples such as Jennifer Perry and Sebastian Jean, and Barbara King and Andrew Robertson did an excellent job of answering the media's questions. They were a joy to watch; happy, excited and brimming with anticipation that only newly matched couples can exhibit. Their stories received wide and positive coverage.
Having been a journalist myself, I know what it's like to be on the other end of a story. Therefore I always treat the media with the utmost respect and goodwill, even if I doubt their sincerity. Why, you may ask?
First, all journalists should be treated as professionals, even though their behavior may not warrant it. What they are doing is their job and livelihood and most are trying their best to get to the truth as they see it. I always, always treat them with respect and courtesy. Unfortunately, because many of them begin with a false premise (i.e., Father is blessing people in RFK merely to gain legitimacy) then the story that emerges often resembles a house built on a crooked foundation.
Nonetheless, they hold a powerful yet invisible sword in their hands. Cross them unfairly and you may well be on the receiving end of that very sharp-tipped weapon. I know that it's extremely frustrating to speak to a reporter one day and then the next day see one's words twisted and edited to fit that particular reporters premise. It happens sometimes and must be tolerated, to an extent. "The truth will out," is the famous expression and we have to have patience. Just think of the current mindset that the media have as a phase they're going through. They'll outgrow it someday. Truth is truth and we have it on our side.
It doesn't mean that we have no recourse if a biased or inaccurate story appears about our church. If the piece is a bald-faced hit piece, we should not let that particular reporter have any further access to us at all. It's clear some reporters have an evil agenda. End of relationship, trust broken. Also, we can write letters (all members should do this) and speak to the editors, publishers and owners of the particular media outlet and let them know clearly that we have been unfairly portrayed.
The relationship between a journalist and their subject is based on trust. They trust us to speak accurately and with full disclosure. That's our side of the bargain and it's not to be taken lightly. We have an obligation to the truth. They also are obliged to report accurately what was said to them or what they saw. That's their end of the bargain and more often than not it seems they fall short. In reality, even when they do a fair job, it may seem unfair because we have so much we want to convey or we believe they left out important pieces or made small inaccuracies that only we would pick up on.
Internally, I try to see the media professionals as potential spiritual children. We should always exhibit a parental heart to them, even if they're acting arrogantly or deviously. It does not mean that we have to grant them all their wishes, but we have to raise them up to be the reporters of truth that God wants them to be, no matter how tortuous that journey may be.
Eventually, the media will experience a cognitive dissonance, whereby the attitude and standard of the Unificationist's they meet will be out of synch with the story they are writing. They have consciences too.
Today's prevailing style of journalism is extremely adversarial and sensationalistic. In a country desensitized to murder and mayhem, tabloid style reporting sells. While hiding under the cover of free speech, tabloid style reporting is not obligated to the truth. Almost any allegation can be made without regard to consequences. This style has been slowly but definitely creeping into more mainstream journalism and is a reflection of the times we live in. (Witness on TV alone, the proliferation of the talk shows, the magazines shows like Dateline and 20/20 and the celebrity hype shows like Hard Copy and Extra.)
Often reporters will speak about the facts of the blessing or the Festival and feel compelled to give the "negative" side as well. They believe this is in the interest of balance and fairness to both sides and it is often true. By giving these two sides of the story, the journalist feels he is fairly representing the broad range of opinion and views on the subject.
However, today's reporters usually take this too far. A good example of this is the amount of coverage received by a handful of protesters outside RFK stadium on the day of the Blessing. I heard that one major television station devoted half of its story to statements from this small, insignificant group. Clearly this group only warranted a brief mention at best. This is an example of lopsided editorial decision making on the part of the media.
It is often the amount of play that one side gets that determines the slant of the story. A perfect example of this would be the three part series that ran in The Washington Post right before the blessing. While there were only minor factual inaccuracies, the reporter gave huge play to church detractors, apostate church members and disgruntled employees and only minor copy was given to happy, content church members.
The entire series was under girded with an explicit bias that our church and affiliated enterprises exist as one huge, conspiratorial empire with the purpose of gaining power and money so that he-we can rule the world. Headlines such as "Stymied in U.S., Moon's Church Sounds a Retreat" and "Moon, Inc.", explicitly put forth an agenda.
What really exposed The Washington Post's agenda, apart from being the first major paper to use the word "Moonie" in an article about the Festival, was the fact that they published photos, with exact street numbers, of several of our members' Washington, DC area homes, including Father's. Also included were the homes of Mr. Joo and Dr. Bo Hi Pak. There was absolutely no reason to publish these photos in such a way, other than to instigate trouble.
When confronted with this egregious assault in a face-to-face meeting between a Post managing editor and Rev. Philip Schanker and myself, the editor said it was an error on the part of a photo caption writer.
It was hard to believe since even in photos of robberies and murder scenes, the street address is written like "the 1100 block of (blank) Ave."
When asked for a written apology for putting people's lives and property at risk, the Post editor gave an abrupt "no".
These kind of stories-I call them hit pieces- are often produced by people who have an incredible command of the language, so that the average reader doesn't pick up the nuances right away. If you pay close attention to the adjectives chosen by the writer and the way things are juxtaposed, then you begin to discern a coloring or shading that is often subtle, but very effective in communicating a certain view.
The entire world of media is very archangelic-words, ideas, sound bites, voice intonations, editing, omitting-and of course impossible to control. Once a person submits to an interview, all outcome is in the hands of the journalist and their editor. Don't be too quick to jump on a reporter. Many a good story has been hacked to pieces by editors who ultimately have the final say on an article.
However, things are changing for the better. I noticed that the Japanese media who covered the Blessing asked questions that tended to use words like 'cult' and 'brainwashed'. By and large, the media in America has stopped using such inflammatory words in describing our community. Now the focus seems to be more on discrepancies in our community between belief and practice.
Of course, Father himself is the most sought after subject for the media. From Diane Sawyer to Larry King, everyone is clamoring to interview Father. So far, Father is refusing interviews with the Western press, based, I assume, on past experiences with shallow and disrespectful journalists. It will take a special reporter, one who clearly understands and appreciates our theology and Father's huge accomplishments, to accurately interview Father. So far, none has emerged.
But let's take a moment here to step back and get some perspective. I thank God for the free press in this country. Amidst all its abuses, it is ultimately in place to serve God's purposes by allowing people access to His truth. This is no small thing and historically it is only a recent freedom. While it's not perfect, it allows us some measure of recourse if we feel wronged and ultimately allows anyone the opportunity to start their own media outlet.
The media is a paper tiger. My experience is that they are basically quite lazy and want to be spoon fed every tit-bit. They seem at times like an enormous and powerful enemy but they tend to blow with whatever direction the wind is headed. I predict that in the not too distant future, the wind will shift and Father, his teaching and our entire community will receive enormously favorable press.
If we have good stories to tell-hometown service projects, awards we or our children might have won, or whatever-we should contact the media and urge them to report on it. By generating positive stories we can pro-actively change the view of our community in this country.
Already there are several sincere and intelligent journalists who want to interview Father and respect him for his tremendous work. Some are willing to educate themselves about our beliefs. Whether or not those interviews take place, the fact remains that there is a growing awareness in the world that Father and we his followers are deserving of fair media coverage.
by Christian Lepelletier-Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Folha de Sao Paulo (one of the two largest newspapers in Brazil)published one article on December 6 entitled: "Moon will invest R$100 millions in Matto Grosso South State", from the local correspondent in Campo Grande.
The official announcement was made by Kim Yoon Song in charge of the New Hope Farm project in Jardim, in a meeting of businessmen and local politicians at the soccer club of Corumba. The investment will be used to develop fishing and hunting activities in Pantanal. Over the last two or three years our community became the largest investor in that region of Matto Grosso South State.
The journalist working for the Folha de Sao Paulo used the word "sect" to describe our movement and did not make a very good report. On October 27, the local newspaper of Campo Grande, the Diaro da Serra published the photo of the New Hope Farm project on the front page with the title: "Reverend Moon plants Eden in Jardim". And in the middle special section one full page with three pictures, with the main title: "Jardim paradise possible according to Moon". The reports and stories were fairly positive thanks to Waldir Cipriani (working with the Tiempo del Mundo project), who could meet the publisher and provided correct information concerning the Jardim project.
Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II died Nov. 15 at Georgetown University Hospital after a stroke and a heart attack. He was 88. Amb. MacArthur was a long time friend of the movement and had supported True Parents on numerous occasions, particularly with the Summit Council for World Peace and the World Media Association.
This is the eulogy for Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II given by Dr. Bo Hi Pak, Chairman of the Board, The Washington Times, November 20, 1997 at the Christ Church Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
My dear Laura MacArthur, esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen. We gather together this morning to remember and to give tribute to the life and accomplishments of one of America's most respected diplomats and public servants, a great champion of freedom and democracy. He was a righteous man, one who used his abundant God-given abilities for the sake of others, and to accomplish God's will as best he understood it.
We gather to say farewell to this great gentleman and friend to us all-and to send him onward, to be with his beloved wife, Laura-whom he never referred to by any other name than "Wahwee," her nickname from childhood.
Patriotism and principle was the determining force and guiding light of his entire existence. It originated in the long-standing tradition of his family and from his early youth; it inspired all his actions and determined all his decisions. Whether he was a diplomat, a peace-negotiator, a prisoner of war or a distinguished member of society, his love of country was foremost in his mind.
There was an innate nobility in his demeanor and will to action. There was no act of his that did not have the imprint of his character. Whether he was sitting in the high Councils of State or in the intimacy of his home, that nobility transcended his action and gave a characteristic tone to his whole career.
We who loved him know he never forgot his heritage. "If you were a MacArthur," he once remarked, "from the time you were in your cradle, the responsibilities of duty, honor and country came with your mother's milk." He took great pride in the accomplishments of his celebrated "Uncle Doug"-as he always referred to him-and to the place in history occupied by the famous general who the Korean people think of as the savior of our freedom and our lives. I can testify that I am alive today only because of a timely rescue by one of General MacArthur's armored divisions.
During the spring offensive of a massive Chinese Army during the Korean War in 1951, I was a company commander who was left behind the enemy line for 7 days. I was saved by the U.S. 3rd Division. I literally kissed the American tanks and shouted, "Thanks General MacArthur."
Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II lived and served his country through the most tumultuous and yet promising time of human history, from the rise of Nazi Germany through the post-Cold War era. The namesake of his uncle and great war hero, Amb. MacArthur II will especially be remembered, both here and in Asia, as the man who raised postwar Japan to an equal footing with the United States after 15 years of subordination following its defeat in World War II. The U.S.-Japan mutual security treaty, signed in 1960 while he was U.S. ambassador to Tokyo, remains today the bedrock of American policy not only toward Japan, but toward all Asia. Time magazine then called Amb. MacArthur "the principal architect of present-day U.S. policy toward Japan." Without his painstaking efforts and patient diplomacy, the very foundation for Japan's postwar economic miracle-and in turn Asia's economic miracle-would not have been laid. For this we all owe Amb. MacArthur an enormous debt of gratitude.
Ambassador MacArthur played an instrumental role in the Summit Council for World Peace of which I serve as president emeritus. He was a key player in the formulation of the Summit Council's International Commission for the Reunification of Korea. The work of the Commission included several historical trips to North Korea and meetings with former president Kim Il Sung and the current leader, Kim Jong Il. It allowed the Summit Council to work behind the scenes and help unlock the nuclear stalemate that existed between this country and North Korea.
I, as a chairman of the Washington Times, personally owe a debt of gratitude to Amb. MacArthur for his immense contribution as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Washington Times at the inception of the paper and the World Media Association. I worked with him for 10 years as founding president.
It is quite natural for those of us left behind, to lament the loss of a departed loved one. But in the case of Amb. MacArthur, the sadness is eased by a large measure of gratitude, and even joy. That's right, joy-for death is a tragedy only if one's life has been misspent in selfishness or if one has died so young as to be unable to fulfill life's promise.
Neither of those cases apply to Amb. Douglas MacArthur II, as he passes on to be greeted amid cheers and welcoming embraces by Wahwee, his Uncle Doug and so many others who were companions in his enviable life-rich with adventure, interwoven in intimate detail with the history of the world of the twentieth century.
Ambassador MacArthur has begun his everlasting life in the righteousness of the almighty with abundant peace, tranquillity and joy.
The greatest praise one can pay him is to say that in the highest sense, he was a true American, a great patriot, and my personal hero. The name MacArthur is inscribed twice in world history-one by an Uncle Doug, and now by a Nephew Doug, the Second.
This article that first appeared in these pages more then five years ago. I am republishing it as the issues remain as sharp, and the news media as confused as ever.
Politics is a fascinating subject. Many religious people claim to be staying out of such "sordid, worldly" activities. Actually, staying out is not as easy as it sounds. The American Founders roundly denounced certain Quakers who claimed to be doing so.
Other believers won’t "leave politics to the ungodly." Some have supported small-country, Marxist liberation movements. Others have backed some "to the right of Attila the Hun" type candidate. We Unificationists ought to understand such matters, as it is going on all around us.
The Divine Principle contains a good synopsis of the history of civilization, and of politics. From primitive tribes, to fortified cities with a God-King, to developing nations with distinct philosophies. Today we refer to such ideas as "-isms." Look up words like: democracy, republic, socialist, fascist, etc. Some newer dictionaries have "revised" their meaning. It’s interesting to compare!
Similar confusion surrounds terms such as "conservative" and "liberal." To the news media, American conservatives want to cut the government and its programs, while Russian conservatives want to rebuild a monolithic, Stalinist government. The terms are now so twisted that they’re practically useless.
Dr. Skousen
I am grateful to a good man I’ve met, constitutional scholar Dr. Cleon Skousen, for teaching a much simpler method of analyzing this. (See chart. It has changed a lot in five years!) When I visited Macedonia in 1991, the people were excited about their impending national independence. They spoke of "building democracy." I pointed out that the United States isn’t really a democracy, but rather a "constitutional republic." And the scale carries further right, even into anarchy. (As their neighbor Bosnia soon managed to do.) And, as with the French Revolution, anarchy is fertile soil for a Napoleon.
The United States was founded as a genuinely new kind of nation, with a bold, untried ideology. Where government has a clear and limited role, and common people have rights and responsibilities, and can lead their lives as they see fit. It wasn’t perfect, as the Civil War was to prove. But it brought about freedom and prosperity unheard of in world history. (Read Thomas Paine’s classic works.)
Americans have always mistrusted government, and with good reason. We want freedom and privacy, and government always wishes to trade these for "security."
The national government must handle certain functions, such as defense, treaties, and immigration. Also the issuing of secure money, and the oversight of large projects like dams. It has several other constitutional functions, but not many.
In the modern world, government has expanded its role to the battle against disease and farm pests, and the assigning of radio and TV frequencies. Also, insuring the safety of public transportation, foods and medicines. Lastly, supporting the largest scientific undertakings, such as space exploration and nuclear research.
An aside: count how many of these are only needed because this is a fallen world.
Too much government
Problems develop when "big government" steps in-especially where we were doing just fine on our own. When government "wants to help you," look out!
The droughts of the 1930s inspired "temporary relief" programs for farmers. (See The Grapes of Wrath.) The widows and orphans of the Depression were helped by a modest, inexpensive Social Security program.
An unfortunate wave of poverty inspired a small, last-resort governmental welfare program. The sight of down-and-out folks in the ghettos brought about a few subsidized Public Housing projects. And so on.
Vast legions of well-paid bureaucrats now administer these programs. Our agricultural policies involving land, water, surpluses, etc., could not have been dreamed up by a mad genius. Social Security alone has a larger budget than that of almost every nation in the world!
We’re into our third generation of single-mother welfare recipients. Those benighted housing projects are being torn down as fast as possible. Vast new "health care" bureaucracies may soon emerge. There exists a veritable alphabet soup of competing local, regional, state and federal Agencies, attempting to "take care of" everything imaginable.
Government solutions
Americans have gotten so used to this that we expect and demand a "government solution" for every problem. Politicians promise that they can "right every wrong." They and their allies consider each new program "progressive," and measure the "compassion" thus expressed in terms of how many billions of tax dollars are spent.
Frederic Bastiat replied: "As long as these ideas prevail, it is clear that the responsibility of government is enormous. It is burdened with everything, it undertakes everything, it does everything. [If] we are unfortunate, then government must bear the blame." He wrote this 155 years ago, and since then many governments have toppled due to unfulfilled promises. Conversely, many evils have been overlooked if they "kept the trains running on time."
Both certainly applied to the late USSR. Could it apply here? After the L.A. riots, most of the rioters polled declared: "The government doesn’t care about me enough." Most working folks hope the government -especially the IRS- ignores them!
"The government is mainly an expensive organization to regulate evildoers, and tax those who behave: government does little for
fairly respectable people except annoy them." - E.W. Howe
What’s in store for this overburdened nation? After the Constitution was written, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, "What have you given us?" He replied, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it." At that time, Alexander Tyler opined, "They will last until the public discovers they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury."
Many people are painfully aware of this. We hear talk of "cutting the budget." Several modern leaders have tried. This caused some painful dislocations, well-covered on TV. And it earned them unending blame and scorn. We, the voting public, must become informed, and strong-willed enough to "bite the bullet" on these tough issues.
Yet, the very people who benefit from government programs are also voters. That’s one reason the United States is a Republic, because we can elect people brave enough to run the government right, and keep it within proper bounds. (Read John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage for true examples.)
The public must reelect leaders who do the job well, no matter how painful it is. The people rarely get leaders any better than themselves!
Again we refer to the Divine Principle. It speaks of the special nature of democratic governments-that, as the people become more religious, their society and nation will automatically follow suit.
During my visits to Russia and Macedonia, I was surrounded by debate about "what system" they ought to adopt. Yet if the people do not respond, no system can be made to work. On the other hand, if the people are free, honest, and involved, practically any system will work out.
The United States is still the most successful and influential country in the world. At 200 years plus, it is still young, in historical terms. It could be that the best is yet to come!
Several Unificationist projects have defended world and American freedom, and taught widely about the American Constitution, as the best foundation for any government in history.
It is said, "If men were angels, government would not be necessary." But we are not, and no attempt at building Utopia has ever succeeded. Yet virtually all religions believe in, and speak of, a future Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, by whatever name.
The public debate is shifting. Few now believe that government pay-outs can continue -much less increase- indefinitely. Thousands of people cut loose by welfare reform have, in fact, found jobs. Several celebrities who advocate morality are becoming increasingly popular.
I’ve heard some excellent speculations about these issues, by Unificationists and others. If anyone has any thoughts, I’d love to hear from you. Paul Carlson, PO Box 74, San Lorenzo, CA 94580
by Gordon L. Anderson-St Paul, MN
"Identity and Character: The Influence of Family and Society on Personality Development" was the topic of the Seventh International Congress of Professors World Peace Academy held in Washington, DC, November 24-27, 1997. One hundred sixty participants from 100 countries attended the conference which was held at the Washington Hilton and Towers.
The conference theme developed out of the 5th International Congress which looked at technological development and the future of society. It was clear from that conference that new technologies can be used for good or for bad, for peace or for war, depending upon the type of person that uses them. Because individuals are formed in the family, the 6th International Congress, looked at the "Future of the Family," the cornerstone of society. At that congress, President Morton Kaplan asked where we could find the men and women of character needed by our societies in our modern individualistic and hedonistic culture. He referred to the Reverend Moon as an example of a man who knows who he is and lives his life based on that self-identity. It was decided that the 7th Congress would be organized directly on the topic of Identity.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Kaplan told a story about a street vendor in Japan who sold him a teapot. Kaplan was in a hurry, but the man insisted on cleaning it and packaging it very carefully. He knew his job, and he knew the optimal way to serve his client. Such a man has a sense of identity, and a predictable character will flow from it. Kaplan used the example to explain how all people, whether they are a simple vendor or a national leader, can attain a sense of identity and character that will be beneficial to others and society as a whole.
The conference looked at the topic from several angles. Panel 1 explored the philosophical foundations of character. Classical western civilization is rooted in Greek philosophy, notably that of Aristotle. Dr. Jude Dougherty, Dean of the School of Philosophy at Catholic University of America, explained the common body of belief that made up Western identity and underpinned the legal systems of West. Dr. John Simpson explained the challenge to Western tradition from Descartes onwards to the deconstructionist philosophy of Derrida which relativizes all notions universal truth and morality. He emphasized the importance of stories as communicating concepts of self and cultural values that serve as a basis for relations between individuals and civilizations. Dr. Lloyd Eby continued on this theme with an attempt to disprove those who say that everything is relative and there is no basis for communication across languages and cultures. In the end, he said, communication may be difficult but it can take place and we can learn to understand one another.
The speakers on Panel 2 looked at the formation of selfhood from the standpoint of psychology and sociology. Tamara Ferguson spoke about the formation of conscience in young children and how they internalize the standards and rules of their family and society. Then Tom Kando looked at the influence of family on the formation of selfhood and some of the dysfunction and pathology in families in "advanced" societies. He argued that it is only through primary socialization groups like the family that individuals learn to be responsible participants and contributors to society. Edward Wynne next discussed the role of the educational institution in character development and some of the challenges to accomplishing this task in contemporary society. Jeff Adams presented an overview of the influence of religion on personality development from the perspective of psychology and Margaret Poloma spoke about the influence of Charismatic religion on personal identity and motivation. Stanley Rothman contributed a paper on the influence of the media on personality development.
Looking at the influence of the 1960s, William R. Garrett put forward the thesis that the 1960s generation was not the radical break with historical development in American history that traditionalists claim. Rather, the liberalization trends were part of a century-long adjustment to globalization that taking place, but had just been put on hold during World War II and the 1950s. He argued that although the drug culture, increased pre-marital sex, and counter-cultural dropouts were casualties of the 1960's generation, the period led to articulation of greater personal responsibility and self-definition. Dean Hoge, in his discussion of the impact of the "Baby Boomers" on society, disagreed with Garrett, emphasizing that "me-firstism is too strong, and that baby boomers are not enough prepared to make the necessary sacrifices of personal self-express for the sake of community values. Jose Casanova examined the formation of selfhood and identity in the post communist countries, which lost their imposed cultural identity with the collapse of communism. The panel concluded with a discussion by Peter Beyer of our growing sense of global identity and the paradoxical impact of the value pluralism that comes with globality which makes all positions seem somewhat arbitrary.
At the end of the first day participants enjoyed William Kilpatrick's talk "Experiments in moral Education."
Identity and Character in Historical Figures was the topic of Panel 3. Experts discussed the formation of the character and sense of identity in nine recent historical persons who have had great influence on their societies: Margaret Thatcher and , Winston Churchill in England, Hideki Tojo in Japan, Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya, Charles DeGaulle in France, Alcide de Gasperi in Italy, Walter Judd in the American Congress, and Rabindranath Tagore in India. These people all provided great leadership to their societies when confronted with challenges or transitions. Their own sense of identity, justice, and right carried them forward, often in very adverse conditions, until they prevailed. What kind of upbringing and what type of experiences created such leaders? The panel presentations shed a wealth of insight into the formation of such people.
Panel 4 looked at Identity and Character in Literary Figures. The characters in great works of literature, and today on the movie screen, have a great impact on our sense of identity. As remote observers of these stories, we identify positively and negatively with the actions and decisions of literary figures-both heroes and villains. Unlike the figures on the historical panel, the characters in the literary works suffered a tragic fate. Cordelia in Shakespeare's King Lear remained truthful even though their world was falling apart. Okonkwo in Achebe's Things Fall Apart failed to adjust to the modern and colonial changes in Africa leading him to becoming an outcast. Captain Ahab in Moby Dick was a man of indomitable will who became a crippled and driven figure responsible for the death of his crew. The tragic fate awaits those whom we often recognize as "human," yet the true leader has sense of self and of loyalty to the community which allows for successful adaptation to new social and physical realities.
The final group of plenary presentations examined "Identity in a Pluralistic Age." The fifteen presenters in this section focused more on collective identities and policy. Whereas traditional identity for much of the world was shaped among one's kin in a small geographic area, today identity is created in global conditions with family members often separated by large distances. Other types of communities have arisen which influence our identity. Religion, gender, race, nationality, and ethnic identities compete among one another for loyalties and state policies. The background for the discussion was set forth by Nicholas Kittrie, Gordon Anderson, Jan Knappert, Jack Susman and Daniel Robinson. They looked at issues of identity in the modern world, the relation of individual to collective identities, the problem of alienation and historical approaches. Then specific papers were presented on the questions of race, nationality, religion, gender. Thirdly, were papers that looked at identity with respect to certain groups: Arabs, the New "Soviet Man," Black Africans and South Africans.
Following the 40 presentations of the first 2 1/2 of the conference, PWPA delegates from 100 countries broke into regional sessions to discuss issues of identity and character as relates to their own part of the globe. They had each prepared reports that were compiled in a conference book Identity and Character: A Worldwide Survey. They also came to the conference table with specific concerns, issues and ideas to discuss.
The Latin Americans are divided according to identities with Europe, Africa, and the Native Americans. The most common problems are:
Increased urbanization leading to decreased family loyalty. Problems of migration from Latin America to the United States. The erosion of civility and mutual respect. Globalization and its effect on the economy and the higher cost of law.
The Asians noted they have been developing their post-colonial identity since World War II. The region is a melting pot of migrating peoples in which leaders of national independence have always seemed to have an insatiable demand for power. Even today's democracies are autocracies in democratic skin which continue to ignore the will of the people.
The Europeans noted that identity was lost with the collapse of communism and many people and nations are attempting to return to the pre-communist identity of their grandparents. In the West, millions of migrants are affecting the identities of once homogeneous states. New Europe is becoming much more multi-cultural and this is creating tension with those who hang on to traditional identities, shouting slogans like "Germany for the Germans." Right-wing authoritarianism is on the rise following in the wake of left-wing collapse. Creating a new identity is harder than returning to xenophobic movements. The Europeans though that the United States could be instructive for them; otherwise the newcomers may become a type of global underclass. Those in the former Soviet Bloc expressed a strong interest in having PWPA hold a regional conference related to identity-individual, ethnic, and national-- in the post-soviet world.
The Africans distilled identities operating simultaneously, those that identify with African traditions, those that have mixed traditional and foreign identities and those that have take on western identity. They asked PWPA to hold a major congress in Africa and would like to see financial support for activities.
The Middle East group gave some hope that the turmoil and war of the last 40 years might be subsiding. Using Lebanon as a case in point, they found unifying factors in language and history. They noted that the authoritarianism in Iran may also be on the wane. Although the country is still run by the defenders of traditional Islam, there is a larger group of the population which works toward modernization.
Overall, the panelists and the international delegates expressed gratitude to attend this event which was marked by the high level of papers and discussion on a theme that all felt was relevant to present society and their own nation's issues. Credit is certainly due to Morton Kaplan for developing the vision for the conference and the William Garrett and Jude Doughterty, who helped secure the paper writers.
The conference will generate two or three books. It is expected that they will be in high demand for college courses.
Gordon L. Anderson is Secretary General of PWPA.