Co-Founder and Co-Chairperson's Address by
Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon
The inaugural ceremony at the founding of the Youth Federation for World Peace
July 26, 1994
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC
Distinguished guests; youth representatives of 164 countries, ladies and gentlemen:
I would like to welcome all of you to Washington, D.C. for the founding ceremony of the Youth Federation for World Peace. I know that many of you came from great distances to enrich today's event as a testimony of your love and commitment to world peace. I truly hope that through you unified efforts, we can inspire young people worldwide to take charge of their lives and apply energy and creativity for the purpose of creating a better world.
Throughout the ages, young people have often been called by God to provide leadership at crucial points in history. Thomas Jefferson, while in his twenties, drafted the Declaration of Independence and compelled his generation to strive for a just republic under God. Joan of Arc, a teenage in 15th century Europe, led her people into battle and won great victories for her country. Jesus Christ, at the age of thirty, began his ministry of love and forgiveness 2000 years ago. Today, his teachings continue to inspire and give new life to people all over the world. I myself have been deeply moved by the love of Jesus Christ. It was he who asked me to take up the task of creating a unified world of true love when I was only 16 years old. Since then, I have never wavered in my commitment to God and in my promise to Jesus on that Easter Sunday morning.
Washington, D.C. itself reverberates with the remembrance of thousands of young people who sacrificed themselves for a higher purpose. At the Arlington memorial Cemetery, we find the names of young men and women who gave up their lives defending freedom and peace. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial we recall Martin Luther King's stirring "I Have A Dream" Speech which captivated and inspired al of us to put an end to racial injustice and bigotry.
We have before us the responsibility of fulfilling that dream. Whether the coming future will bring war or peace depends largely upon our efforts today. We are facing the greatest spiritual and ideological void our world has ever known. Communism's attempt to implement its idealistic vision of the proletariat has resulted in failure and remains as a tragic page in human history. America, representing the democratic countries of the world, is facing an internal crisis. She is plagued by a collapse of moral and religious values, deepening racial divisions and ethnic conflicts, drug abuse, violence and sexual immorality. With such grave problems on our home front, how can America, or any other nation, provide a direction for the future?
We have to realize that the crisis of our global society stems from our neglect of God. Communism failed because it denied the existence of God. America, likewise, will suffer greatly if she does not reclaim her spiritual heritage. Even Christianity, when it loses sight of God, is powerless to stop the decline of our global community. Diverse fields such as philosophy, economics, politics, and the arts can only attains their true potential when they are applied in service to God. Thus, the key to solving today's problems is to find God. A keen awareness and a comprehensive understanding of God's Will provides the only real solutions to the crisis we are facing today.
Over the past two thousand years, human beings have been guided by three predominant worldviews or value perspectives. The first was a theocratic perspective, which emphasized unquestioning obedience to God. The second was the humanistic perspective which viewed man as the center of the universe. The third was the materialistic perspective, which placed materialism as the ultimate view of life. None of these perspectives, however, satisfied humanity's desire to experience true fulfillment and happiness, since there was no clear understanding of the relationship which was meant to exist between God and humankind.
My dear friends. The time is right for Godism. Since the ideological confrontation between the Left wing and the Right wing is now over, the future of humanity needs a new worldview centered on God. Godism, which is also called Headwing thought, seeks to substantiate the unity of God and humanity through the practice of unselfish living.
This is why my wife and I are founding a new organization based in a Godly perspective. Throughout the years, we have founded numerous organizations in an effort to realize world peace. The Federation for World Peace. The Women's Federation for World Peace. The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles. The Inter- Religious Federation for World Peace. The Summit Council for World Peace. The International Conference on the Unity of Sciences. The Journalists Association for World Peace. And the Professors World Peace Academy. Today, we are founding the Youth Federation for World Peace so that the youth of the world can participate as the spearhead in the saving of humanity.
I will dedicate all my resources to educational programs designed to inspire young people to love God, to love their families and countries and to live by the highest moral standards. More specifically, I will create a high-tech, international educational superhighway by combining the academic resources of the Professors World Peace Academy with the most advanced telecommunications technology. This will provide the most advanced educational opportunities for the young people around the world. I urge the Youth Federation in each of the 164 member countries to accept the task of creating scholarship and educational programs designed to reverse the spiritual and moral decline of our youth.
On behalf of the Youth Federation for World Peace, let us all unite and direct our efforts in creating a world of love and peace. I am confident that with your support, we can welcome the third millennium as an era of God's eternal blessing on earth.
May God bless you and your families and the future of the Youth Federation for World Peace.
Thank you very much.