On 100 Years Ago: The news of the Battle of Benghazi grieves my heart

October 21, 1911, Saturday, Paris: The pitiful causes of war, and the duty of everyone to strive for peace.

'Abdu'l-Bahá said:

I hope you are happy and well. I am not happy, but very sad.  The news of the Battle of Benghazi grieves my heart. I wonder at the human savagery that still exists in the world. How is it possible for men to fight from  morning until evening, killing each other, shedding the blood of their fellow-men: And for what object? To gain possession of a part of the earth! Even the animals. when they fight, have an immediate and more reasonable cause for their attacks! How terrible it is that men, who are of the higher kingdom, can descend to slaying and bringing misery their fellow-beings, for the possession of a tract of land!. . . . 

I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity.  When a  thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a  more powerful thought of love.  Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and  content.

Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness. . . .

 

#45 - 100 Years Ago -- "Abdu'l-Bahá continues His talks in Paris — October 20 and 21, 1911

Source: Paris Talks, Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1911, 9 Pines Publishing, Canada,

        © The Bahá’í Publishing Trust, London, 1995 edition.

 

Libya is in the news today. Libya was in the news 100 years ago. War is complicated, civil war even more so. More from John Conkling's postings on what Abdu'l-Baha was doing a century ago. -gw

 

Events in Libya in 2011 courtesy of Google images

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