On Baha’i Children’s Classes a Primary Focus: So children will grow up with a positive sense that they are important to God

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The offering of neighborhood children’s classes is a primary focus of the friends in our Baha’i cluster. Call this project a Virtues Day Camp! Pictured are some of the souls leading the charge. -gw

On the Baha’i 9-Pointed Star Displayed at Jackson Memorial: 1.5 billion viewers

“We Are the World” was sung as the final song at the Michael Jackson Memorial July 7th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles which may have had a viewing audience well over 1.5  billion

Behind the singers on stage was displayed the various religious symbols of the world’s major faiths, including the nine-pointed star associated with the Baha’i Faith.

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[this freeze frame at 1:42  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09fq-J9Uo-M  ]

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The Nine-pointed Star also shows at 00:12 as seen in this frame attached… it grows out of the Star of David.

Robert

Date: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Subject: Michael Jackson Memorial - Baha’i Symbol displayed
To: george wesley dannells

—— Forwarded message ——
From: Northwest BahaiLibrary

Thanks, Robert, for this. I am just getting to my emails after being away from the computer last week. -gw

On My Thursday Night Devo: They’re on

So this email exchange really did just happen. -gw

Yo GWD –
 
Are you on for your Thursday Night Devo?  Shall I invite my friend Gary?
 
- T

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Reply |george wesley dannells to Tim
show details 8:36 PM (0 minutes ago) Reply

OK, Tim. Here is what I thought… “Are you up for going to a Devo concert on Thursday night.” Answer: I didn’t know Devo was playing locally. Here is my 2nd answer after reading your email more carefully: Our Thursday night devotions are definately on. Do invite Gary!
 
George

Background: one of the core activities of the Baha’i Faith are devotional meetings. Many Baha’i families, including my own, hold home devotionals on a regular basis.  -gw

On Signs of Baha’i Identity: Found objects

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There is no such thing as Baha’i decor. One Baha’i home does not look like the next. There is tremendous diversity reflective of human diversity. Nevertheless, there are certain images or objects that are often found in the homes of Baha’is.  

The 4th of July I was in Laurel and Mehran’s home. They are family, my step-daughter and my son-in law. Here are certain objects I found in their home that is reflective of their cultural identity. -gw

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On Heard About It in Boise: Direct teaching door-to-door yields fruit a year later

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At the reflection meeting yesterday the newest Baha’i there was one week old. Her picture is to the left, sitting in the middle. Her story is… fascinating.

She teaches English and has lived for years in Taiwan and Japan, although she is from Bellevue, Washington.  She heard of the Baha’i Faith through door-to-door teaching in Boise, Idaho, last summer. Her husband who is Chinese from Taiwan was the one who answered the door. She wasn’t home, but when she got back, he said, “We’re going to a Baha’i picnic.” They did, indeed.

Upon moving to Puyallup in our cluster she called up the Baha’is. One of those who followed up with her was Zabine, Seattle Baha’i (and developer of Heart 2 Heart materials for assisting Baha’i teaching). Zabine invited her up to her home to visit. It was here our newest believer signed her card. In the meantime Dawn who lives in Puyallup and who is on the Area Teaching Committee also was in touch with her, meeting with her for coffee and inviting her to a delegate’s report.

And a week after her declaration she was at the Reflection Meeting. She is off to a good start, I’d say.

On Shooting Video For the Same Reason We Blog and Tweet: 11 new video clips up of our Baha’i Reflection Meeting yesterday

 

I blog and tweet for the same reason I take pictures and video.

Some weeks ago I put some videos up on YouTube, a little late to that party. Yesterday I put up a bunch more, video taken during the reflection meeting yesterday starting our 16th expansion phase here in Pierce County (Tacoma), Washington.  The people whose images and voices appear are the common and ordinary heros that make up the Baha’i community and are active on the teaching front. The videos are unedited, the camera work hand-held and shakey, and the sound quality not the best. But I feel compelled to capture images, still and moving, to document and demonstrate what Baha’is are up to. There aren’t very many in this world, relatively speaking, but the work of Baha’is is transforming the planet. I operate on the assumption that people want to get to know. These digital cameras are a God-send for the task at hand.

So go ahead and click. The clips are below, awaiting you to visit. -gw

Baha’i teaching as conversation6 views - 7 hours ago
”This is community building“2 views - 9 hours ago

 

 

 

 

On Googling “Baha’i Rights” at the End of Baha’i Rights Day: A quote from Saadi

This evening I Googled “Baha’i rights,” then, as is my practice, clicked on “Show options…”, “Past 24 hours”, and “Sorted by date”. Here is a representative listings of some of the top results. -gw

breatheO thou whose face is turned towards Me! As soon as thine eyes behold from afar My native city (Tihrán), stand thou and say: I am come to thee out of the Prison, O Land of Tá, with tidings from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. - The Baha’i Writings

http://royalinda.blogspot.com/2009/07/bahai-rights-day.html

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uscirfUSCIRF urges the President and other leaders in the international community to speak out and call for the release of the seven Baha’i leaders, as the President did for Miss Saberi. These prisoners are in jail solely because of their religious identity, and have not been afforded any due process or direct access to legal representation.

http://www.daylife.com/quote/00Fza6tcDa1Pw?q=Iran

iranianI Support Iranians Inside Iran “Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, The name of human you cannot retain.” - Saadi

http://www.facebook.com/support.iran?v=feed&story_fbid=120408688833

 

 

On Baha’i Rights Day, 22 Freedoms, 21 Rights and 8 Responsibilities of Individuals: What are, therefore, the responsibilities of government?

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In a broader response to Iran Rights Day, Wendi’s blog post today identifies 22 freedoms, 21 rights, and  8 responsibilities of  individuals. Here are a few from her list, some of which may surprise you. What are the rest?

If these are some of the freedoms, rights and responsibilities of individuals, what are the responsibilities of governments, according to the  writings of Baha’u’llah, `Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi? -gw

Freedoms

  • Freedom to have and express one’s own opinion
  • Freedom to criticise
  • Freedom of movement
  • Freedom to bequeath ones property as one wishes

Rights of the Individual

  • Right of the family to maintain itself under conditions favourable to body, mind and spirit
  • Right to a social order
  • Right to be recognized as a person before the law
  • Right to a living
  • Right to help others

Responsibilities of individuals

  • To develop a personal commitment to building a broader sense of community
  • To promote the well-being, and respect for the rights, freedoms, identity and human dignity of others
  • To obey the law
  • To educate children

http://wendimomen.com/2009/07/12/freedom-and-rights-bahai-rights-day/

Image: Book cover, Rethinking Humanitarian Intervention:
A Fresh Legal Approach Based on Fundamental Ethical Principles in International Law and World Religions

On #BahaiRights Day Today: Visit http://www.bahairightsday.org/ now and take action!

Today, July 11th, is Baha’i Rights day (moved fromJuly 9th).  For those of us in the Pacific Time Zone of the U.S. it is mid-morning. My  family just returned yesterday from the wilderness, literally; we were camping, celebrating my daughter’s engagement and giving little Daniel, my oldest son’s child born just a month ago, his first camping experience. Today begins the 9 days of an Intensive Cycle for expansion in our Baha’i Cluster. There is much day left for us here and much to do.

If you haven’t checked Twitter today, check out #BahaiRights. You will be amazed at the second by second outpouring of support coming in on behalf of human rights for Baha’is. 

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Today is #BahaiRights Day - visit http://www.bahairightsday.org/ now and take action!

  • Please inform your friends, family and colleagues that on July 11 they should tweet, blog, Facebook or create any material in support of Baha’i human rights everywhere, specifically in Iran where Baha’is have been severely persecuted against for the past 30 years.
  • http://www.mideastyouth.com/2009/07/10/july-11th-is-bahai-rights-day/

    On Baha’i Rights Day, July 9th: Pass the word

    July 9th is Baha’i Rights Day. Please pass the word, on your blog, on Facebook, on MySpace, and especially on Twitter. Join the cause.  We are seeking…

    Realtime results for #BahaiRights

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    JoannaOC: RT @negaratduke Distressed: Prospect of Bahai student & faculty hangings [...] lack of #BahaiRights in Iran http://bit.ly/oPcBN
    15 minutes ago from Power Twitter · Reply · View Tweet
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    about 4 hours ago from Seesmic Desktop · Reply · View Tweet
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    about 6 hours ago from Power Twitter · Reply · View Tweet

     

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    WishOneDay: PLZ RT & watch! Baha’i leaders in Iran. Plz watch; they R facing death sentences! http://bit.ly/130xGA #iranelection #BahaiRights
    about 7 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
  • nv19: urgent RT iranpresswatchThreat Against Students and Faculty of BIHE http://bit.ly/Vub41 #BahaiRights
    about 8 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
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    Beshnaveed: PLZ RT & watch! Baha’i leaders in Iran. Plz watch; they R facing death sentences! http://bit.ly/130xGA #iranelection #BahaiRights
    about 8 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
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    Beshnaveed: @angelfly72 The world needs to stand up & do something w/ the Iranian regime! They R killing everyone! #iranelection #BahaiRights
    about 9 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet ·
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    MoneyGuyBK: RT @amadril: RT @iranpresswatch: Threat Against Students and Faculty of BIHE http://bit.ly/Vub41  #BahaiRights
    about 9 hours ago from TweetDeck · Reply · View Tweet
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    iranpresswatch: Threat Against Students and Faculty of BIHE http://bit.ly/Vub41 #BahaiRights
    about 9 hours ago from twitterfeed · Reply · View Tweet
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    Beshnaveed: Thank you :) RT @angelfly72 To all Persians in exile: I pray that U will be able return to UR homeland in peace! #iranelection #BahaiRights
    about 9 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
  • umbrellaninja: Just an FYI: #BahaiRights Day is on July 9th.
    about 11 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
  • umbrellaninja: RT @mideastyouth People, If “Yuup” is a #1 trending topic, we BETTER make #BahaiRights top that. What would it say about humanity otherwise?
    about 11 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
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    donosborn: Letter of warning & threat of physical violence to #Bahai students of #BIHE http://is.gd/1mPyL #BahaiRights #HumanRights #Iran #education
    about 14 hours ago from Seesmic Desktop · Reply · View Tweet
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    zuppi_fm: RT @negaratduke This is scary y’all! In Shiraz, Iran: an Anti-Baha’i Proclamation is circulating - http://bit.ly/zbn7v #BahaiRights
    about 16 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
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    about 16 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet
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    Beshnaveed: @angelfly72 @dakster9 Unfortunately Bahai’s R not treated nice in Iran! They suffer much more than that #bahairights #iranelection
    about 16 hours ago from web · Reply · View Tweet ·
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