Consider the prejudice of patriotism. This is one globe, one
land, one country. God did not divide it into national boundaries. He created
all the continents without national divisions. Why should we make such division
ourselves? These are but imaginary lines and boundaries. Europe is a continent;
it is not naturally divided; man has drawn the lines and established the limits
of kingdoms and empires. Man declares a river to be a boundary line between two
countries, calling this side French and the other side German, whereas the
river was created for both and is a natural artery for all. Is it not
imagination and ignorance which impels man to violate the divine intention and
make the very bounties of God the cause of war, bloodshed and destruction?
Therefore, all prejudices between man and man are falsehoods and violations of
the will of God. God desires unity and love; He commands harmony and
fellowship. Enmity is human disobedience; God Himself is love.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during
His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’; compilation ‘Europe’,
prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, published in Baha'i Studies Review,
1.1, Association for Baha'i Studies of English-Speaking Europe, 1991)
