The Middle East Peace Initiative

Min Ha Kim
May 2013

A long-time advocate of Korean reunification, Min Ha Kim, gave a profound reflection (in the form of a toast) on his experience in a recent Middle East Peace Initiative taken to honor Father's achievements and recall the milestone Jerusalem Declaration. He spoke at the Peace Palace in front of True Mother and many guests.

Before I make a toast, I would like you to put down the glasses you are holding.

Thank you. A toast should be given from the podium. As Rev. Chang Shik Yang mentioned, I went to Israel for eight days. Since I understand that participants have joined us here for the first time from the Unification of Korea Federation, I would talk about my impressions of this pilgrimage and my normal thought process regarding following Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and the small philosophy I hold about them. I will not talk for a long time; don't worry. I also believe the food would taste even better if we are a bit hungry. I recognize many people I know among the participants from the Unification of Korea Federation. I recognize a professor here; I remember that he fled south alone during the Korean War. I come from the Gyeong-ju Kim tribe. We were wealthy and lived well. He was behind me in the same high school. I met him when he was a sophomore and we became blood brothers afterwards. I remember eating a lot of tasty food in his house. I am so glad to meet you here again. Thank you, younger brother. I also see Mr. Kim, a strong security and unification activist that I know here. I sincerely welcome you all. I would like to say a few words.

MEPI pilgrims 2013, ten years after the signing of the Jerusalem Declaration, in front of Al Aqsa mosque on Temple Mount

The Middle East Peace conference was a priceless experience. I believe that if I had gone to the spirit world without having seen Rev. Moon's efforts for peace in the Middle East, he would have instructed me to return to earth to see them myself. This is how deep my thoughts have been running. The question as to why humankind had to hate, fight, and kill each other came to me. In particular, it hurt greatly to see religious people wage wars against each other in the name of Jehovah and Mohammed. Fortunately, True Parents, the savior of humanity, did not just let this atrocious situation go unresolved. They have engaged in consistent effort toward peace in the Middle East by visiting the Middle East themselves and sending their own disciples there. I cannot help expressing my deep gratitude for these endeavors. I wondered how Father could take the Middle East problems so seriously and pursue the peace movement. My heart was overflowing with gratitude as I thought about it on my way back.

First, I would like to express my deep gratitude toward the late Rev. Moon, True Father. As we all know, it is normal for a person to invest in only one's religious group; however, Rev. Moon sacrificed his own religious group and invested much more energy and funds for the harmony and unification of other religions. No historical figure, except for him, has been able to accomplish such a feat. Though he may have been born Korean, he was a peace-loving global citizen whose sole thoughts and interests were focused on this great peace. He was. indeed a peace-loving global citizen. I realized it during the pilgrimage.

Second, I was surprised to see how immense a foundation Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon had laid. You cannot truly understand it unless you go there yourself.

Being welcomed, in a single week, by thirty prominent figures, some holding office now, some out of office, not only in Israel and Palestine but also in neighboring Jordan was quite surprising. I appeal to all of you from the Unification of Korea Federation that are here for the first time to attentively listen to what I have to say. I am eighty years old. I have lived my entire life as an educator and scholar. However, I deeply felt that Rev. Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon are the peace leaders that truly have been sent by Heaven for this age and are the True Parents who came to embrace humanity.

Participants in the Middle East Peace Initiative pray at a holy ground that Father created in Gethsemane on March 31, 1965, touching an olive tree that Father drove three nails into representing Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Third, even if Heaven or True Parents command us to do something, the disciples carry out the work. I am not trying to be effusive in my praise of Dr. Chang Shik Yang, FFWPU Korea's overall chairman. I may not have lived a great life, but I have tried to think, write and speak in accordance with my conscience all throughout my life. These are my sincere thoughts. I am not trying to get a good meal from Dr. Yang. After receiving Rev. Moon's instructions, Dr. Yang has worked toward peace in the Middle East for dozens of years at the risk of his life. I was quite surprised by the foundation he has set. The first point that touched me was how

Dr. Yang worked with a son's devoted heart, thinking only of Rev. Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. He gave all credit to True Parents and emphasized that he was merely a messenger. Participants from the United States, Europe and locals showed respect for Dr. Yang's humble leadership. I was proud to see that. Many people put themselves first. I have met many such people. They keep showing off. I was certain that I would be given the opportunity to report in front of our respected True Mother. Thus, I wrote this script on the plane. Dr. Yang then asked me not to mention anything about him.

I promised not to do so, but here I am talking about him. I ask for your understanding. Dr. Yang is not Rev. Moon's only disciple. I would like to emphasize that all leaders of the Unification group present here today, are great and loyal disciples. True Parents have succeeded because they have such loyal children all over the world. Wherever I go, I see peace ambassadors showing great respect to True Parents. If you haven't gone there yourselves, you wouldn't be able to understand this.

I will soon finish. Please do not worry. I won't repeat what I have said. Please listen to me.

Respected True Mother, thank you. I would also like to thank the various politicians and religious leaders here, especially those that joined UPF at its founding, for coming here today. I went on this pilgrimage under True Mother's instructions this time. We went to a place where the noble structures of ancient civilizations were well preserved and where one finds magnificent ancient culture and history still breathing and living. Yet, it is a place where continuous conflicts, violence, destruction and slaughter have occurred because of religion, race, territory and history over a long period. I visited a museum built to remember the 6.5 million Jews that were massacred. I also went to the Children's Memorial Museum, built to commemorate the 2.5 million Jewish children that were also victims of the Holocaust. Why do we kill people? Why are people slaughtered? I visited the Middle East powder keg, which is spotted with signs of continuous conflicts, violence, destruction, killings, invasions and wars as a result of religion, race, territory and history.

Dr. Kim speaking in Jerusalem on May 17

To be truthful, this pilgrimage was difficult because of my age. It was a harsh course. As I walked up the last path that Jesus followed to Golgotha, I clenched my teeth to keep walking, reminding myself of the wretched and heartbreaking path and the suffering Jesus had to endure. I continued walking while unceasingly reminiscing on True Parents' extraordinary efforts as they overcame extreme difficulties and adversity for this work and out of their infinite love. I walked, thinking of the history of our homeland -- invasion, colonization, division, war, the quest for unification and peace -- and our desperate reality. I thought about the generous love and grace bestowed on me, someone so inadequate, not forgetting it for even one second, putting it in my heart and mustering my strength as I walked. What am I? You are great elders by comparison. You have attended True Parents for forty to fifty years. I am a kindergartner. Whenever True Mother sees me around, she will ask me, "Dr. Kim, are you in good health?" She adds one point: "We have a lot of things to do in the future." I don't know why. True Parents like me so much. I also feel so happy just from seeing True Mother's face. Because I taught as a professor in a private university,

I say everything that is on my mind. Sometimes I will say, "True Mother, I have completely run out of energy. Please hold my hand and give me some energy." And True Mother would say, "Okay, okay, okay." I have received energy in this manner more than ten times. Therefore, I cannot help feeling invigorated. I report that I was always in the front during the eight-day pilgrimage route, tried to catch every single detail and completed the pilgrimage in this way.

Thank you, True Parents. Thank you True Mother. I was also completely moved by the sincere conditions and genuine care exhibited by Dr. Yang and other members. True love fills Unificationist leaders. I greatly applaud that.

I would like to conclude with a few words. I want to appeal to you before I make this toast. After the ascension of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind, our True Parents; and the King of Peace, respected True Mother, Dr. Hak „la Han Moon, has been completely devoting herself in order to successfully inherit, develop and uplift Father's great hope and unfinished work. Let us all bring together the warm hearts of all peace-loving people around the world and show respect, comfort and encouragement to True Mother by giving her a big round of applause.

Thank you, for calling us here today and for bestowing on us your warm love and encouragement. I am doing my best in my given responsibilities with a heart of gratitude for the deep interest and warm love you have given me.

True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, was completely one in body and soul with True Father throughout their entire life together. She shared capability and authority and followed the Heaven's will unchangingly. While following this path together, she wisely overcame all kinds of harsh adversity and persecution and accomplished incredible achievements, both tangible and intangible, in the world. True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, has firm belief and natural ability. She is as gentle as a serene lake and tranquil waves but is decisive and has never-retreating drive. She is also the symbol of truth, goodness and beauty. Therefore, we must all unite and make the determination to fulfill our missions as devoted sons and daughters, loyal disciples and brave peace activists through absolute filial love, absolute loyalty, absolute obedience and absolute integrity toward True Mother.

Under True Mother's leadership, let us all make the firm determination to take the lead in bringing victory by 2020, in establishing a peaceful and prosperous unified homeland and in forming a peaceful and prosperous heavenly world, that is, one family under God. Let us all muster firm determination and show our respect and encouragement to True Mother with a big round of applause.

Let us all toast a long life, eternal glory and great victory for our respected True Mother and for the glorious colossal victory by 2020 that is being pursued under her leadership. Finally, let us all toast the good health of all leaders who have gathered here. Thank you for listening to the historic and glorious remarks that were given today. Now, when I say "cheers," please consider the diligent efforts I invested in the eight-day pilgrimage by replying loudly. "Cheers!" [Cheers!]