The Words of the Joo Family
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The Words of the Joo Family |
Father
shows the American church leaders an example of an IFWP supporter's
signed statement during a leaders' conference held at East Garden on
June 14, 1990
The IFWP signature campaign originally ran from June 14 to July 20, then was extended another 40 days to end on August 29. Desiring to let the European countries participate also, the campaign was extended for a third 40-day period, ending on October 8. Mr. Joo was asked to explain the campaign's significance to the European leaders.
My topic is the International Federation for World Peace (IFWP). I believe that you have already received some guidelines for this project and that some of you have already begun to collect signatures haven't you? I would like to explain the background of this project and convey Father's message concerning the IFWP.
On May 31, Father came to Washington DC. The main leaders of The Washington Times and The World and I listened as Father explained the International Federation for World Peace. It seemed to me that they were very inspired.
After that Father went to his house in Washington DC and continued to speak about the project. The next day, June 1, Dr. Bo Hi Pak made a draft of the resolution for the Federation based upon Father's speech. Because of the official announcement to establish the IFWP and the drafting of the resolution, June 1 is considered the official founding date of the IFWP. On June 2, Father received a very special guest who came from the Soviet Union for the U.S.-Soviet summit meeting in Washington DC. Father explained the outline and vision of the IFWP to him, asking him to endorse the resolution. He agreed to the request and signed his picture on the form. A few days later in New York, Father received a leading Soviet journalist who also signed. Dr. Pak pledged to try to get the form signed by the top leadership of America.
In New York, Father called the American church leadership to his house on June 14, the birthday of Jeung Jin Nim.
Around 400 state and city leaders came. Father explained the background of the "Peace Project," and concluded by saying: "From today until July 20 is the time for you to collect signatures. Please do your best." Later, the campaign was extended for another 40 days which will end on August 29. So, I discussed it with President Won Pil Kim, and I believe Father will agree that another 40-day campaign should begin for the European countries.
As of August 12, church members in America received 7,021 signatures from throughout the states. The signatures are those of the top national leadership including federal congressmen, members of the Senate, state legislators, and many city mayors. One week after the conference, there was very good news from all over the country. Church directors said: "God prepared the way for us! Once we showed this statement, many people happily signed saying: 'I misunderstood the Unification Church. You might have a very obscure doctrine, but a very nice attitude toward the world. You are truly peace makers!'" Particularly the political leadership in America became more positively influenced about our movement. The mayor of a large Midwestern city who had attacked Father and our church in the 1970s admitted he had to revise his views about the Unification Church. Our church leadership unanimously concluded that this project has been very helpful in our witnessing activities.
I wanted to share the testimony of a member who visited his state congresswoman, wife of the editor-in-chief of a major New England newspaper. In the beginning, she was a little wary and, worried about her reputation, wondering whether to get involved in a project begun by Reverend Moon. Her husband who was sitting next to her saw her hesitation and asked her, "You are not against world peace, are you? This has always been Reverend Moon's strong point -- all that he is doing is for world peace. In spite of what has happened to him -- his imprisonment and suffering -- his efforts toward world peace have always stood out. You don't have to join their church in order to work together. You can agree with something good. Anyway, Honey, you'd make a good Moonie! It can't hurt you to be for world peace." So she signed.
Still other state officials believed that if Unification Church people were working for it, they would sign without even needing to read what the statement said. Many American Leadership Conference contacts signed because they trust Father. Many professors and political leaders, without any prior in-depth knowledge of our theological doctrine, had no objections to signing when they read the statement. They asked: "Where do you come from? Ah, Reverend Moon! I've heard of him and, although I don't know much about him, he is doing a very good job!" So through this project, all the regional directors were very happy and appreciative of True Father, because he opened an access to national leaders. As you know, our church has long been working on the street, but this has been a unique occasion for our members to visit many people in important positions. Through this campaign we could elevate our church's image and make many friends. When people read the statement, many couldn't believe it was initiated by the Unification Church after all they had heard. So at the request of the regional directors, Father agreed for the campaign to be extended for one more 40-day period.
Now that you understand the sequence of events leading up to your European campaign, I believe there are also several different reasons behind this project. The first is a providential one: Through the Olympic Games in Seoul, Heavenly Father restored the elder son's position. The Seoul Olympic Games were the crossing point between God and Satan on the worldwide level. This means that the Communist World began to decline, and the Free World began to rise. This victory of the Olympic Games enabled Father to proclaim the Restoration of Heavenly Kingship on October 3, 1988. Father also declared the successful "Settlement of Eight Stages" on August 31,1989, in Alaska. The eight stages are the historical process to approach God. Since Adam and Eve's departure from God, then according to the providence of restoration, human beings can come back to God by passing through these eight stages of love: servant of servant level, servant level, adopted son level, stepson level, true son level, true mother level, true father level, and finally human beings can unite with God. Thus, we can come into the absolute direct dominion of God. Since that time, if everyone completely unites with Father, they cannot only meet God, but can incarnate true love and become one with God.
The next day, September 1, 1989, Father declared Heavenly Parentism. Since Father celebrated his 70th birthday in Seoul, we began to have "Welcome, True Parents" rallies not only in Korea but also in America. Finally, Father celebrated the 30th anniversary of his Holy Wedding in Moscow. All this means that our time is the True Parents' Era. All people of the world orphaned since the fall of Adam and Eve can become true children of the True Parents. They can pass through all eight stages to reach God and have True Parents in their lifetime. Therefore the world cannot be divided in two anymore -- no more Cain and Abel, no more enemies or aggression between peoples and nations -- because they all have the same parents. This is also the time to establish a true global organization so that the historical providence of restoration can finally be completed. On behalf of God, such a global organization can help administer the world's affairs and coordinate the many different needs of all nations. In other words, the world should become one under God with this organization.
Since the crucifixion of Jesus we have been dominated by three separate value systems: One, which consisted of a superficial concept of God that disregarded both human and material values, was dominant throughout the medieval period up to the Renaissance. The second value system was humanism that lasted for three or four centuries. However, from the late 19th and early 20th century a new value system came to dominate the world -- materialism. Materialism manifested itself through capitalism and communism. These two ideological systems have always been seen as opposing each other, but in God's eyes both belong to materialism. None of these major value systems has made human beings happy. Then what value system can allow humanity to be completely happy? A new ideology has to emerge combining the concept of God, humanism and materialism into one value system with the real understanding of God and True Love being the main focus. This unifying concept is Godism. Godism is an eternal, not a temporary, ideology. Father could establish the International Federation for World Peace based on the ideology of Godism.
As Father has said, we have now reached the last point of the eight stages, coming into God's direct dominion based on the proclamation of Heavenly Parentism last year. We can live united with God and become totally one with Him, so this is the time for us to realize one world under one God and to establish a practical, substantial organization as a tool of Godism.
Mr.
Joo shares exciting testimonies of the signature campaign of IFWP
with the European family during a Leaders' Conference held in Paris
Now let me explain the background of the IFWP from some other viewpoints: the political, economic and cultural aspects. Right after World War I, the League of Nations appeared but was unsuccessful in coping with the postwar problems. After World War II, new problems appeared which necessitated establishment of the United Nations. Forty-five years have passed and World War III or the Cold War is now over and we need to consider a new global organization to solve the post-Cold War problems. Let's examine exactly what these problems are.
The Cold War was a confrontation between the communist and capitalist worlds. The capitalist world with its emphasis on freedom led to individualism. Externally Western people have a higher standard of living, but they have completely lost their spiritual lives through drugs, alcoholism, violence, and the rise of many social crimes.
Meanwhile, the communist society with its emphasis on equality rather than freedom has resulted in a society of conflicts and fear, with no harmony or cooperation but a continuous class confrontation. Wherever communism exists, struggles arise.
People are now seeking a new value system that can govern the East and the West. What is it to be? We call it "head- wing." There are some political scientists who say that they no longer want any dominant ideology, but I can say that a non-ideological way of life is "Footwing" thought. A human being is an ideological being. How can we have a non- ideological era? After the right-wing and left-wing confrontation, there is only one alternative remaining: up or down. Will we go up or down? The answer can be given by the people of the world once we clearly explain the current world situation to them. The only way to go is up to "Headwing" thought, which should play the leading role in the post-Cold War era.
The United Nations doesn't have this "Headwing" thought and is already losing its ability to lead society, particularly ideologically. That's why, as long as the existing global organizations can't handle worldwide affairs in an ideological way, then we need a new global organization based on the concept of true love.
Also, the time of conflict in this world is over. Theoretically, relationships among our varied societies should be more cooperative, but there is no ideological common ground where countries of the East and West can meet to cooperate. Father has said that we should provide the ideological common goal of Godism and true love thought. In conclusion, it is through true love that the Eastern bloc can realize absolute equality and the Western world can enjoy absolute freedom.
How can you enjoy real freedom and guarantee real equality? Once you come into the realm of true love, you can see true equality -- for you are liberated from all restrictions. True love is the only concept that can realize absolute equality and absolute freedom. So the new global organization should be an ideologically-oriented organization with this true love thought or Godism.
The second point the new organization should provide is a real solution to the problem of rich and poor. Most northern countries are very rich, including Europe and North America, while the southern countries, such as Africa, Asia and South America, are very poor. In this world there have been serious confrontations between rich and poor not only on the global level, but also within communities.
Both the capitalist and communist worlds have tried to exploit their colonies through imperialism. So, in order to avoid these confrontations between those who have and those who have not, an ideology made by God and based in living for the sake of others is needed. Without it, there is no solution to the North-South problem.
Father publicly supports the equal sharing of advanced technology. He feels that advanced technology should not be exclusively owned by advanced countries, but shared with underdeveloped countries, for technology has not been provided by man but by God. Such sharing is Heavenly Father's solution to this problem.
Have you ever heard of the Global Economic Action Institute? Founded about eight years ago, Dr. Mose Durst has been overseeing its foundation. There are many unused financial resources in this world and Father feels these funds should be used for the development of Third World countries instead of being kept in the pockets of several rich individuals. This money can provide a solution to the monetary crisis, providing a way for countries to cooperate in international trading.
The third problem is overcoming cultural or racial conflict in the world. The world is growing smaller with distant people becoming neighbors; truly the concept of a global village is rapidly becoming a reality. If your neighbor is of a different color, where can you escape to? Some other world? There is nowhere you can go -- the only thing to do is to live together. Theoretically everyone can agree there should not be any racial or cultural conflict, but it exists. No one has been able to solve it.
While the Soviet Union surrendered and is beginning to reconcile itself with America, religious leaders, whose mission is to lead secular society toward harmonization, have yet to reconcile their differences with each other. In the name of religion, in the name of Allah, or in the name of God, they are still killing each other. Regardless of who is right or wrong, it's very sad, isn't it?
Wherever you go, the racial problem exists, and the United Nations doesn't provide any solution. Unless people know God as their Father allowing them to accept all people as their brothers and sisters, there can never be a solution to the racial problem. Father understands how to resolve this conflict: international blessings! This not only conceptually solves such cultural conflicts, but physically the children of such a union can support both sides. In order to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, we must solve this cultural and racial conflict. Only Father is providing this solution so that eventually the world will become one family centered upon true love.
The fourth point is the environmental issue. All the powerful countries have competed to utilize natural resources for their particular national interests alone. They never think of the resources on the global level. Unless they understand God's purpose of creation and take real ownership of the creation, the environment will never be properly developed.
It is crucial that these four issues be solved. Unless people know about Godism, they cannot initiate solutions. Without True Parents, how can they gather all people of the world as brothers and sisters?
Now, the first action to establish this new organization, the International Federation for World Peace, is the signature campaign. In America there was a very impressive response. In a fairly liberal Midwestern state, our members brought this statement to a state congressman who felt that it was too valuable to be signed by just a single individual. He wanted to bring it before all the representatives of the state legislature where everyone agreed that this should be their state resolution. They unanimously proclaimed it a state resolution. Following suit, several more states are in the process of adopting it as a state resolution.
To guarantee this campaign's success, Father has been approaching many important and distinguished people -- including politicians, professors, and ministers -- to form an initiating committee.
Finally, a list of all those who have signed will be given to the global leadership so all of them can associate themselves with our work. The initiating committee will organize peace charters, activity projects, and propose an organizational structure. When Father declared this new project, he said: "Now
I am 70 years old; the number 70 is the number of blessing completion, so I am completing all my projects within this year." I myself was amazed when I saw this new project, especially when I realized what kind of problems will be solved by this new global organization.
However, in some sense Father has already established a very strong foundation for this project. Some members say: "Father, please don't expose it too much: Others will steal it and say it is their own concept!" But Father laughs: "Okay, let them take it! It will soon return, because they don't know what has to be done. Without God, how can you use Godism? Nobody can steal it!"
In August, Father declared another global organization, called the Inter- Religious Federation for World Peace. So the International Federation for World Peace should be considered the Hyung Sang aspect, or our body, and the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace should be considered the Sung Sang aspect, or our mind. In order to complete the human personality, the mind and body should be united. This doesn't mean that the mind should become the body, or the body should become the mind, but they should harmonize with each other to resonate as one. So Father says: "Now I am creating the external global organization called the International Federation for World Peace, and also internally the Inter- Religious Federation for World Peace. Now, with these two organizations, the world will become complete. In God's view, there are no longer two worlds. The external side and the internal side have become one. They are resembling the whole human being."
The International Federation for World Peace was announced on the East Coast in Washington DC, but the Inter-Religious Federation was declared on the West Coast, in San Francisco. It is a symbol of the unity between mind and body. Father completed his mission through these external and internal organizations, and must be very happy.
I understand that your European campaign will start on August 30 and last until October 8. This is the third 40-day period. I hope you can submit a great number of signatures. In America this name list is very important. It will not be misused, but will be presented to the top world leadership to help them understand how much this idea is supported by leaders around the world.
And
excerpt from the House Resolution 2074 from the legislature of the
State of Illinois
We began the signature campaign the day we returned from the June 14 Leaders' Conference at East Garden. With every campaign there is a strong presence of Father's spirit and concern, and therefore in this particular campaign there were always certain levels of anxiety about the result, as well as excitement.
Through discussions with our closest people we worked out the best way to introduce people to the concept of IFWP. We gained confidence right away when some of our generals signed the Proclamation, because we knew that the generals were the ones most suspicious of the Soviet Communist Empire, in terms of the reality of its apparent changes. As we anticipated, one of our key generals had very serious concerns, and we read the whole IFWP proclamation together word for word, discussing each point at great length, before he signed. It was clear that he signed only because Rev. Moon was initiating the proclamation.
As more and more of our close allies signed, we gained confidence and began to make appointments with other high-level officials. Ed Taub in Michigan was the most diligent with appointments, sometimes making 3 or 4 a day. He approached leaders of organizations, and one leader of an interracial citizens' group gave Ed the suggestion to approach a member of the editorial board of the Detroit News. As always, we were concerned about whether the media would support or hinder our efforts, and felt we must be careful, especially since in this case the IFWP proposal was in such a formative stage. But Ed Taub has a boldness that helps to open a lot of doors, so he promptly met this person from the Detroit News and he signed. There were also some beneficial results above and beyond getting people's signatures: Jack Harford's approach to a black businessmen's group in Indiana not only brought him some significant signatures but got him appointed to the Mayor's Commission on Ethics and Values. I approached a Korean businessman who was happy to sign and at the same time donated $20,000 worth of construction materials to help build our AFC regional office.
Immediately after Father spoke on June 14 at East Garden, our region together. From the beginning we were very connected to the seriousness of Father's project, and committed to full- filling the pledges we made to Father. When we arrived back in Chicago we met again to discuss the seriousness of uniting with Father and fulfilling the goals of the signature campaign.
We felt that initially we had to focus on our allies, those people with whom we had had a lot of previous contact, and especially legislators who had attended the American Leadership Conference. Therefore I immediately visited a member of the Indiana Legislature, which was in the last week of its session. Representative E. J. Zeek Giorgi is a member of the American Leadership Conference Invitational Committee. He not only signed the proclamation but recommended that it be introduced as a resolution in the Illinois legislature. Rep. Giorgi introduced it and although there were only 2 days left in that session of the legislature, it was passed as House Resolution 2074. A copy of the resolution was sent to President Bush, House speaker Foley and the president of the Senate.
After this resolution was passed, Representative Giorgi met privately with us and informed us of his total support of the resolution, even suggesting that the Illinois resolution be introduced as legislation in states with similar sized populations. He felt that if several of the most populous states in America were to pass this resolution and present it to the President of the United States, it would encourage him to sign it.
Internally, I felt that our unity with Father and with each other as brothers and sisters was the major factor in the ensuing success of the campaign. My wife delivered our fourth child on June 13 at 1:30 p.m. and I left at 2:30 p.m. to go to the June 14 Leaders' Conference. Upon returning, I went immediately to the Illinois legislature. Our immediate response to Father's direction was a key factor, and also our focus on people whom Father had educated through conferences. Especially in Rev. Giorgi's case, I felt it was based on the foundation of Father's educational work that he responded so quickly and so well.