A Nationalist Amnesia

product of violence, murder, coercion, and injustice. It is war, plunder, the force of the sword,

and brutality that have acted as the main agents of demarcation of national and political

categories throughout human history. Thirdly, nationalist ideology is based upon a confused and

immoral distinction between the hero and the murderer. In reality, ‘Abdu’l-Baha says national

heroes are usually the greatest murderer and criminals. We can see that ‘Abdu’l-Baha is engaged

in a systematic critique of nationalist amnesia. His talks were intended to fight against this

collective unconscious identity and to bring the light of reason, consciousness and hence

intersubjectivity to the realm of culture and society.

Discussing the arbitrary nature of nationalist ideology, ‘Abdu’l-Baha frequently argues

that national borders have no ground in nature and are products of arbitrary distinctions and

illusions. For example he states:

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.

Similarly, he refers to often made equation of nationality, race and ethnicity and argues

that all human beings are just one human race:

In the creative plan there is no racial distinction and separation such as

Frenchman, Englishman, American, German, Italian or Spaniard; all belong to one

household. These boundaries and distinctions are human and artificial, not natural and

original. All mankind are the fruits of one tree, flowers of the same garden, waves of one

sea. In the animal kingdom no such distinction and separation are observed. The sheep of

the East and the sheep of the West would associate peacefully. The Oriental flock would

not look surprised as if saying, "These are sheep of the Occident; they do not belong to

our country." All would gather in harmony and enjoy the same pasture without evidence

of local or racial distinction. The birds of different countries mingle in friendliness. We

find these virtues in the animal kingdom. Shall man deprive himself of these virtues?

‘Abdu’l-Baha, 1982. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Wilmette: Baha’I Publishing Trust, pp.

299-300.