Ellington

In the highly contentious political climate we live in, the Baha’i approach to political involvement might raise some eyebrows. Literally, we are told to avoid it like the plague. No, this doesn’t mean that Baha’is shun voting; on the contrary, we are strongly advised to participate in civil government, but that participation should not go beyond the voting booth. So you will not see official endorsements coming from the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States for Obama, McCain, or any other candidate; and you would be hard-pressed to even find a Baha’i sporting a trendy button or lapel for any candidate. So why is that, exactly?

First and foremost, the ultimate aim of the Baha’i faith is to contribute to building a world that is predicated upon love, justice and unity. With this penultimate goal in mind, Baha’is ask themselves, “Can one utilize an unjust system to establish justice? Can you really build a world based upon unity while utilizing a system of partisan, adversarial politics?”

As Baha’is, we believe that the answer to both questions is no.

The less “politics” is associated in with the name Baha’i, the better. Now, as Baha’is, we’re anxious to get our hands dirty and heal a hurting world, so the Universal House of Justice gave Baha’is this eloquent advice: “[T]he best way Baha’is can serve the highest interests of their country and the cause of true salvation for the world, is to sacrifice their political pursuits and affiliations and wholeheartedly and fully support the divine system of Baha’u’llah.” This doesn’t mean we keep ourselves ignorant of our politicians or government affairs, but we believe that we cannot change political systems through becoming involved in them. Partisan politics divide; they do not unify.

In “The Secret of Divine Civilization,” Abdu’l-Baha wrote about what Baha’is seek in an exceptional leader: “He should in addition be informed as to the laws and principles, the customs, conditions and manners, and the material and moral virtues characterizing the statecraft of other nations, and should be well versed in all the useful branches of learning of the day, and study the historical records of bygone governments and peoples.”

Imagine a government operating with these kinds of credentials. In time, we would see a truly different America. No more indoctrination of the sole “correctness” of Western thought and lifestyle, no more spreading of Islamophobia, no more concern over amassing unreasonable amounts of wealth and weaponry while most of the world’s hunger and starvation is entirely preventable. We just might see some actual peace in this world.

So, will my faith values affect how I’ll vote this year? You better believe it. But who I vote for is between myself and God.

Reach columnist Wade Caves at opinion@dailyuw.com.