The writer of a piece of fiction should consider the personal outlook of the piece's main character. When I wrote my anthology story, I made Abdu'l-Baha my main character. Therefore, I should know how he would answer this question: "Are you an optimist of a pessimist?"
I have learned, from studying the writings of Adu'l-Baha that he always had an optimistic outlook towards every issue. Last week, there was much discussion about racial issues here in the United States. Abdu'l-Baha addressed some of those issues back in 1912, when he spoke at the fourth annual meeting of the NAACP.
Now he did not throw up his arms and claim that the existence of prejudice would keep the U.S. from arriving at a solution to the ongoing racial problems. Instead, he spoke about how differences in skin color were of no importance in the eyes of God. In that way, he sought to encourage any attempts to overcome racial prejudice.
Abdu'l-Baha realized that if people are reminded of the fact that we are all God's creatures, then they find it easier to view each man and woman as a child of God. Once they have done that, then they find it easier to act accordingly. That was the optimistic outlook that sustained Abdu'l-Baha throughout his life.
Sue Chehrengar
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