At the Global Peace Leadership Conference on August 1st and 2nd, 2018, Dr. Robert Schuller of the Global Peace Leadership Council, spoke on the idea of “water” and “mountain” people. Do you know what a “water person” or a “mountain person” is? Find out what these types of people might mean for leadership in our world today.

DR ROBERT SCHULLER (Member of the Global Leadership Council):

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure for me to be able to be here today and to share a message with you. How many people here have ever heard of water people? Has anyone ever heard of “water people”? Do you have any idea what I am talking about? Some of you may be thinking of what “water people” are. You are thinking well, maybe “water people” are a little too hard on the water. It is not quite right.

Honestly, we are all made of primary water. Maybe everyone is a water person; it could be. Let me suggest this. “Water people” are those who act like water but how does water act? Water, if you pour it some place, will always take the path of least resistance. It will always continue to flow until it reaches the lowest place possible. It has no plans. It has no motivation. It has nothing except seeking the path of least resistance. That is “water people.” The good news I have for you today is that there is not a single “water person” here. There is not a single person who is here today because they have decided to take the path of least resistance.

The people that I am looking at today are quite the contrary. You are here today because you have a vision. You have a goal. You have an understanding of what you want for your family, for your community, for your country and for the world. That is to seek peace and joy and goodness and to make the space around you better.

You want to improve that which is part of your world and so you are here today, not seeking the path of least resistance. Instead, you are here today for dialogue – to discuss, think and plan. If we are going to do something and make a difference, the first thing we need to do is make a plan that is going to make a difference. The last thing you want to do is spin your wheels doing something that is not productive.

I heard a Ugandan proverb. Tell me if you have heard this one before. “If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there.” (Laughter) Is that right? That is not what this is about. We are about making some plans; having a vision, creating a plan and then implementing that plan. We are not taking the path of least resistance in any way, shape or form. We are using our brains. We are using our minds. We are using our God-given ability to create a plan and then take the effort to implement that plan. It takes effort to avoid falling into the trap of being “water people.”

Water people simply take the path of least resistance. What we are doing here in this conference over the next two days finding the path that leads to victory. How many people want victory?

Thousands of leaders gather in Uganda for the 2018 Global Peace Leadership Conference.

Stand up right now if you like victory. Now that you are all standing, let us just give a round of applause to the Heavenly Father who brought us together. (Applause)

We are standing here today but sitting because “Water people” sit. We are leaders. As leaders, we have decided not to take the path of least resistance but to take the path that leads to success.

Therefore, we are standing here as one family under God. (Applause)

What is the direction that we are going to find? We may not have the answers now because the conference has just begun. God will reveal the answers to us through dialogue, discussions and plans. We will know them all; more innovative leadership that is required for us as an individual to have impact on our families, communities and the world. (Applause) Shake the hand of the person next to you right now and say, “God loves you and so do I.” That is the word we are going to use for the next two days. Thank you everybody and God loves you mightily. (Applause)

On August 2, Dr. Schuller addressed a group with some remarks contrasting “water people” with their opposites, “mountain people”:

DR SCHULLER:

Your Excellency, I would like to thank you for being what I call a mighty man. Yesterday morning, when I addressed this conference, I talked about the “water people” those who take the path of least resistance and always end up in the lowest place; those who face them out when faced with the mountains – you either find the way to turn around it or stand on that mountain. You overcome the challenges that are set before you and you accomplish your goals. Those are mountain people. Your Excellency, you are a mountain people. (Applause)

When faced with the mountains, your will do whatever it takes to succeed. Therefore, I would like to thank you, your Excellency for addressing the issues of peace, poverty and making a difference in your country. I congratulate and thank you. God bless you. (Applause)

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The following is the full transcript of the speech delivered by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, chairman of the Global Peace Foundation at its annual convention, held at the Bourbon Conmebol Assunção Convention Hotel.

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“A Roadmap for National Transformation: Liberty, Prosperity and Integrity through Moral and Innovative Leadership”

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Dr. Hun Jin Moon at the Global Peace Convention 2014, “Roadmap for National Transformation.”

It is my great honor to welcome you to the Sixth Annual Global Peace Convention here in Asuncion, Paraguay. This Convention is bringing together leaders from more than 40 nations, and all sectors of society, including politicians and government officials, religious and business leaders, educators and civil society leaders, united by a common vision for peace and prosperity, and ready to work together to achieve it.

I want to give special thanks to our host H.E. President Horacio Cartes for his warm welcome to Paraguay. Could we express our thanks to him?

And I would also like to recognize the Vice-president of Paraguay, Juan Afara who is with us here today. Could we please offer a round of applause?

To President Juan Carlos Wasmosy, President Vincio Cerezo, President Luis Alberto Lacalle and the members of the Latin American Presidential Mission here today, could they please stand to be recognized?

We owe much of the success of this convention and GPF’s work in Paraguay to Senator Lilian Samaniego of our Global Leadership Council. May we thank her?

And of course we also want to thank our distinguished local host, the Mayor of Asuncion, Arnaldo Samaniego, for bringing us to this beautiful green and vibrant city known as the “mother of cities.”

We would also like to appreciate the many significant faith leaders with us today, including:

• My good friends Bishop Manoel Ferreira and Congressman Nelson Marquezelli of Brazil;
• Dr. Marsudi Syuhud, Secretary General of Nahdlatul Ulama of Indonesia; and
• Dr. Robert and Donna Schuller from the United States.

And a special thanks to all of the distinguished GPF Global Leadership Council members in attendance from throughout the world.

We are drawn together here inspired by the vision of One Family under God, and the hope, that as we find more ways to act upon it, we can heal the divisions that separate humanity and make peace a global reality.

(Left to right) Vice President of Paraguay, H.E. Juan Afara, President of Paraguay, H.E. Horacio Cartes, Founder of Global Peace Foundation, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, National Senator of Paraguay, Hon. Lilian Samaniego.

The theme of this year’s convention is “Roadmap for National Transformation: Liberty, Prosperity and Integrity through Moral and Innovative Leadership.” This theme focuses on the type of change within nations that is needed to move towards world peace. It is particularly fitting for a convention held in Paraguay, which is part of the “Global South,” the world of emerging nations seeking to grow and find their place in the global economy and the community of nations.

This theme focuses on the type of change within nations that is needed to move towards world peace. It is particularly fitting for a convention held in Paraguay, which is part of the “Global South,” the world of emerging nations seeking to grow and find their place in the global economy and the community of nations.

When the Cold War ended, so too did the old world order based on ideological division. A new world order has yet to be established, and emerging nations will play an increasingly important role in shaping how it looks, for better or worse. With the Cold War geopolitical order gone, the world has experienced increasing fragmentation along tribal, ethnic, sectarian, and religious lines.

This has produced violent identity-based conflicts across the developing world, — in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Here in Latin America the legacy of Iberian feudalism still fuels social conflicts based on disparities of wealth and opportunity. The old struggle of communism and capitalism still endures at a social level in this region, producing opposing visions for the path to prosperity.

Many emerging nations today are experiencing significant economic growth and greater democratization. Yet they also face many challenges. In addition to the instability arising from identity-based conflict, there is inequitable development that fails to benefit the people as a whole, and government tainted by corruption. How these challenges are met will have great significance for global peace and prosperity. The nations of the southern hemisphere hold the key to the future.

In addition, most of the emerging world has large youth populations. This is in marked contrast to the developed world with its aging populations, low birthrates, and dissolving families. The energy of the young represents a great opportunity for the growing economies of the developing world.

Yet those energies need to be properly harnessed and that is the challenge. It calls for education both in productive skills and in moral and civic virtues. That, in turn, requires tackling poverty and its cultural impact. The negative behaviors that poverty produces undermine social stability and thus impede progress toward equitable and sustainable prosperity.

The energy of the young represents a great opportunity for the growing economies of the developing world. Yet those energies need to be properly harnessed and that is the challenge.

How to achieve prosperity without sacrificing traditional values is another major challenge for countries in the southern hemisphere. Observing the breakdown of families and its social impact in the so-called advanced nations, and in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008, many countries are looking for alternatives to the Western development model. They are looking for new models of national transformation that can stimulate economic development and material prosperity without having to compromise spiritual and moral traditions or their roots in strong family values.

If these countries successfully meet their challenges they will create the foundation for a peaceful new world order. That is why it is vitally important to understand what it takes to bring about national transformation.

This region has a tremendous opportunity to bring about a rebirth of Latin America. It is particularly encouraging to see so many former heads of state gathered here for the 2nd Summit of the Latin American Presidential Mission. They are dedicated to applying their experience to lift up their region.

To achieve this, Latin American society has to become more inclusive. Positive social transformation leads to political and legal change that then leads to sustainable economic development. In the feudal system that Latin America adapted from Spanish and Portuguese colonizers, a serf had no ownership, few rights, and, as a result, little opportunity or incentive.

Fourteen heads of state, the current president of Paraguay at the Second Summit of the Latin American Presidential Mission.

This was in contrast to the cultural traditions of North America that grew out of the English common law and encouraged independence, enterprise, and self-reliance among an ever-growing segment of society.

These differences grew out of fundamental principles and values that upheld human rights and freedoms and sought to extend them to all people. Basic liberties created social opportunity. Hard work was rewarded, enterprise encouraged, and an engaged citizenry expanded. Prosperity was the fruit of the resulting culture.

For much of its history Latin America has had oligarchic societies that excluded the majority of the population from prosperity, and political influence and engagement. Lacking these opportunities, opposition often took radical forms. Today, social disparity remains a challenge that the region has to meet.

To prosper, Latin America needs a broad, well-established middle class, engaged in the economic and political life of their countries. That requires good education and opportunity for all citizens. As these social issues are addressed, the political and legal framework can change, creating greater stability through the rule of law and the protection of property rights. At the root of these changes are the principles and values that uphold the rights and freedoms of every citizen and lead to the creation of a society where they can be exercised.

This opens the door to economic development and prosperity, particularly as it makes a country attractive for foreign investment. A country that leads the way in this process can become a hub nation for its region and a model for the world.

Peace and prosperity cannot be secured in this world without nations that exemplify integrity, good governance, and responsibility. Our host nation, Paraguay offers an instructive example of how national transformation can begin.

Peace and prosperity cannot be secured in this world without nations that exemplify integrity, good governance, and responsibility.

Since my first visit here in 2008, Paraguay has made great strides forward. Back then, the U.S. State Department was advising Americans not to travel to the country because of security concerns. Also, the Paraguayan government was planning to expropriate foreign owned private property. Yet at the same time, Paraguay’s leaders wanted the country to develop and become part of the global economy.

Paraguay could never prosper as part of the global economy if it did not respect the rule of law, and property rights as part of that rule. No foreign government or organization would invest in a country where their enterprise was not protected by the law. The president and other leaders at the time whom I spoke with, understood the force of this argument. They made a historic choice that set Paraguay on a path to becoming a well-functioning democracy.

Where might this path lead? My experience here convinces me of Paraguay’s great potential. With the right foundation of principles and values, Paraguay can become a prosperous and peaceful modern democracy that respects the rights and freedoms of its people, and promotes a successful free market economy that unleashes their creativity.

Such a transformed Paraguay, at the center of South America, can be like a womb for the rebirth of the region from which a genuine prosperity, and the principles and values that underpin it, can spread throughout Latin America, and across the developing world. I have shared this vision consistently with the leaders of Paraguay in government, business and civil society.

Over one thousand representatives of 40 countries around the world at the Global Peace Convention 2014.

In the past six years much has changed in this country as efforts have grown to move from vision to social transformation. I am proud to say that the Global Peace Foundation has been among those at the forefront of that endeavor. In 2010 we established IDPPS, a research institute, to develop a roadmap for the future of the nation. Its members are prominent and respected figures known for their integrity. They come from the ranks of government, business, the Central Bank, Supreme Court, and the military.

That same year GPF and the Institute held a conference in Asuncion for Paraguayan leaders from both the public and private sectors that attracted several former heads of state from the greater Latin American region. Their presence became the seed of the Latin American Presidential Mission, established at the Global Peace Convention in Atlanta in 2012.

The conference produced the “Asuncion Declaration,” a comprehensive statement of principles that affirmed the desire of Latin American leaders “to work beyond religious, political, social, and ethnic differences for the unity of Latin America.” That affirmation was reiterated by several of the former presidents the following year in the “Brasilia Declaration.”

The Declaration outlined the need to “revive the civic values and virtues that reflect the better spiritual, democratic, and plural traditions of humanity in this continent,” and to “promote education in ethical principles and universal values that can empower children and young adults to become better human beings and good citizens.”

These principles are being implemented through the work of the Institute and GPF’s national chapter here in Paraguay and by the Latin American Presidential Mission across the wider region.

The Institute has contributed to the creation of sound and consistent public policy based on mobilizing public and private partnerships, particularly through its work on a development model for the vast, poverty-stricken Chaco region. Meanwhile, GPF has been promoting greater social stability in the country through forums on the core principles essential for good governance and a wide range of social initiatives.

These include character education in the nation’s schools, launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Education; youth volunteerism; and an energetic and enterprising women’s division that does pioneering work to advance the role and dignity of women and affirm the fundamental importance of the family in transmitting values.

The Latin American Presidential Mission is working throughout the region to strengthen relations between North, Central and South America and the Caribbean as well as promoting a hemispheric spiritual awakening centered on the universal principles and values that uphold vibrant, well-functioning democracies. It is also promoting broad educational initiatives focused on moral and civic development and contributing ideas on issues such as trade and investment, income disparity, and how to combat organized crime.

In Alto Paraguay, GPF has been active since 2009 in the main town of Puerto Casado, providing basic assistance in health, education, and housing. Later GPF established sustainable projects including a fish farm, communal vegetable farm, and bakery to help the community support itself.. Last year, Marlene Ocampos, who had guided these projects as GPF social director in the state, ran for governor of Alto Paraguay.

Against expectations, and on the strength of her work for the people of the state, she won the election. As governor, she has continued to lead with the same spirit of service. The Institute has supported her work with its expertise, establishing efficient and transparent systems of government that help to root out corruption.

The example of Alto Paraguay is causing a stir in Paraguay today. There are entrenched special interests that are threatened by the changes underway there. But those with a greater vision see in it a model for other states to imitate. During my last visit here one governor asked me for GPF’s help to implement in his state what had been done in Alto Paraguay.

As fundamental principles are put into practice through political and social initiatives, the stability of the country grows, making it more attractive to international investors. Investment will allow Paraguay to build its infrastructure and become a hub nation for all of Latin America.

I foresee a future in which Paraguay becomes for Latin America what Singapore is for Southeast Asia or Dubai for the Middle East.

As the Latin American region experiences a rebirth it will naturally look west to build trade relations with Asian countries, as part of the emerging Asia-Pacific era. Even though Paraguay is a landlocked nation, it needs to be part of this process to become fully engaged in the global economy.

In this regard, I believe that Korea and Paraguay make natural partners, complementing one another. Korea is technologically advanced but resource poor. It also needs new markets. Paraguay is resource rich but can benefit from Korea’s experience of development to advance its own economy.

I foresee a future in which Paraguay becomes for Latin America what Singapore is for Southeast Asia or Dubai for the Middle East.

Last June I helped bring a group of infrastructure experts and bankers from Korea to meet Paraguayan officials and discuss development plans. A start has already been made. Korea’s Il Sung Construction company started work on a road project here last June. Hyundai has already established a factory here creating needed jobs while KOICA, Korea’s overseas development agency, has been active with feasibility studies for infrastructure projects.

I have spoken with some detail about what has been taking place in Paraguay. The reason is that Paraguay offers a model of how national transformation can come about. It shows the foundational importance of principles and values, and their translation into initiatives that promote social transformation, leading to greater political and social stability. This in turn opens the door for sustainable economic development. As a result it has global implications.

Fourteen former presidents, joined by the current president and vice-president of Paraguay, members of the think-tank IDPPS and the Global Peace Foundation.

If nations and regions are transformed in this way, the future peace of the world will be assured. The principles and values at the heart of this model uphold human rights and freedoms; encourage the enterprise and creativity that produce prosperity and a sense of worth; and promote the ideal of working for the greater good.

The Global Peace Foundation, in cooperation with partners such as yourselves, is working in fifteen nations across the world to lay the foundations for national and regional transformation. Interfaith leadership is crucial for resolving sectarian conflict and establishing a consensus of values. I want to recognize the work in Nigeria where Christian and Muslim leaders are working together in states like Kaduna to resolve sectarian tensions. They have launched a “One Family under God” grassroots movement to bring their Christian and Muslim followers together in peace.

The idea that all people are members of One Family under God lies at the heart of the principles and values of which I speak. This simple yet profound vision transcends every ethnic and sectarian divide. As such, it has the power to lift us from national transformation to regional transformation, upward to achieve global transformation and a peaceful world.

The idea that all people are members of One Family under God lies at the heart of the principles and values of which I speak. This simple yet profound vision transcends every ethnic and sectarian divide. As such, it has the power to lift us from national transformation to regional transformation, upward to achieve global transformation and a peaceful world.

The power of the vision to connect regions in innovative ways was demonstrated recently when a group of Nigerian religious leaders traveled to Northern Ireland to share their experiences with community leaders in Belfast working to bridge the Catholic-Protestant divide.

I also want to acknowledge the important work of our partner in Indonesia, Nadhlatul Ulama, a major Muslim civic organization working tirelessly to refute extremist distortions of Islam, and to promote tolerance among all people.

In Korea, my recently published book, “The Korean Dream,” articulates a vision for a united Korea based on the principles and values that have guided Korean history for millennia. It lays out a model for people to act on those principles through civic associations to unite their country. This appeal to root principles and values is paralleled here in the Americas by the call for a Great Hemispheric Awakening to revive the spiritual foundations of the nations of North and South America.

Our world today is gravely threatened by identity-based conflicts, driven by the divisions I have mentioned. Violence and chaos reign in many parts of the world. It is our responsibility, through initiatives such as these, to show that a brighter alternative is possible. The vision of One Family under God can be the antidote to such identity-based conflicts, if we are determined to make it a reality through our commitment and creativity.

That is why models of national transformation are needed throughout the world. I trust you will become owners of this vision; that you will be the moral and innovative leaders who will implement it, bringing social transformation to your communities, societies, and nations.

I urge you to join with me and with one another to rise above the barriers that have separated us throughout history and secure for future generations a world of peace and prosperity for all.

Thank you and may God bless you and your families.

 

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Opening Plenary Keynote Address, Global Peace Leadership Conference 2014, Seoul, Korea
Grand Hilton Hotel
September 29, 2014

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon addresses global leaders and experts convened at the Global Peace Leadership Conference 2014 in Seoul, Korea.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

I would like to thank you all for your time and leadership contribution at this Global Peace Leadership Conference on the theme of “Vision, Principles, and Values for a Unified Korea.” We are gathered at a truly important inflection point in the proud history of the Korean people and our shared quest to realize a unified homeland.

I would like to thank our partners Dr. Se Il Park of the Unification Arrangement Committee and Honorary Professor at Seoul National University, and Lee Gapsan and other leaders of Action for Korea United.
From the political sphere, I am happy to recognize the Members of the National Assembly who are joining us today, the Honorable Sung Tae Kim, the Honorable Myung Chul Cho, and the Honorable Young Kyo Seo and the many other political figures who are with us here.

We are also very pleased to welcome the representatives of six great faith traditions in Korea.

I wish to thank the Co-Chairmen of the Organizing Committee, Honorable Lee Maan Eee and Venerable Young Dam, Dr. Kwak Tae Hwan, Dr. Jin Shin and the many supporting scholars who have joined us.
Our esteemed international guests include Dr. Edwin Feulner, founder of the prestigious Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C., Dr. Victor Cha, Korea Chair of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Robert and Mrs. Donna Schuller of the Coalition for American Renewal, Dr. Feng Zhu from Nanjing University, as well as key leaders of the Korean diaspora from Japan, China and the US.

Let us give them and the entire Organizing Committee a warm round of applause.

Unification Takes Center Stage
In the three years since the Global Peace Foundation held its annual convention here in Seoul, the landscape regarding Korean unification has changed dramatically. Back then, many South Koreans had little interest in the issue. They thought it would happen in a far distant future, if it happened at all.

But we continued forward, confident that the long cherished idea of Korean unification would become a pressing issue much sooner than most people expected. And that is exactly what happened. Kim Jong Il died suddenly and his son, Kim Jong Un, quickly showed himself to be both inexperienced and unpredictable. The resulting instability in the North presents a significant threat to the Korean peninsula and to the region leading many to see unification as the only path to resolve the present uncertainties.

Consequently, South Korean government policy is now to actively pursue peaceful unification by seeking to engage the North through a number of channels, as President Park expressed in her Dresden Declaration earlier this year. These include proposed infrastructure projects, as well as cultural exchanges with the North Korean people.

In policy discussions within South Korea there is now much greater focus on the potential benefits that will flow from peaceful unification. As South Korea’s ambassador to the United States told a recent CSIS conference in Washington, DC, “Unification is no longer a question of if but when.” How to prepare for it, therefore, has become a matter of urgent discussion.

Vision and Principles: Unification and the Korean Dream

A Vision for a Unified Korea. Dr. Hyun Jin Moon’s newest book in Korean.

The focus of this conference, namely the vision, principles and values that will undergird and guide a unified Korea, is an essential part of the preparation for unification, yet it has not been sufficiently discussed. You might call it the missing dimension of unification. To awaken Koreans to the importance of this dimension in preparing for a historic transformation, I wrote the book, “The Korean Dream,” and organized this conference, the latest in a series we have held over the past five years in Korea, Mongolia and the United States.

A tremendous amount of work is already underway in government and think tanks to prepare for the challenges that might arise on the road to unification. However, true peace can never be built upon economic and political effort alone, nor through piecemeal social interaction and cultural exchange. These are all parts of a process that need to be framed within a vision that defines the end goal and directs them towards it.

That is what the Korean Dream is about. It answers the key questions about ends. Unification will create a new nation, rich with new possibilities. What sort of nation should it be? What principles and what values should guide and sustain it?

And make no mistake; these are questions that must be addressed now, as the course of history is presenting Koreans today with a unique opportunity. We have the chance to end the division of Korea because the geopolitical circumstances that created two Koreas have dramatically changed. A divided homeland was never the desire of the Korean people. At the end of World War II in 1945 they wanted to enjoy the freedom of an independent and united nation.

The geopolitics of the Cold War thwarted that desire and imposed on Koreans this division that has lasted for 66 years. However, the Cold War ended a quarter of a century ago. The Soviet Union no longer exists and the alliance structure that once supported the North Korean state is gone.

As a result, North Korea has become increasingly isolated and economically dysfunctional. China, its longtime supporter has grown increasingly frustrated with Pyongyang’s intransigence over its nuclear weapons and economic modernization. There is no longer anything special about the former “special relationship” between the two countries.

Because of these changes we Koreans now stand in a position to take control of our own destiny and finally realize the aspirations for the nation that fired the minds and hearts of the 1945 generation. To grasp this opportunity we need to move forward with a clear vision of the future based upon the principles and values that have shaped Korean identity and defined Korea’s destiny.

What Is the Korean Dream?
As I point out in the book, to prepare for the future we need to look to the past. The roots of Korean identity lie with Korea’s founding, in the story of Dangun, the legendary founder of Gojoseon and the principles upon which the nation was built. These were Hongik-Ingan, Ido-yeochi, Kwangmyung-ise, and Jaesae-ihwa.

The founding spirit can be summarized by the core principle of Hongik-Ingan with its remarkable exhortation that the Korean nation and people should live for the “benefit of all humanity.” This ideal was to be implemented through the other three principles. Thus, Dangun aspired to govern the world with “morality and truth” (Ido-yeochi), thereby “enlightening the world with truth” (Kwangmyung-ise) and thus “creating a world of truth” (Jaesae-ihwa).

These principles run like a thread through Korean history, especially Hongik-Ingan . They were the compass that guided Koreans through suffering and tribulation and helped them to digest it. They were the seeds of a national spiritual consciousness that was forged through the historical experiences of the Korean people and then brought to bear on every aspect of practical life.

These principles and the spiritual consciousness they produced became embedded in the Korean psyche and a part of our cultural heritage through the extended family tradition. In such a family, a child grows up supported within a rich web of relationships, embraced by grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and others. In that environment he or she learns the moral virtues and responsibilities of every type of relationship from the people who love them most.
This is the foundation of an ethical society through which virtue is nurtured and passed on through the generations. As I explain in the book, the family is the place where moral education to raise future citizens takes place and it does so at a level of intimacy that develops the most deeply rooted moral qualities. Here principles are transformed into practice and become the values we live by.

These are the elements of the Korean Dream. Together they have shaped the unique Korean identity, an identity we have to recover in order to shape our own future and fulfill our destiny. For unification will be about much more than ending the 66 years of political and ideological division. It will present the Korean people, North and South, with the opportunity to reconnect with the long arc of Korean history and bend it forward toward a future in which not only will Korea be united but it will also become a powerful voice for peace in the world.

By formulating a guiding vision, the Korean Dream is changing the way people think about unification. It is creating consensus where before there was division. It is a bitter irony that over the past half century Koreans have been locked into the box of ideological conflict even though the argument did not begin with us. The Korean Dream offers a way out of the box through its broad perspective. It offers a new alternative so that Korean people can think of the possibility of creating a nation rooted in their unique history and traditions.

Winners of the 2012 Need U Idea Korean unification competition. Since then the competition has expanded to include university, high school and middle school students.

Up until now South Koreans have been divided along ideological, political, and religious lines in their approach to unification and their conception of Korea’s future. Today, however, this vision is inspiring cooperation, for the first time, between liberals and conservatives, and among religious groups, civic leaders, and political parties.

It is also building a bridge of common identity connecting us to the North Korean people. Unification is first and foremost the joining together of a separated people. For South Koreans it is a moral imperative to bring an end to the oppression and deprivation suffered by our North Korean cousins, who are the same race, speak the same language, and share the same history and culture as we do.

The power of popular movements guided by a moral vision to bring profound social and national transformation is something I highlight in my book. The twentieth century offered many examples.

The Global Peace Foundation was instrumental in creating Action for Korea United in 2012. AKU is a broad coalition of nearly 400 civic groups, representing a wide range of religious, political, humanitarian, and human rights organizations engaged with North Korean issues. Through AKU, consensus on the vision and principles that should guide unification is taking shape and the activities of many diverse organizations are being coordinated. It is a civil society movement of citizens wanting to make a difference, in contrast to top-down, government initiated projects. As such it offers an ideal partner for public-private cooperation.

Action for Korea United will be reaching out to every corner of our nation from Pusan to the Han River and beyond the 38th parallel to our cousins in the North. AKU is also issuing a clarion call to connect our nation with the Korean diaspora throughout the world.

The Korean Dream and World Peace
The Korean Dream does not end with the unification of the Korean peninsula. Rooted as it is in the Hongik-Ingan ideal of living for the benefit of humanity, its vision reaches out from the nation to the world.

One of the leaders of Korea’s independence movement, Baekbom Kim Gu, whom I mention in my book, captured the sentiment of the patriots of that time when he wrote, “I wish my nation would be a nation that doesn’t just imitate others, but rather it be a nation that is the source of a new and higher culture, that it can become the goal and an example [for others]. And thus true world peace could come from our nation;”

This is the destiny towards which our history is directing us. Unification is the next significant step toward realizing that destiny. To achieve it, we must revive those core ideals that still burn deep within the Korean consciousness. The time is ripe today to do this, while we Koreans are reflecting deeply on who we have become, in the wake of the Saewol ferry tragedy.

The situation of the world today cries out for leadership and models of peace. A Korea united through the vision of the Korean Dream would exemplify the sort of leadership that the patriotic leaders of the Independence movement aspired to.

A Vision that Can End Identity-Based Conflict
When the Cold War ended there was great hope that a world of peace would ensue. Instead, as the global ideological rivalry of the two superpowers came to an end, the geopolitical constraints it had exercised disappeared as well. Conflicts sprang up everywhere based on tribal, ethnic, and most of all religious, differences. Such identity-based conflicts present the greatest threat to world peace today.

Military force alone can never resolve this type of threat. The resolution must begin with a vision based upon universal principles and values that upholds our common humanity, transcending the narrow forms of identity that produce conflict. That vision must then be made into a reality by a movement of people who become its owners, then create initiatives and establish institutions that give it substance and form.

A vision that can encapsulate our shared principles and common identity can be found in the affirmation that we are all members of One Family under God. Based on evidence of success that the Global Peace Foundation has already demonstrated in hot spots in East and West Africa and Southeast Asia, it is my firm conviction that the vision of One Family under God can transcend identity-based conflict and provide the principled foundation for creating a world of peace. I am further convinced that a united Korea guided by the Korean Dream can become the leading global advocate for this vision.

A united Korea committed to universal principles and values that uphold human rights and freedoms will exercise tremendous moral authority through its example. The influence such principles can have on history is demonstrated by the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

The principles it enunciates, that “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” remain as a timeless inspiration for peoples everywhere seeking to secure fundamental rights and freedoms. A united Korea would offer similar inspiration, and most especially with the nations of the developing world today.

Korea and the Developing World
The developing world is likely to exercise a growing influence over the global future. Western models of development are now being questioned, after the 2007-2008 global financial crisis was precipitated by western financial institutions. Countries in the developing world are open to new leadership and new models of development and Korea is ideally placed to provide both.

More importantly, many of these nations are looking for a path to a prosperous future that does not strip away their traditional spiritual and cultural values. They often find more in common with the values nurtured within the Korean extended family model than those promoted by the more extreme secular liberal ideas coming out of the West. This makes Korea a natural partner for them.

Dr. Altamirano, director of the Paraguayan think-tank Institute for the Development of Thought, addresses participants of its first symposium on Korea-Paraguay relations.

The Foundations of National Transformation
The Global Peace Foundation has been active throughout the developing world establishing model projects that address major challenges such as identity-based conflict and give practical expression to the vision of One Family under God.

We have been particularly active in Paraguay, developing a model for national transformation and connecting it with Korea. The annual Global Peace Convention will be held there this year and has attracted 18 former Latin American heads of state to examine the model and its application throughout the region.

Our work in Paraguay began with projects to promote the principles and values that are the necessary foundation for a well-functioning, free-market democracy. This created greater social and political stability particularly in addressing the problem of corruption.

I then brought Korean infrastructure experts and investors to Paraguay to partner in a comprehensive development strategy. Once its infrastructure is sufficiently developed, Paraguay is perfectly placed to enter the global economy as a hub nation for regional development. Korea will be the key partner in this process.

This will not only open the door to new markets in the Latin American region. It will also place Korea in a key leadership role there in bringing about economic development as well as promoting the social and political transformation needed to sustain that development. Based on such a track record, Korea could play a similar role in other regions of the developing world.

And most importantly for our focus here today, the experience of lifting up an underdeveloped nation to become a part of the global economy will be invaluable in meeting the post-unification challenges of transforming North Korea into a free, just and prosperous country that that can function in the modern world. All of this shows that Korea is poised to lead in the world but first we have to resolve the painful legacy of the past and heal the division at home.

Conclusion and Call to Action
Today, Korea stands at a crossroads facing a historic choice. What is at stake is the future of the Korean people for generations to come. We can accept the current state of a divided peninsula with the ever-present possibility of another fratricidal war. Or we can determine a new path driven by our destiny to create a unified homeland and to “broadly benefit all humanity.”

This is a moment of decision. In contrast to our position during the 20th century, the future of our peninsula today lies in our own hands. Change will come through a vision that captures the imagination of the Korean people and builds consensus for a bottom-up process of national transformation. The Korean Dream is that vision and our pathway to the future, while the vision of One Family under God represents our global mission in building a world of everlasting peace in accordance with the Hongik Ingan ideal.

I wrote this book to fire the imagination of Koreans everywhere with hope and a dream. It is my deepest desire that the Korean people reads and owns the content of my book “The Korean Dream.”
As I stand here before you, I am strengthened in my resolve to bring about the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula because I see the broad swath of Korean society, ranging from political, religious, social, civic and NGO leadership that is essential in building a bottom-up grassroots movement.

Today we are making history as we put aside our different interests and come together as Koreans, united by the Korean Dream. You represent the Korean people who are an essential component to the unification process. Through your leadership, you should awaken the collective consciousness of the Korean people to become the masters of our destiny in this century and to bring an end to the horrible legacies of the last century where our people were unable – by circumstance and other factors – to determine our collective future.

In the words of Genghis Khan, “If one person has a dream, it is just a dream, but if all people share that dream, it becomes a reality.”

Let us be bold enough to be the masters of our destiny and forge a bright future for Korea, for Northeast Asia, and for the world.

Thank you, and may God bless you and your families. May God also bless the suffering people of North Korea, and our efforts for unification.

Thank you.

The post Dr. Hyun Jin Moon addresses “Visions, Principles, and Values of a Unified Korea ” appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Korea’s leading magazine Shin Dong-A, published a ten page feature of Global Peace Convention Atlanta 2012 in its New Years edition. The second segment of the article highlights the Muslim and Christian dialogue at GPC 2012 pushing for interfaith cooperation for regional peace.

Shin Dong-A, a leading monthly magazine in Korea’s feature on GPC Atlanta 2012 highlighted Muslim and Christian interfaith deliberations.

See the original article in Korean.

Below is the unofficial English translation:

GPC Atlanta 2012 Presents a New Paradigm for Global Peace

By Young Chul Choi ftdog@donga.com

Atlanta, Georgia, United States –

Christianity and Islam join hands.

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) chair, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon said in his keynote address, “America’s true strength lies in its moral authority as a nation rooted in spiritual principles and values which has championed human rights and freedoms at home and abroad.” These principles, he said, are enshrined in the American Declaration of Independence, making America “a nation with the aspiration to become ‘one nation under God.’” He recounted the United States’ contribution to the world over the past century, from “challenging European colonial imperialism,” to “creating international assemblies to foster peace through dialogue and reason,” resulting in The League of Nations after the First World War, and the United Nations after the Second World War. During the Cold War “American leadership, and faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, paved the way for the eventual collapse of totalitarian, communist regimes around the world.”

“This moment may prove to be a historic crossroads, for the United States, and for the world,” Dr. Moon noted. “The time is ripe for a new spiritual awakening that galvanizes the community of righteous and faithful citizens around universal principles and shared values, not just in the U.S. but throughout the Western hemisphere and the world.”

Dr. Moon expounded on the significance of Atlanta, Georgia as the host city for GPC 2012, “a place rich with history, faith, and more importantly the center of the American Civil Rights Movement.” Atlanta is also where Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife have brought important focus to the work of  Habitat for Humanity.  Atlanta is also home to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-Violent Change (The King Center) and The Carter Presidential Center, both co-sponsors and participants of GPC Atlanta 2012.

Dr. Moon considers the civil rights movement to be “not just as a struggle for civil rights but as America’s ‘Great Awakening’ of the 20th century.”

The youngest daughter of Dr. King and King Center CEO, Bernice A. King, said, “I don’t characterize my father as a civil rights leader, I characterize him first and foremost as a spiritual leader, as a man of God, as a moral leader who just happened to impact civil and human rights.” Dr. King’s famous, “I have a dream” speech, alludes to the self-evident truths stipulated in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men were created equal.”

Ms. King opened her address saying, “I earnestly believe that if my father were living today, his heart would be warmed by the work of this great organization around the world. And in fact, I believe without a shadow of a doubt, he would be a part of your group.“ She also called for a New Great Awakening, a “radical revolution of values”, to secure peace.

The complex situation of the Middle East, including the recent military confrontation between Israel and Palestine, the prolonged civil war in Syria that began during the regional movement for democracy, show that military and diplomatic solutions to peace have reached their limit. America has poured billions into military resources for peace in the Middle East and is now facing an economic crisis.

Shin Dong-A acknowledged the contributions Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, director of the Carter Center’s Americas Program, Jennifer McCoy, and Georgia State Senator, Jason Carter, grandson to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Middle East experts and leaders agree, ”Decades of failures to resolve the problems of the Middle East show the limitation of Track-1 diplomacy.” Track-1 diplomacy is a government-centered approach that seeks to resolve disputes through political and economic negotiations and military force. The alternative, Track-2 diplomacy, seeks solutions through non-military means, such as through spiritual and religious approaches. Dr. Moon said, “For peace to be established there must be reconciliation. But reconciliation cannot be forced; it has to occur naturally from the heart. It is logical that alternative approaches to peace-building are becoming more appealing.”

Civil society, particularly religious leaders who are familiar with the spiritual dimension of humanity, are critical parts of effectively implementing this new approach, namely Track-2 diplomacy, for peace and reconciliation in heavily disputed areas. Influential Muslim leaders and Western Christian leaders who convened at GPC Atlanta, all emphasized the need for interfaith cooperation.

 Dr. Said of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic group in Indonesia with 60 million members worldwide, said, “The possibility of reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Western world can be found in moderated Islamic forces that can bring change to extremist Islamic groups that are propagating terrorism.” Rev. Robert A. Schuller commented, “Western Christian leaders should move beyond the limitations of  their Christian world-view and accept their central responsibility – to practice universal values in the public square.” They both concluded that a fundamental spiritual paradigm shift is needed to prevent a clash of civilizations.

The Middle East is divided; tensions are escalating along religious, racial and cultural differences. GPC 2012 has been instrumental in developing solutions. If we can continue such endeavors, we can mitigate and ultimately end all conflicts. Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Asmat Khalid For a number of years, GPF has worked together with influential Muslim leaders in Indonesia and Malaysia to build consensus around universally shared values. GPF was also a part of launching the Coalition for American Renewal, calling faiths to their common mission to awaken the American spirit and character, and work inter-religiously. Participating at GPC 2012 from Islam, were the prominent Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama and the ministerial delegation from the Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government, and from Christianity, Rev. Robert A. Schuller from the United States, and Bishop Manoel Ferreira of the Assemblies of God, the largest Christian denomination in Brazil. All agreed that the profound and common mission of religions leaders is to secure peace through inter-religious cooperation.

Muslim and Christian leaders agreed that the vision captured in the phrase “One Family under God” and promoted through the interfaith work of GPF and Dr. Moon, is the vision needed resolve religious and regional conflicts. They committed to do their best to accomplish this vision, affirming that “One Family under God” is the common aspiration of all religions that expounds universal values and is the only means through which global peace can be attained.

Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Asmat Khalid said, “The Middle East is divided; tensions are escalating along religious, racial and cultural differences. GPC 2012 has been instrumental in developing solutions. If we can continue such endeavors, we can mitigate and ultimately end all conflicts. The experience of the Korean Zaitoon unit in Iraq will attest that we Kurds are fundamentally peace loving people.”

Read the 1st segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/koreas-leading-magazine-shing-donga-covers-global-peace-convention-2012/

Read the 3rd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/all-lights-village-movement-most-popular-gpc-2012-shin-dong-a-special-report/

Read the 4th segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/unification-north-south-korea-key-world-peace-koreas-leading-magazine-shing-dongas-gpc-2012-report-part-3-2/

See also Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon’s speech at the Opening Plenary of the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta.

The post “Christianity and Islam join hands.” Korea’s leading magazine, Shin Dong-A, GPC 2012 feature – part 2 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Moral and Innovative Leadership: Building Healthy Families, Ethical Societies, and a Global Culture of Peace

Carter Presidential Center, Atlanta, Georgia 

Your excellencies, honored guests, and distinguished participants from around the world. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome you from the four corners of the world here to the United States and to this fourth annual Global Peace Convention. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Georgia Senator Emanuel Jones, and Dr. Robert Schuller, for hosting and serving as Co-Chairman of this Convention. To the members of our Global Leadership Council, to the many distinguished Latin American Presidents, and to the dignitaries from 40 nations assembled here today: thank you for your visionary leadership and ownership of our mission of peace.

The Global Peace Convention

The Global Peace Convention started in Southeast Asia in 2009, in Manila, capital of the Philippines. We then moved to the continent of Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, where president Kibaki was patron of the convention. Next, in 2011, we were in Northeast Asia, in my birthplace of Seoul, Korea; and finally this year we have arrived in the Western Hemisphere and my adopted home here in the United States. Thus, this convention brings together the fruits of those past conventions as well as of the numerous festivals, service and community development projects, character development programs, and partnerships that we have had the great fortune to initiate and develop with many of you in this room today.

The theme of this year’s Convention is “Moral and Innovative Leadership: Building Healthy Families, Ethical Societies and a Culture of Global Peace.” It is particularly fitting that this should be the theme for our gathering here in this great city of Atlanta, Georgia, a place rich with history, faith, and more importantly as a center of the civil rights movement. As a man of faith and student of history, I have always looked at that movement not just as a struggle for civil rights but as America’s “Great Awakening” of the 20th century – one of the great spiritual movements of American history which were the harbinger of transformations to come. Today we must rekindle that spirit and take it to a still higher level, laying out a path not only for American renewal but for a hemispheric and even global awakening that will offer a new perspective for peace and harmony in our time.

Where America’s True Strength Lies

Ladies and gentlemen, the United States may be the world’s sole remaining superpower, but we need to be clear about where America’s true strength lies. It is not in U.S. military might, greatly stretched in Iraq and now in Afghanistan. Nor is it in America’s geopolitical and economic dominance, now challenged by its debt crisis and questions about its leadership in the Middle East, Asia and the international community.

I believe that America’s true strength lies in its moral authority as a nation rooted in spiritual principles and values which has championed human rights and freedoms at home and abroad.  This is a nation with the aspiration to become “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”   It was this vision that inspired millions from all corners of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality and religion to make the long and perilous journey to a new nation filled with hope and opportunity. In order for the United States to exercise genuine global leadership in today’s more complex and fragmenting world, it must rekindle that position of true servant leadership, offering its inclusive national promise to the world.

Now more than ever, the United States must look to its unique founding ideals as the basis for a new Renaissance in the 21^st century rooted in universally accepted aspirations, principles and values.   Just as the European Renaissance gave rise to the Reformation and the Enlightenment and, thereby laid the groundwork for our modern world, a new global movement for change needs to arise, anchored in the past but bringing a fresh, new vision for the future.  This is a time for bold leadership, that is guided by a universal aspiration and tied to those time-tested principles and values that form the basis of our common humanity.

In the course of the last century, the United States has been the catalyst for positive global change, challenging European colonial imperialism, and creating international assemblies to foster peace through dialogue and reason.  The League of Nations after the First World War, and the United Nations after the Second World War, were created as a result.  During the Cold War era, American leadership, and faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, paved the way for the eventual collapse of totalitarian, communist regimes around the world. The historical role of the United States in shaping, and then leading, the world to where we are today, is undisputed. The question then is what should be America’s role going forward, as we look to this new century and the challenges that it brings.

Three Thematic Challenges Facing America and the World

As a concerned citizen and peace advocate, I see three major themes that the U.S., needs to address as a global leader in the 21^st century, together with the world community. The first deals with the religious dimension of U.S. engagement in the Middle East and the contemporary challenge of sectarian-fueled extremism and violence. The second is near to my heart as a Korean-American, namely the resolution of the Korean conflict. The final theme addresses the need for greater hemispheric integration between the United States and its southern neighbors in this era of the Pan-Pacific rim.

The current approach to addressing terrorism over the last eleven years has embroiled the United States in the ever changing politics of the Muslim world where religion and tribal affiliations are  powerful socio-political realities. How does the United States meet the threat of Islamist extremism without alienating mainstream Muslims and igniting a wider conflict along religious lines? Moreover, the rise of a potential nuclear Iran with its regional ambitions, coupled with the instability of the Middle East, makes for a still more volatile situation.

Further complicating matters is North Korea’s link to the Iranian nuclear program and its role as the arms supplier to rogue regimes worldwide. Given these challenges, the resolution of the Korean conflict is of paramount global importance. What should U.S. and international policy be toward the Korean peninsula given the threats to regional stability, and international security?

Finally, there is the question of the future of the Americas. It is clear that the Hispanic community will be ever more influential in the domestic, social, political and economic life of the United States. Whether considering immigration, socio-economic opportunity, or regional trade and partnerships, it seems clear that the future of the US and the hemisphere as a whole lies with greater integration and cooperation. This becomes even more important given the rise of China as a significant competitor and growing force on the global stage.

A Nation Founded on Principles

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me repeat: to provide global leadership in meeting these challenges,  the United States must rekindle its founding ideals and find in them the inspiration for dealing with today’s realities. This nation was given birth through the declaration of certain universal transcendent principles and values that uplifted human dignity and freedoms. Those “self-evident truths” formed the foundation of a new nation in which a common commitment to shared ideals and values bound us together as “one nation under God.”

I have traveled widely around the world and gained a unique perspective that has enabled me to appreciate the distinctive genetic code of America’s greatness.  As a student of history I have often asked myself, “What is the essence of the American Dream?” I came to the conclusion that the American Dream is not about the democratic political process or the free market economic system. Processes and systems are external structures that succeed or fail depending on the spirit and values that infuse them. The secret of America’s success lies in the vitality of the spiritual principles and values that motivated the American experiment and were poured into the structures of the new nation.

They are conveyed in the Declaration of Independence, a secular document that nevertheless enshrines spiritual principles that form the basis of our modern notion of human rights.   Its ringing words declare : “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” They make clear that those rights and the human dignity, freedom, and responsibility that flow from them, are not granted by any human power or institution but come as our natural heritage from the Creator and, therefore, cannot rightfully be abridged or denied. They are a shield against tyranny and corruption. In this context, the First Amendment to the Constitution is of particular importance, guaranteeing freedom of expression and religion. In so doing it set a precedent that has made a global impact, protecting and promoting essential freedoms of conscience, worship, and speech everywhere.

It is in these core principles that America’s greatness lies. It was to them, for example, that Dr. Martin Luther King appealed in his powerful and charismatic speeches that transcended sectarian religious differences and spoke to the larger humanity of us all. He said that the civil rights movement was not just a struggle for African-American equality but the pursuit of a timeless ideal rooted in the fundamental principles that shaped America’s founding.

From One Nation under God to One World Family under God

This moment may prove to be a historic crossroads, for the United States, and for the world. The time is ripe for a new spiritual awakening that galvanizes the community of righteous and faithful citizens around universal principles and shared values, not just in the U.S. but throughout the Western hemisphere and the world. In other words, humanity needs a vision that is more powerful than the forces driving us apart. American founding ideals gave rise to the vision of One Nation under God – a nation where people of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds could live together and create the model of a unified world. The time is ripe for this model to be expanded to the global level — from the nation to the world.

A shared spiritual vision for humanity is the objective needed for these challenging times. Such a vision is found in the simple but profound idea that all human beings, everywhere, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion, are part of “One Family under God.” Political authority cannot mandate, nor can money buy, the virtues needed to resolve conflicts and build ethical societies. We need a new framework rooted in our shared spiritual aspirations and principles that give rise to the values needed to build peace.

Moral and Innovative Leadership

What do I mean by moral and innovative leadership? First, it has to promote a “greater good” that can benefit not only the individual but the larger society, nation and eventually the world. This is the moral orientation of the leadership I am describing. For it to come to fruition it has to be guided by a vision or aspiration and a clear set of irrevocable universal principles and values that could have the breadth and depth to encompass the diversity of the human family.

Secondly, it has to harness mankind’s natural creative need to advance and develop the human condition. This is the innovative component of leadership. As you all know, every culture has examples of extraordinary men and women who propelled humanity forward in the fields of philosophy, ethics, the sciences, athletics and the cultural arts, by freely exercising their God-given talents even to the point of challenging existing paradigms. Although many faced difficulties due to religious, societal and legal constraints of their time, it is fair to say that the modern world with its greater freedoms and advancements has benefited greatly due to the sacrifices of these innovators.

Three Thematic Challenges Addressed

Ladies and gentlemen:

When fundamental human aspirations are expressed in universal principles and given form through shared values; and when moral and innovative leaders rise up to give them practical substance; then we will see profound change in our societies, nations, and world, and the dawn of a new era of harmony and peace. In particular, this will provide the key to resolving the three challenges facing America and the world, that I laid out earlier.

Interfaith Cooperation Based on Universal Principles

In order to meet the threat of global religious conflict, a new type of interfaith movement must appear, much like the civil rights movement of the 1960s which addressed the injustices suffered by African-Americans through an appeal to universal principles and values. This era should be one where people of every faith come together on the foundation of such principles and values in a new Great Spiritual Awakening. The promise that America makes to its citizens through the First Amendment must be extended to all the world’s peoples through such an interfaith movement.

On that common foundation, people of faith must stand together to uphold those principles and resist the violent appeal of religious extremism. I want to recognize the representatives here of Nadhlatul Ulama from Indonesia, one of our major international interfaith partners. NU is the world’s largest Muslim civic organization from the world’s most populous Muslim country. NU promotes a moderate and peaceful vision of Islam that supports the Indonesian polity based on unity in diversity and respect for religious freedom. They act vigorously against Islamist extremists whose actions are contrary to Islam’s core principles and mission of peace.

Here in America, the Coalition for American Renewal is building a grassroots network among religious and civic leaders to revive the American founding spirit and apply it in practical social and educational initiatives nationwide. It is upholding First Amendment freedoms, particularly freedom of religion, which is the foundation for freedom of conscience. I also want to recognize the many other interfaith partners in this room from around the world, such as the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, who are building peace through track two diplomacy.

A Principled Approach to Korean Unification

With Korean unification, the Foundation has taken an innovative approach that has altered the framework of the debate. To start with, we challenged the idea that unification was impossible or could only be achieved over generations.   Our Global Peace Leadership Conferences put it on the table as an imminent possibility. Next, we took it out of the exclusive top-down realm of high international politics and made it a popular, bottom-up campaign that engaged ordinary Korean citizens. Through the Korea United campaign we have engaged a broad-based coalition of 400 grassroots civic organizations with an innovative values-based approach to Korean unification.

Finally, and most important, we shifted the debate away from the process to a focused discussion on the desired outcome – what sort of a nation, governed by what principles, should a united Korea be?  Thus, for the first time, a grassroots movement for Korean unification, based upon spiritual principles, has emerged. Ultimately, unification based on such principles is urgently needed to resolve the threat of North Korean nuclear arms and nuclear proliferation.

A Great Hemispheric Awakening for the 21^st Century

Work to promote greater integration within the western hemisphere, between the Americas, is already under way. Yesterday, eight former heads of state of Latin American countries, with the committed support of several others, met at the Carter Center to kick off the Americas Summit. This afternoon they will announce the founding of the Latin American Presidential Mission. Building on earlier meetings in Paraguay in 2010, and in Brazil last year, and the Asuncion and Brasilia Declarations that emerged from these meetings, they are developing a blueprint for the closer integration of the Latin American countries and a deeper connection between North and South America.

The project is not just about diplomacy or economics. At its core is the affirmation and propagation of our common spiritual roots and of the same “self-evident truths” that informed America’s founding. Upon such a foundation we can experience a Great Hemispheric Awakening and see the opening of a new era in the history of the Americas that will have a positive impact throughout the world. In particular the western hemisphere can establish societies that value human rights, freedoms, and responsibilities. These will stand as beacons for the aspirations of people everywhere and bulwarks against authoritarian regimes that deny those rights.

Worldwide Initiatives

Significant initiatives are also being undertaken with many dedicated partners in Africa and Asia. There are distinguished African leaders here today who have worked with GPF to forge national campaigns of social cohesion that have stemmed the post-election violence in Kenya. Also here are African religious and political leaders who convened recently at the United Nations in Nairobi for the Africa Conference on Volunteer Action for Peace and Development. There, 25 partners launched Africa’s own multi-national regional approach to a peace corps, engaging African youth in international service.

In Asia, young people are being engaged in development in rural villages such as the All Lights project that brings solar powered lighting to communities that are not on the electrical grid. This effort reaches out across Southeast Asian nations.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen: The demands of this moment in history are great, but so are the opportunities to forge a bright future for humanity. Now is the time to revive America’s founding vision and expand that dream onto a global stage through the universal vision of “One Family under God.” This should be the clarion call of our age.  In the words of my father, who committed his life to the cause of peace, the time has come “to tear down the man-made walls of race, culture, religion and country, and establish the peaceful, ideal world of God’s cherished desire.”

The power of one human family united, can quell the turmoil of conflict throughout the world—from the strife and poverty of Africa, to the conflict in the Middle East, and the final remnant of the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula. As Americans and global citizens, let us make a solemn pledge to expand this dream to all people and lead the world to peace through the vision of “One Family under God.”  Then, as surely as light overcomes the darkness, an era of peace and prosperity will emerge from the depths of distrust and hatred, both at home and in the far corners of our world.

Join with me and all our partners, and dare to dream the greatest dream of all, that we can all live as One Family under God, and make that dream a reality.

Thank you for your support and engagement in this great work and may God bless you and your families.

Thank you.

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Atlanta – Notable faith leaders, civic activists, and social entrepreneurs gathered in Atlanta, Georgia for a conference hosted by the Coalition for American Renewal to address pressing social concerns in America. Global Peace Foundation International President Young Jun Kim delivered remarks on behalf of Dr. Moon who was unable to attend.

The Coalition for American Renewal is a national leadership network dedicated to renewing our vision and empowering our citizens to build an America that lives up to its founding ideals.

Dr. Moon wrote, “America is meant to be a living demonstration that all people of the world are to be one family under God.”  What has made America great, he observed, is its spiritual legacy enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. He urged participants to help America fulfill its role by “engaging, organizing and mobilizing people of faith and conscience in grassroots initiatives that put our principles into action.”

Interfaith through putting faith into action was a common conclusion.  Rev. Robert Thompson, Chair Emeritus of the Parliament of World Religions said, “No matter what we think or what we say we believe, what we do is our real religion.” He observed that although no two religions are alike, there are common principles like the Golden Rule that appear in in every faith tradition.

Rev. Robert Woodson of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise has worked in the toughest neighborhoods in the United States tackling issues like gang violence, drug abuse and prostitution. “The superiority of your principles and beliefs has to be shown by producing a superior way of life,” was the wisdom he imparted to participants.

Ms. Barbara Metzler, an expert in volunteering, nonprofits, and philanthropy, shared stories of “passionaries,” a term she coined to describe people of faith who put their compassion into action, to illustrate how one person’s passion and conviction can change the world.

Co-Chairs of the Coalition for American Renewal, Dr. Robert A. Schuller and Dr. Paul Murray, closed the conference with a commitment to continue dialogue and cooperation, and make CAR “the voice of leaders of faith and conscious” in the public square during this “defining moment” for America.

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Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon touched all areas of the human experiences, and left a mark in all sectors of society.   Tributes have come from all over the world, honoring his vision, life and work. They show the  the world that show the depth and breadth of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s contribution to humanity.

Tributes

Tributes and condolences have come from around the world that show the depth and breadth of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s contribution to humanity.

Below are some notable letters.

Members of the Global Leadership Council

Roberto Andersen, President of Instituto Univérsico de Pesquisa e Educação

Oscar K. Beauttah SS, International Board Member and Trustee, World Youth Alliance Africa

Dr. Manu Chandaria and Mrs. Aruna Chandaria, Chandaria Foundation

Dr. Vinicio Cerezo A., President of Guatemala (1986-1991), Founding Member, Fundación Esquipulas para la Integración Centroamericana

Hon. Bishop Manoel Ferreira, President, Int’l Convention of the Assemblies of God Ministry of Madureira

President Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya

Sir James Mancham, KBE

Dr. Osmar Lopes de Moraes, Attorney Parliamentary Chamber of Deputies of Brazil

Hon. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya

Hon. Lilian Sameniego, Leader of the Colorado Party, Paraguay

Dr. Robert and Donna Schuller

Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri Hajah Zaleha Ismail, Chairman, Global Peace Festival Malaysia

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