If a man has spiritual characteristics,
be he white or black, he is near to God. Some have protested to me, asking why
I seek to cultivate love between the whites and the blacks. Yet what a great
error they make. You see people who love their dogs because of their
faithfulness and the protection they provide. If but one good trait endears a
dog to a human, why shouldn't praiseworthy qualities cause a man to be loved
and respected? Why should fellowship with an upright person be avoided? When
people are prepared to fondle an animal day and night, why should they shun
association with an intelligent human being?
(Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 13
September 1912, Chicago, USA; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
