History of Master’s Life

Avoid Speaking of Politics

Source: Mahmúd’s Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Journey to America

‘Abdu’l-Baha was touring North America during the height of the US Presidential election largely between Woodrow Wilson and William Howard Taft.‘Abdu’l-Baha, addressed virtually all of America’s pressing challenges but failed to comment even once on the election – avoiding comments on newspaper headlines, the candidates, and even about election results.

While avoiding commenting on the election He did offer His views on the character of the individual who should be President. On Monday, October 14, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Baha stated:

“The president must be a man who does not insistently seek the presidency. He should be a person free from all thoughts of name and rank; rather, he should say, `I am unworthy and incapable of this position and cannot bear this great burden.’ Such persons deserve the presidency. If the object is to promote the public good, then the president must be a well-wisher of all and not a self-seeking person. If the object, however, is to promote personal interests, then such a position will be injurious to humanity and not beneficial to the public.”