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We are writing these words in the Name of Him Who sacrificed His Life, thereby opening the Door of Light throughout the whole world.
During the Italian Youth Conference, after a session on the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, a group of youth from Mantova thought that it was the moment to really do something and to do it within the framework of our school, the place where the greatest number of youth could truly understand and feel with their own hearts the sacrifice of their Iranian brothers and the greatness of the Cause which has given them the Love to renounce everything in the name of Justice. In Mantova we have the good fortune to have four Baha’i youth in the same high school, all of whom have the same professor for Religion class. Our school seemed the most reasonable place to do something. Thus, all our community prayed ardently so that this small service could be realised. Upon retuning home from the Conference we didn’t even have a chance to explain the problem to our professor when she asked us to speak about it during the hour in each class! And she asked us to begin immediately!! Thus, we spoke to all the classes in the school. The professor of Religion asked us to speak to all of her classes and many other professors were also willing to do so! Beyond any of our dreams all the classes demonstrated total participation and an indescribable sensitivity to the situation. In every class various students compared this situation to the persecutions of the holocaust.. Many of the students asked for other documents and the major part of the classes visited the Bahá'í website where they could find more information and an explanation of the details of the Baha’i principles. At the end of our presentation there was an incredible ocean of questions concerning the Faith. In many classes we stayed for the full hour and in one class the teacher and a student were arguing as to who could speak because they had so many questions and there was so little time. The Head Master of the school immediately asked us to write an article on the persecutions for the newspaper. The article was accepted also by the other professors and occupied an entire page! One girl even asked if she could organise a protest in the main Piazza (city square) !!! At the end of our presentation all of the classes thanked and re-thanked us for having brought them this message and please know that it is most unusual that a class thanks one who has come to give a talk. The professor of Religion was so deeply touched that she added various aspects concerning persecution and reminded the students that “we are all citizens of one world”, finishing with words full of love and respect for the Faith. A few days later one of the professors, when speaking with some parents, began to cry when she thanked them for everything that this small group of four was doing. As a homework project during the summer vacation, the professor of social science asked each of his classes that each one of his students should speak with three other people about the persecutions against the Baha’is and within 10 days to visit the Baha’i website in order to know this Faith which is so different from the others”, finishing with a eulogy of 15 minutes on the universality and coherence of the Baha’i Message. More than 450 students in our school have been placed before the celestial Door and have begun to fall in love with the Faith. We wanted to share this experience because of the spiritual beauty it has brought to each one of us. Walking to school each day, every corner seems immersed in Light, in every face one sees the Blessed Beauty and the smiles appear so pure and sincere that we ask ourselves if this is the first time we see our school with open eyes.
With immense gratitude and
love, united in the Service of this omnipotent Cause. |