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June 3rd, 2008
Santa Cruz, California
Received by FAB
I am here, Benjamin Franklin.
Yes, we founding fathers did provide for a system that would protect
our interests. There, our critics are correct. But we saw ourselves
as enlightened and qualified to govern. It is now clear to all of
us that we failed on the slavery issue. Even those who actively
supported it then have since seen the light.
The spirit world can be harsh, and where we failed, we had to
give an accounting. It is certainly a good thing that people in
the United States realize that this system was imperfect at birth.
But it is also important to understand that it was simultaneously
a great step forward, as evidenced by our attempt to limit the religious
intolerance that we felt crippled the colonies.
To properly understand the founding of the country, it is important
to be aware of the specific circumstances that faced us. It is easy
to pass judgment. Every period in history has its own failings.
But I will say that, just as we sought sincerely to extend the
benefits of a fairer government, so today, citizens should continue
to strive for more equality. It is true that reactionary forces
are currently strong, but it is equally true that there also now
exists a very powerful worldwide movement of liberation which cannot
be ignored, and which, as we spirits know, will be successful, as
an expression of God's plan of freedom and justice.
So it depends on one's point of view whether to call us a reactionary
class or champions of freedom. I think a healthy and accurate assessment
would take both tendencies into consideration. We certainly have
had to scrutinize our earthly behavior, as every spirit has had
to do.
You are wondering about the slavery issue. Well, those of us who
opposed slavery nevertheless saw that the only way we could create
a government was to compromise with the slaveholding states. We
felt that at least other blessings of government would thus be preserved.
And over here, it was our motives that determined the extent of
our sufferings or our happiness. We all now see that slavery was
wrong, and our spirit compensation was based, as I have said, on
our motives.
But it is a new day, and the people of the world are waking up
to their rights, which cannot be denied.
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