Brilliant Star/Volume 39/Issue 1/Text

Brilliant Star Volume 39, Issue 1

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[Page i]

Brilliant Star

A BAHÁ’Í COMPANION FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS

MARCH/APRIL 2007

BUILDING JUSTICE

[Page ii]

Sail of Love

“Hoist the sail of love upon the ark of peace that moveth across the seas of life. Let nothing grieve thee, and be thou angered at none.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Anchors aweigh! When the wind hits your sails, your boat skims across the sparkling blue sea. Like the wind, God’s love is all around us. We can ask God to fill our hearts with love, like the wind fills a sail. With this love, we can see the good in others and be a friend to everyone.

You put love into action when you cooperate as one unified crew. You might be cleaning the yard with your family, working on a play with classmates at school, or helping your soccer team score. When you reach out and choose unity, your days can be smooth sailing.

Find these supplies for a peaceful voyage on the S.V. Harmony.

Accepting Anchor	Bountiful Binoculars	Charitable Chart
Courteous Cooler	Reliable Rope	Forgiving First Aid Kit
Faithful Flag	Responsible Radio	Trustworthy Toolbox

S.V. HARMONY

ANSWERS: Anchor on right side of boat; binoculars in porthole at left; chart on table at left of sail; cooler in center porthole; rope on deck at right center; first aid kit under bench at far right; flag on mast behind sail; radio on bench at far left; toolbox under kid’s foot at right center. [Page 1]

Bahá’u’lláh’s Life: Garden of Paradise

“Bahá’u’lláh . . . made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

During the 10 years Bahá’u’lláh lived in Baghdád, Iraq, He became an honored member of the community. But the government and religious leaders feared Bahá’u’lláh’s growing influence. In April 1863, they had Him banished to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey).

Bahá’u’lláh’s followers were heartbroken at the thought of His departure. Friends crowded around His home, weeping with sadness. To make room for His visitors, Bahá’u’lláh moved to a garden that became known as the Garden of Ridván (Paradise).

When He arrived at the garden, Bahá’u’lláh turned the sad event of His exile into a festival of great joy. He announced that He was a Messenger of God. Bahá’u’lláh spent 12 days living in a tent and meeting with friends in the garden. When He left Baghdád on May 3, 1863, people of all faiths lined the streets, showing Him great respect.

Over the next 29 years, Bahá’u’lláh endured more exile and imprisonment. Still, He shared His Message of peace and unity through many books and Tablets. He taught that the time had come for all prejudice and injustice to be stopped, and for people to live in harmony as one family.

Use the code to discover some of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

A [leaf]	J [leaf]	S [leaf]
B [leaf]	K [leaf]	T [leaf]
C [leaf]	L [leaf]	U [leaf]
D [leaf]	M [leaf]	V [leaf]
E [leaf]	N [leaf]	W [leaf]
F [leaf]	O [leaf]	X [leaf]
G [leaf]	P [leaf]	Y [leaf]
H [leaf]	Q [leaf]	Z [leaf]
I [leaf]	R [leaf]

1. All world religions come from _ _ _ God.

2. All _ _ _ _ _ _ are part of one human family.

3. We can establish _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

4. We must end _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of all kinds.

5. Women and men are _ _ _ _ _.

6. Science and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ agree.

7. All people have a right to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

8. We must _ _ _ the extremes of poverty and wealth.

ANSWERS: 1) one; 2) people; 3) world peace; 4) prejudice; 5) equal; 6) religion; 7) education; 8) end

MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Brilliant Star 1 [Page 2]Brilliant Star

Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 U.S. Subscriptions: 1.800.999.9019 Editorial Office: 847.853.2354 brilliant@usbnc.org www.brilliantstarmagazine.org

©2007 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

Amethel Parel-Sewell EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR C. Aaron Kreader DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR Amy Renshaw SENIOR EDITOR Susan Engle ASSOCIATE EDITOR Annie Reneau ASSISTANT EDITOR Artis Mebane FACILITIES MANAGER

CONTRIBUTORS Taraneh Ashraf • Bijan Bayzaee • Lisa Blecker Susan Cangurel • Dan Duncan • Gary Hankins Hyde Hassel • Nadia Kardan • Kris Medic Hoda Movagh • Martin Movagh • Tahirih Naylor Lexie Peer-Drake • Mark E. Perry • Carys Quezada Jasmine Riazati • Veronica Shoffstall • Mateen Sofla Nasim Mansuri Solano • Campbell Thomason

Unless noted, original illustrations by C. Aaron Kreader and writing by Amy Renshaw, Susan Engle, or Annie Reneau.

By Lisa Blecker—Activities on pages 8, 12, and 27; Coloring on IFC, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 29.

Historical photos courtesy of National Bahá’í Archives unless otherwise noted.

Brilliant Star magazine invites all kids to explore the Bahá’í Faith. It is the second most widespread religion in the world, with more than five million Bahá’ís.

The Bahá’í Faith was founded by the Prophet Bahá’u’lláh (“Glory of God” in Arabic) in 1863. Bahá’u’lláh taught that all people are part of one human family, and that all religions come from one God. Bahá’ís work to bring peace and unity to the world, and end prejudice and discrimination of all kinds.

Bahá’u’lláh’s eldest Son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, interpreted His teachings and led the Bahá’í community after Bahá’u’lláh’s passing.

Brilliant Star encourages kids to bring their virtues and talents to light, and use them to make the world a better place. Brilliant Star is produced bimonthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND RENEWALS To order or renew a subscription, contact Bahá’í Subscriber Service by phone at 1.800.999.9019 or by e-mail at subscription@usbnc.org. Standard U.S. rates: $18 (One year); $32 (Two years) International surface mail: $18 (One year); $32 (Two years) International airmail: $28 (One year); $52 (Two years).

SUBMISSIONS We welcome submissions and ideas from contributors of all ages. For editorial themes or submission guidelines, mail your request with a self-addressed stamped envelope, or e-mail us (above).

SUBJECT INDEX AND CLASS USE A subject index of Brilliant Star is available at: www.education.usbnc.org/child_spir_ed/bril_star.htm Teachers may photocopy pages in limited quantities for classroom use. The name of the magazine and issue date must be present on all copies and proper credit given to the copyright owner.

RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS All content in this magazine is copyrighted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S. or by individual contributors. For permission to copy or translate material, contact: Rights and Permissions, Brilliant Star, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

INTERNET RESOURCES AND INTERNET SAFETY We often provide Internet resources to encourage readers to explore a topic, or to share our references. While we make every effort to choose reliable websites, Brilliant Star does not endorse or account for all content in referenced websites. Furthermore, we urge caution and parental guidance when using the Internet. For more information about Internet safety, visit: www.wiredkids.org/wiredkids_org.html

REGULAR FEATURES

1	Bahá’u’lláh’s Life Garden of Paradise
6	Radiant Stars Get to know kids who shine, like you.
8	Nur’s Nook With equality, women and men can soar.
10	Riley’s Rainforest What can you do to keep Earth healthy?
12	Maya’s Mysteries How is your spirit like air?
14	Lightning and Luna: Episode 19 Why is Luna breaking the rules?
18	Shining Lamp: Mona Mahmudnizhad Mona gave up her life, but not her faith.
22	Stargazer: Tahirih Naylor Meet a world traveler who works for justice.
24	Music Café What happens when you give a little love away?
25	Calendars What’s special about March and April?
28	Cosmo Chameleon’s Corner A crossword and more from our favorite lizard.
29	aMAZEing ADVENTURE Help kids who want to build justice.

[Page 3]

BUILDING JUSTICE MARCH/APRIL 2007

This issue produced in observance of* . . . UN DECADE OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2005-2014

SPECIAL FEATURES

Page	Feature
Inside Front Cover	Sail of Love A unified crew makes smooth sailing.
4	We’re All Connected Read the stars with Stuart and Gabriella.
5	Help with Hunger How many food baskets can you deliver?
9	Cooperative Creatures Explore the helpful world of meerkats.
11	Rules Rule! Who’s breaking the rules in this volleyball game?
13	Finding Common Ground Search for clues to match the kids with their clubs.
16	Crowns of Justice A good leader treats people with respect.
17	Choose Charity Discover the power of giving.
19	Persian Rose Goli faces injustice with courage and nobility.
27	Climb Mount Justice Create your path to a just world.

DISCOVERING ART IN NATURE CONTEST

ENTER BRILLIANT STAR’S NEW CONTEST! SEE DETAILS AT WWW.BRILLIANTSTARMAGAZINE.ORG THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 16, 2007.

DEAR FRIENDS,

The Earth is a “global village.” In a village, people take care of each other. But many people in our worldwide community face injustice, such as war, poverty, hunger, prejudice, and abuse of their human rights.

In this issue, you’ll meet two young authors who care about justice. Jasmine Riazati, 13, wrote about Mona Mahmudnizhad, who was killed by the Iranian government in 1983 because she was a Bahá’í. Nadia Kardan, 16, was inspired by Mona to write “Persian Rose,” a fiction story.

Sadly, these stories are not limited to the past. Last year, the United Nations urged Iran to stop human rights violations against Bahá’ís and other minorities. More than 125 Bahá’ís in Iran have been arrested in the past two years, for no reason other than their faith.

It is you, the youth of today, who will build the just and peaceful world of tomorrow. Your actions can help end injustice in all parts of the globe. We present these challenges to you in a spirit of hope. We know, as the Bahá’í writings say, that “youth can move the world.”

Your Friends at Brilliant Star

See also Brilliant Star’s issues “Protecting Our Planet,” May/June 2005, and “Light of Justice,” July/August 2005. To learn more, go to www.unesco.org/education/desd [Page 4]

WE’RE ALL CONNECTED

If you could tour the universe, you’d be in for a mind-boggling adventure. You’d find billions of stars and galaxies, and hundreds of planets. Yet even though the universe is vast and mysterious, it’s like a human body — each part is connected to all the others. In the same way that our eyes, ears, and brains influence our bodies, everything in the universe impacts everything else. The sun, oceans, and winds can affect our climate, our food, and even our safety.

We can choose to protect our global human family and our environment. If all people worked together with justice and love, just imagine what the human race could accomplish!

Help Stuart and Gabriella solve the quote using the constellations in the sky. Start with the darker letters and follow the connected lines to spell out a word. You’ll return to some letters more than once. Then write the words IN ORDER BELOW to reveal the power of justice. Number 3 has been done as an example.

Stuart: GABRIELLA, DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE STARS THAN GRAINS OF SAND ON ALL THE WORLD’S BEACHES AND DESERTS?

Gabriella: IT SURE IS AN AMAZING UNIVERSE, STUART!

“Justice is a ________________________________________. It is, above all else, the ‎C O N Q U E R E R C O N Q U E R O R‎ ... of the _____________________ and _____________________ of men, and the _____________________ of the _____________________ of the world...” — Bahá’u’lláh [Page 5]

Help with Hunger

“Direct your whole effort toward the happiness of those who are despondent, bestow food upon the hungry, clothe the needy, and glorify the humble.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Imagine having only a tiny bit of food to eat each day, and going to bed hungry every night. That’s what life is like for hundreds of millions of people, especially in rural villages of Africa and Asia. Every year, six million kids die from hunger-related diseases. In Africa, one-third of the people don’t have enough healthy food. If we work in unity, we can help end hunger and other injustices faced by people around the world.

Help feed the people in Haki Village by delivering the first 50 food baskets arriving today. Follow the roads, and deliver (subtract) the number of baskets indicated at each hut. Pick up (add) more baskets at the food stations along the way. Plan your trip carefully—you must have at least five baskets remaining when you reach Mercy Shelter. You can’t visit any road or location twice. The correct path visits all three food stations in order.

HAKI VILLAGE

START 50 1st FOOD +30 2nd FOOD +30 3rd FOOD +20 MERCY SHELTER END WITH 5 BASKETS

To learn more about world hunger, see www.feedingminds.org/yw/index_en.htm SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 28 [Page 6]

RADIANT STARS

GETTING TO KNOW KIDS WHO SHINE

“God has crowned you with honor and in your hearts has He set a radiant star; verily the light thereof shall brighten the whole world!” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

These Radiant Stars answered the following questions:

1 What is my best quality or virtue?

2 What do I want to be when I grow up?

3 What are my hobbies?

4 What do I like to do with my Bahá’í friends and family?

5 Describe a time I, or someone else, was being treated unfairly. How did I resolve the situation?

6 I’ve been given one million dollars to help bring justice to the world. What would I do with it and why?

Nasim Solano Age 11, Encarnacion, Paraguay

My best quality or virtue is truthfulness. When I grow up, I want to be a writer and an actress.

My hobbies are reading, watching movies, and working at my website for Junior Youth called “Moving the World.”

I like to go to summer schools . . . teach people the [Bahá’í] Faith, and [go] to junior youth classes.

There’s a boy in my class that is always bullying one of my classmates that’s Japanese . . . I defend her, and I tell him to stop.

If I got a million dollars to help bring justice to the world, I would use it to help the poor people and the places that help drug addicts to stop . . . [and] children that need to go to school but can’t.

Carys Quezada Age 10, Texas, U.S.

My best quality or virtue is respect. When I grow up, I want to be an architect and cellist . . .

My hobbies are playing the cello, drawing, and playing with my dog.

I really like playing soccer with [my Bahá’í friends and family], going to youth meetings, and attending [Bahá’í] Ruhi Study Circle.

When I was playing a board game, one of the players cheated. I stopped and said that it isn’t important just to win, and it is not fair to cheat . . . We start[ed] the game over . . .

[If I got a million dollars], I would donate the monies to schools . . . for education on justice, equality, and fairness.

Mateen Sofla Age 7, California, U.S.

My best quality or virtue is patience. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.

My hobbies are playing piano, reading books, and playing basketball.

I like to say prayers and go to [Bahá’í] Feasts with [my Bahá’í friends and family].

One time, I was treated unfairly because me and my two friend[s] were playing video games . . . and then my other two friends came and watched a movie . . . and did not let us play. We resolved the situation by talking to their parents and being patient.

[If I got a million dollars], I would help other people by buying food and clothes for them . . . [Page 7]Hyde Hassal Age 9, Suva, Fiji Islands

My best quality or virtue is helpfulness. When I grow up, I want to be a tennis player. My hobbies are tennis, soccer, basketball, hockey, and drawing. Where I live . . . there are Bahá’í children of all different backgrounds . . . We play outside . . . and sometimes we get to perform for the community. I enjoy traveling with my family, especially during the holidays.

I haven’t been . . . treated unfairly, but if this does happen in the future . . . I will try to help those involved solve their problem through consultation.

There are millions of people in the world who don’t have proper housing. I would use the money . . . to help . . . people get a proper house and access to water.

Lexie Peer-Drake Age 12, Wisconsin, U.S.

My best virtue is I am very compassionate . . . When I grow up, I want to be a chef . . . My hobbies are cooking, listening to music, and browsing the Internet . . . I like to talk with my family and play games with them on Sunday nights. During Sunday school, I enjoy talking to my Bahá’í friends.

One time . . . everybody was treating my younger sister unfairly, and said they wouldn’t be her partner [on a ride]. It got resolved by one of us picking her, and we all apologized. . . . [If I got a million dollars], I would donate to the less fortunate . . . Once people start to help each other, we can start to bring justice to the world.

Martin Movagh Age 11, Illinois, U.S.

My best quality is responsibility. When I grow up, I want to be an artist, because I love to express my feelings through art. My hobbies are drawing, reading, playing football, and playing my trumpet. I especially love to play my trumpet, because it brings me joy when I accomplish something.

The things I like to do with my Bahá’í friends are sharing music, hiking, and goofing around. Once, a close friend of mine was treating me unfairly, and saying hurtful things. I . . . [told] him, “If you don’t want to be friends, just tell me, but let me know when you’re ready to start over.” If I were given a million dollars, I would give it to the homeless shelters . . .

YOU CAN BE A RADIANT STAR! HERE’S HOW:

1. If you’re age 7–14, write us at brilliant@usbnc.org or Brilliant Star, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201. Tell us you’d like to be a Radiant Star. Include your name, age, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. We’ll put you on our waiting list.

2. When it’s your turn to shine, we’ll send you the questions and a form for you and your parents to sign.

3. Answer the questions. Sign the form with your parents. Send both of them back to us with at least two different, good-quality, close-up photographs of your smiling face. Photos should be in sharp focus and show your eyes clearly. Please send your photos by mail, and we will return them. Do not submit color copies, low-resolution digital images, or copyright-protected images (like school portraits).

4. Read Brilliant Star. When you see yourself, shout, “Hey, I’m a Radiant Star!” (But not if you’re in the library.) [Page 8]

BIRD IN FLIGHT

“The world of humanity has two wings—one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Has anyone ever expected you to behave a certain way because you’re a boy or girl? Assumptions like these are stereotypes, and they’re not fair. They can keep us from being our true and best selves.

The Bahá’í writings compare males and females to the two wings of a bird. Both wings need to be strong for the bird to fly. In the same way, women and men are equal in the sight of God. Although they are different, they deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Around the world, many women are subjected to oppression or violence. Some women don’t have the same legal rights and freedom to work that men do. Many girls are prevented from attending school.

When women and men are treated with equality and justice, humanity will soar. Create this flying bird craft to show two strong wings in action.

YOU’LL NEED

3½" (9 cm) circular piece of white poster board • hole punch • 2 pieces of 11" (28 cm) string • black marker • pencil • 1 piece dark construction paper • tracing paper • scissors • glue

MAKE A BIRD THAUMATROPE*

1 With your tracing paper, trace the bird body and bird wing patterns below. Cut them out.

2 Place the bird body pattern on construction paper, trace, and cut it out. Repeat to make two bird bodies.

3 Trace the wing pattern on construction paper, and cut it out. Repeat until you make four wings.

4 Fold your poster board circle in half, then unfold it. Glue a bird body along the middle of the circle’s centerline. Hold the blank side of your circle up to a light so you can see the bird through it. Then glue the second bird body facing in the opposite direction, and directly under the first one.

5 (a) Glue one pair of wings to a bird body, by the belly, so the wings point downwards. Now hold the other side of your circle up to a light so you can see the bird with wings through it. (b) Glue the second pair of wings to the shoulders so they point upwards and are directly under the wings on the opposite side.

6 Outline both birds with black marker. Draw eyes in exactly the same location on each bird’s head.

7 Punch a hole on each side of the circle.

8 Thread one piece of string through one of the holes and knot the ends together to make a loop. Repeat this step with your second piece of string for the other hole.

9 Hold an end of a string in each hand, with the bird facing upwards. Move your hands forward in a circular motion several times to wind the circle around the string. Then, pull the strings tight by moving your hands apart—and watch your bird fly!

LOOK, IT’S FLYING!

• A thaumatrope is a disc with a picture on each side. When it’s spun quickly on string, the pictures seem to combine into one moving image.

[Page 9]

Cooperative Creatures

“Join hands and work together for the peace and progress of the entire world.” —Bahá’í Writings

When an earthquake or hurricane causes disaster, people send prayers, money, and help from all over. But about a billion kids in the world face disaster daily—they lack the food, healthcare, education, or safety they need to grow and live happily. We can create a better world by acting with love and justice toward everyone, all the time.

Meerkats are animals that know all about the benefits of helping one another. They live on the dry plains of southern Africa, in a community called a mob or a gang. All of the adult meerkats take care of the young. They warn each other of danger, share meals after hunting, and sleep in warm heaps. They even sing together.

Find the line of meerkats that goes all the way to the burrow. Then count the number of meerkats in the line and connected to it.

COME AND GET IT! THE SNAKE SOUP IS READY!

WHAT DID THE MEERKAT SAY TO ITS BURROW?

I DIG YOU.

YOU WANT ME TO EAT A POISONOUS SCORPION?!

RELAX, WE’RE IMMUNE TO IT.

End

SOMEDAY, YOU’LL BE 20 INCHES TALL.

Start

HOW MANY OF US DO YOU SEE IN ONE UNBROKEN LINE?

WRITE THE NUMBER HERE:

I’M NOT A CAT?

NOT A CAT OR A GOOSE, BUT A MONGOOSE. [Page 10]

RILEY’S RAINFOREST

“Send down . . . from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy healing . . .” —Bahá’u’lláh

Healthy Planet, Healthy People

About six billion people share Earth as our home. Keeping Earth healthy is crucial, yet many people neglect it. If our planet isn’t healthy, our health is in danger, too.

Did you know that rainforests are home to half of the world’s animal and plant species? They also provide oxygen, water, and important medicines. But humans have destroyed over half of our rainforests! Some are cut down to mine bauxite, for making aluminum. Recycling cans is one way you can help save the rainforests.*

You can also protect the earth by using less energy. The U.S. uses nearly a million dollars’ worth of energy every minute. Burning fuel for energy creates air pollution, which causes global warming and climate changes. This makes it hard to grow food in some places, which contributes to world hunger.

How many ways can you think of to save energy? You can turn off lights and appliances when they’re not in use. You can trade old books and toys with friends. You can even bring a waste-free lunch to school, with reusable containers, a cloth napkin, and a refillable drink bottle.

Help spread the word about global health! Start an earth-friendly club, or write an article for your school paper. See if your school can become a “Green School,” where everyone works together to save energy.** We can do a lot to help keep Earth safe and healthy for everybody!

Explore and Soar

HOW FAIR ARE YOU?

Being fair is more than just sharing your stuff with a friend. It also means being respectful and keeping an open mind. Check your “fairness compass” with this test. Write in your letters below:

A Always	M Mostly
S Sometimes	R Rarely

____ I treat others the way I want to be treated.

____ I accept people who are different from me.

____ I can admit when I’m wrong.

____ I’m a good sport, whether I win or lose.

____ I listen to all sides in a conflict.

____ I solve problems with patient talking and listening.

If all of your answers are “A” or “M,” your compass is in good shape. If you answered some questions with “S” or “R,” how can you improve?

Fruit for Thought

“When perfect justice reigns in every country . . . then will the earth become a place of beauty.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Curiosity Canopy

Circle the right answers about recycling:

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for: 30 minutes / 1 hour / 3 hours.
• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for: 1 / 2 / 4 hours.

• See www.kidssavingtherainforest.org to learn more.
  • See www.ase.org/section/program/greenschl

Curiosity Canopy answers: 3 hours; 4 hours [Page 11]

Rules Rule!

What would the world be like without rules? Imagine what would happen if we didn’t stop at red lights, or if bullying kids at school was allowed. What if it was okay to cheat to win a game?

Without rules and laws, life would be chaotic. Rules at home and school keep us healthy and safe. Some laws help protect our rights to speak, learn, and worship.

Rules in sports keep the game fair for everyone. By respecting rules and laws, we help promote justice.

Look at the game below and read the posted rules. List at least seven ways kids on the left are respecting the rules and encouraging others. Then list at least seven ways kids on the right are breaking the rules and playing unfairly.

COURT RULES 1. RESPECT ALL PLAYERS. 2. RESPECT OFFICIALS AND COACHES. 3. DO NOT ABUSE EQUIPMENT. 4. NO FOOD ON THE COURT. 5. SPORT SHOES ONLY ON GYM FLOOR. [Page 12]

Maya’s Mysteries

“Rise up; seize hold of such means as will bring you life and happiness and greatness and glory...” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

WHAT DO AIR AND YOUR SPIRIT HAVE IN COMMON?

LET YOUR SPIRIT SOAR

What uplifts your spirit? It may be going for a bike ride, saying prayers, or making art. Activities like these can help you feel creative and joyful.

Focusing your thoughts and actions on what brings you joy can help you reach your highest potential.

For example, when you use your talents, you may feel more excited about learning new things or helping others. In a similar way, thoughts and actions that hurt you or others can bring your spirit down.

AIR EXPERIMENT

Try this cool experiment, then answer the questions below.

You’ll need: Empty plastic soda or water bottle • pipe cleaner • cup of dish soap • ice cubes • bowl of hot water • bowl of cold water

1. Loosely wrap one end of your pipe cleaner around the top of your bottle and twist the ends to make a loop. Remove the loop from the bottle.
2. Dip the loop into a bowl of water. Then dip it into the dish soap until a film of soap appears inside the loop.
3. Glide the soapy loop over the top of the bottle until you’ve sealed it with soap film.
4. Without squeezing the bottle, place it in a bowl of hot water (the water should reach about halfway up the height of the bottle). What happens to the soap film on the bottle?
5. If necessary, repeat steps 2 and 3. Now, gently place the bottle in a bowl of cold water and add ice cubes to make the water colder than room temperature. What happens to the soap film on the bottle?

SINK OR SOAR?

The water heats or cools the air in the bottle. When air gets hotter, its molecules move faster and take up more space. This makes the air in the bottle push up on the soap film. Cold water has the opposite effect.

Your spirit is like the air in the bottle. Cold and hurtful thoughts and actions (like gossip or bullying) can make your self-confidence sink. Warm and joyful thoughts and actions (like talking with a friend) can help your spirit soar. Who or what lifts your spirit? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ [Page 13]

FINDING COMMON GROUND

"Prejudices of any kind are the destroyers of human happiness and welfare. Until they are dispelled, the advancement of the world of humanity is not possible..." —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Have you ever heard someone put down a person just because of what they’re wearing or who they’re hanging out with? Forming an opinion about someone before getting to know them is prejudice. Some people dislike those who look, talk, or worship differently. Whatever the reason, prejudice is wrong and dangerous. It can hurt feelings and lead to fights, or even wars.

If we get to know people for who they really are, we can overcome prejudice. Making friends with people from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds can show us how much we have in common.

In this scene, each student is signing up for two school clubs. All nine kids are different, but look for clues about interests they share. Then sign up each kid for the two clubs that match their interests. List three names for each club — each has only three spots left.

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS – SIGN UP TODAY!

• INTERNATIONAL CLUB
• BRAIN GAMES CLUB
• MATH AND SCIENCE CLUB
• MUSIC AND DRAMA CLUB
• SPORTS AND FITNESS CLUB
• YEARBOOK AND NEWSPAPER

JACOB, YAO, NINA, TIM, ICHIRO, ANDRES, LUA, RUBY, SOHEILA

ANSWERS: International – Jacob, Nina, Ichiro; Brain Games – Jacob, Andres, Lua; Math and Science – Tim, Lua, Ruby; Music and Drama – Nina, Tim, Yao; Sports and Fitness – Ruby, Yao, Soheila; Yearbook and Newspaper – Andres, Ichiro, Soheila. [Page 14]

LIGHTNING AND LUNA

BAXTER AND BRIDGET ARE... RULES AND REBELLION #19

I HEARD ABOUT YOUR PARENTS. HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

WE’RE PRETTY FREAKED OUT. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE.

WE CALLED THE POLICE, BUT THEY HAVEN’T HEARD FROM OUR PARENTS.

WE’D BETTER GET TO H.Q. MAYBE PULSAR HAS NEWS.

ARGH! LIGHTNING, CAN YOU GIVE ME A BOOST?

ER, LUNA—YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T COME WITH US.

WHAT?

H.Q. SAID ONLY LIGHTNING SHOULD COME.

SO? I JUST WENT TO BRAZIL, GOT MY LEG BROKEN, AND HELPED SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE SMOTHERING SMOG. NOW MY PARENTS MIGHT BE IN DANGER. I’M GOING!

OOF! SOMETIMES RULES GET BROKEN. LIKE MY LEG!

WE’RE UPLIFTERS, REMEMBER? UNITED FOR PEACE, LOVE, INTEGRITY, FAITH, AND TRUTH! IT WOULDN’T BE COOL TO IGNORE OUR ORDERS.

PLEASE, CAN LUNA COME THIS ONCE? AFTER ALL, OUR PARENTS ARE MISSING!

...PLEASE.

<SIGH.> LET ME CALL H.Q.

MEANWHILE, AT GRANVILLE THE GREEDY’S LAIR . . .

WHAT’S THIS? A BOOK?

WE THINK IT BELONGS TO THE UPLIFTERS.

HMMMMM . . .

WHAT GOOD IS A BOOK? THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!

EXCELLENT! PUT IT ALL IN THE VAULT!

IS THE NEXT SHIPMENT READY, BOSS?

YES. THE CASES ARE IN THE WAREHOUSE. [Page 15]THIS COULD BE THE KEY TO BRINGING DOWN ALL THE UPLIFTERS!

MEANWHILE, THE UPLIFTERS HEAD TO H.Q....

YOU’RE CLEARED, LUNA, BUT PULSAR DIDN’T SOUND PLEASED.

THANK YOU, SPECTRA.

MINUTES LATER ...

SINCE THE BOOK IS MISSING, WE THINK THE ERASERS HAVE YOUR PARENTS.

BUT WHY?! THEY’RE NOT UPLIFTERS.

WE’RE NOT SURE WHY—YET. BUT WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF, AND HOW, THEY FIGURED OUT YOUR IDENTITIES.

WITHOUT OUR COVER, ALL UPLIFTERS ARE IN DANGER.

WITH ALL THE ROBBERIES, WE THINK GRANVILLE THE GREEDY IS RESPONSIBLE, BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHERE HIS LAIR IS.

WHAT DO WE DO?

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO HELP?

WE THINK HIS LAIR IS CLOAKED. LIGHTNING, WITH YOUR SUPER VISION AND ELECTRIC POWER, YOU CAN FIND THE LAIR AND DISABLE ITS SECURITY.

YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE. WE ALLOWED IT THIS TIME, BUT THE RULES ARE MADE TO PROTECT YOU AND OTHERS.

I—I KNOW. I’M SORRY. I’M JUST SO WORRIED.

YOUR BROKEN LEG MIGHT HAVE TIPPED OFF THE ERASERS ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY. YOU NEED TO LIE LOW.

WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT MISSION FOR YOU AT YOUR SCHOOL. WE’LL SEND SOMEONE TO HELP YOU.

AND DON’T WORRY. WE WILL FIND YOUR PARENTS.

CAN LIGHTNING AND LUNA SAVE THEIR PARENTS? [Page 16]

CROWNS OF JUSTICE

“O God . . . Attire mine head with the crown of justice, and my temple with the ornament of equity.” —Bahá’u’lláh

Have you ever dreamed of being a king or a queen? Such a powerful position can bring rich rewards, and also great responsibilities.

When Bahá’u’lláh was in Turkey and Israel in the 1860s and 1870s, He wrote to the most powerful kings and rulers of His time. He urged them to establish world peace and treat their people with justice. Bahá’u’lláh praised fair leaders and said they would “occupy a high rank and a sublime station.”

Whether they’re ruling a country or in charge of a class project, leaders are responsible for promoting justice in their communities. We are all noble beings. A just leader will make sure that all people are treated with respect and fairness.

These kids are exploring a museum exhibit about the positive acts of kings, queens, and rulers. Find 15 hidden crowns and royal headpieces.

• Builds Hospitals
• Promotes Peace
• Provides Education for All
• Supports the Arts
• Protects the Environment
• KING’S SCEPTER
• BUILDING AN EMPIRE
• MAKE YOUR CROWN
• THE KING’S CROWN
• GUIDING THE KING’S SHIP

[Page 17]

Choose Charity

Helping people in need is a great way to show your love for humanity. When you practice charity—giving your time, money, or things to people who need them—you help establish justice in the world. You also bring joy to others and yourself.

Can you guess what Bahá’u’lláh said about charity?

To find out, look at the eight picture boxes below. Find each one in the larger image. Watch out—some of the boxes are rotated. Under each box, write the correct letter of the column (ovals) and the row (rectangles) where it’s located. Then read the letters in order to discover the answer. The first picture box has been done as an example.

The Bahá’í writings say charity is “pleasing and praiseworthy” and is a:

“ P R _ _ C E _ _ _ G _ _ _ L Y _ _ _ S ”

SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 28 [Page 18]

SHINING LAMP

A Bahá’í who served humanity with radiance

MONA MAHMUDNIZHAD: MY HERO By Jasmine Riazati, age 13

Hero is a word that has many definitions. To some, it means Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, and Superman—fictional characters with super strength and supernatural abilities. To me, a hero is someone in the past or present who did something incredible to affect the future. Mona Mahmudnizhad was that type of person, making her my hero.

Born on September 10, 1965, in Yemen, Mona Mahmudnizhad lived most of her life in Iran. She was a strong child intellectually and emotionally, and was very close to her parents. Mona and her family were devoted followers of the Bahá’í Faith.

AN AMAZING DREAM

Mona prayed and meditated every day. Once she had a beautiful dream. Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, appeared and showed Mona three capes. The first one was red, which would lead to martyrdom. The second was black; it was the cape of sorrow. The third was blue and represented service. Without any words, Bahá’u’lláh draped the cape of service around Mona’s shoulders.

When Mona was 17, her home was ransacked by the Iranian government, which did not approve of her religion. They took Mona and threw her in prison. The prison punishment was severe. Many prisoners were tied to a table and whipped.

Mona was insulted and harshly questioned about her Bahá’í activities for 18 hours at a time. The guards threatened to kill her if she did not deny the Bahá’í Faith. Mona silently prayed, and she always said "No" with all her strength. This happened many times.

A fellow prisoner wrote of Mona, "She was a living example of encouragement and steadfastness."

Mona’s gentle spirit led others to call her the "Angel of Shíráz."

Mona and her father had a deep bond. They were both teachers of the Bahá’í Faith and were arrested together in 1982 by Iranian officials.

THE RED CAPE

On June 18, 1983, the prison guards called Mona and nine other women. They were taken by bus to a field, and each one was hanged. Mona, the youngest, was last. She prayed for the souls of the executioners. Surprising to those watching, Mona placed the noose around her own neck. She accepted her death. She traded her blue cape for a red one.

To me, Mona is more than a hero—she is a martyr of my Faith. I pray someday I will be able to serve my Faith with the same devotion and strength as Mona.

Photos of Mona courtesy of www.adressformona.org [Page 19]

PERSIAN ROSE

By Nadia Kardan, age 16

Editors’ Note: This story was inspired by the experiences of Mona Mahmudnizhad (see page 18). It contains somber and powerful events. We encourage you to read and talk about it with your parents or teachers.

Goli got up from the floor where she sat to say her morning prayers. She peered at herself in the mirror, smoothed her denim mini-skirt, and admired her red spaghetti-strap top. It was illegal to wear these clothes and her make-up outside.

“Goli jún!” she heard her grandmother call.

“Yes, Madar jún?” she replied.

Madar jún came slowly downstairs. She smiled and stroked Goli’s cheek. “You don’t need to wear make-up and stylish clothes. You are already the prettiest young woman in Iran.”

“Thank you, Madar jún.”

“Let’s have breakfast. But put on long sleeves and pants. You don’t know who could knock on our door.”

Goli changed her clothes, then they sat down to a simple meal of toast, feta cheese, and tea.

Suddenly, Goli’s brother, Bijan, and his friend, Amir, bolted through the door.

“Sobh bi kheir, Madar jún,” Bijan said, as he kissed her on the cheek. He picked up a slice of bread and spread cheese on it before stuffing it in his mouth. “Hey, Goli.”

“Salaám, Khánum e Rashidi, ” Amir said to Madar jún politely. “Salaám, Goli.”

Goli blushed as she smiled back.

“Hey, Goli, you want to go out with us?” Bijan asked.

“No,” Madar jún said, “Goli’s going to help me cook for Bahá’í Feast tonight. Besides, she’s teaching a children’s class, and she needs to prepare.”

“Amir and I will be with her. We’ll be okay.”

Goli wasn’t interested in going out, only to constantly check if her hair was completely hidden by her scarf and endure taunts from people who knew she was Bahá’í.

Madar jún shook her head. “I feel best when she’s out with her father.”

After Bijan and Amir had gone, Madar jún said, “I’ll make khorescht e badamjun. Get the eggplants, and we’ll peel them.”

Goli fetched the bag of eggplants and set two chairs around a waste basket. They began peeling the vegetables.

“What have you planned for the children tonight?” Madar jún asked.

“I’m going to tell them a story about Bahá’u’lláh, and they’ll draw a picture about it.”

“What story will you be telling?”

Goli looked down. “I’m not sure.”

“The Ridván Festival begins soon. Tell them about that.”

“Describe Ridván to me again, Madar jún.”

Madar jún closed her eyes and smiled. “In Baghdád, there was a place, beautiful beyond words.

---

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

---

Persian: Jún = Dear; Madar jún = Affectionate term for grandmother; Sobh bi kheir = Good morning; Salaám, Khánum e Rashidi = Hello, lady Rashidi [Page 20]

PERSIAN ROSE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

They called it the Garden of Ridván, or Paradise. The fragrance of roses filled the air as nightingales flew above, singing a song to all below. It was there that Bahá’u’lláh declared that He was a Messenger of God.”

That evening, Goli’s home was filled with boisterous talking, children playing, and laughter. Bahá’í Feast happened every 19 days, and Goli always looked forward to it.

“Everyone!” her father, Reza, announced. “Please, sit down.”

The group of about 15 people took their seats. Everyone took turns saying prayers.

Then Goli gathered the four children in her class and led them to the TV room. Leila was the oldest at 11. Kamron and Sami were 9, and Nika was 8.

Goli loved teaching. The kids told her constantly that they loved being with her, too. They were told that they were “worthless dogs” by others—and even by their teachers—because of their religion. School wasn’t supposed to be like that, Goli thought.

“Tonight, I am going to tell you a story, and then we are going to draw pictures,” Goli announced, smiling. “The story begins in a beautiful garden full of roses, called Ridván.”

The kids sat on the floor and looked up at her eagerly.

About an hour later, Madar jūn began to bring out the food with Goli’s mother, Roya. It was time for the children to rejoin the group. Reza, her father, heard their laughter from down the hall.

Then Reza heard a car outside. He peeked out of the blinds. His heart nearly stopped when he recognized a police vehicle. The room slowly grew silent as everyone saw the look on Reza’s face.

The doorbell rang. Reza opened the door slowly. Three officers stormed in.

“Good evening,” Reza choked out, trying to look brave. “May I help you, officers?”

“What’s going on here?” one asked.

“We were about to have dinner,” said Reza calmly.

An officer scowled and said, “We were ordered by the Public Prosecutor of Tihrán to search the Rashidi home. Are you Mr. Reza Rashidi?”

“I am, sir. This is my home. You may search it if needed.”

Roya cautiously took a few steps toward her husband. A guard roughly grabbed her arm and pushed her aside.

Bijan came forward, muttering angrily, “Don’t touch—” His words were cut off when the guard pulled out his gun and pointed it directly at Bijan’s forehead.

“Sag e Bahá’í,” said the guard. Sweat glistened on Bijan’s face as he held up his hands innocently.

Persian: Sag e Bahá’í = An offensive insult [Page 21]The guard with the gun snapped at the other guards to begin searching. One began ravaging everything in sight. Then he moved to the kitchen, and the sounds of pots and dinnerware crashing echoed through the house. The third guard moved down the hallway, and barged into the TV room, where Goli was teaching her class.

Goli jumped. The children moved closer to her. The guard looked at the drawings on the floor.

“Sir, may I ask, who are you?” Goli whispered, her voice shaking.

The man ignored her and walked to a table with a Bahá’í prayer book and notebooks for the students. He ripped the notebooks open and saw prayers, drawings, and sentences about Bahá’u’lláh.

He pointed his gun at Goli. “Come with me,” he said. Then he looked at the children. “Follow her!” His voice was like thunder. Nika was in tears.

In the living room, Goli felt suddenly cold when she saw the gun pointed at Bijan. The third guard grabbed her arm and pushed her toward the guard with Bijan.

“Take her,” he said.

Goli looked around at the panicked faces of her family and guests. Then the second guard came into the living room. Finally, the guard lowered his gun from Bijan’s head.

“You are under arrest,” the guard who took Goli announced to Reza. The guard grabbed Goli’s arm again. “As is she.”

“She is a child!” her mother cried. “Why do you take my child? She’s only 16!”

“Your child is a Bahá’í teacher,” the guard responded. “She is under arrest.”

One month later. One hour to live.

Goli wasn’t afraid. She looked back on her month of interrogation and torture. She could have been home long ago, had she renounced her faith. But how could they expect her to lie? Her beliefs made up who she was.

30 minutes to live.

Goli was led to the gallows with nine other women. She was the last in line. The guards told them again that they could live—if they denied their faith. All stayed in line.

15 minutes to live.

Goli closed her eyes and prayed.

5 minutes to live.

She was next. She prayed for the woman before her, and then waited.

1 minute to live.

Goli slipped the noose over her own neck. She closed her eyes and felt no pain. She thought of the Garden of Ridván, Paradise, where the fragrance of roses filled the air as nightingales flew above, singing a song to all below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadia Kardan, age 16, lives in New Jersey, U.S. She says, “I like to write realistic dramatic fiction regarding numerous conflicts between different groups of people. I always want to make sure that my writing has something valuable that every reader can gain. I chose to write about Bahá’ís in Iran because . . . they can, at any time, conform to the majority beliefs and avoid any and all persecution, but they simply choose not to.”

We hope this story encourages you to think about the human rights of all people. In many parts of the world, people of all faiths face tragic injustice with great nobility and strength. [Page 22]

QUESTIONS + ANSWERS WITH TAHIRIH NAYLOR

Tahirih Naylor has been a world traveler since she was six weeks old. That’s when her family moved from Canada to Guyana, South America. Although they returned to Canada after six years, Tahirih never stopped traveling. As a youth, she joined the Diversity Dance Theater, and traveled to 13 European countries to perform about world citizenship. She’s also trained young people to promote justice in different parts of the world. She says kids “have the capability to do amazing things, no matter how young they are. Their ideas are good and worthwhile, and they should share them.”

Today, Tahirih has visited 25 countries for service and work projects. She’s a lawyer who represents the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations. Tahirih talks with governments and organizations about Bahá’í views on issues like human rights and the environment. She lives in New York City.

Q. What is your favorite childhood memory? My sister [Eden] and I [had] children’s classes at our house, and a lot of the kids kind of danced and performed . . . So after our children’s classes were over . . . we’d sing Bahá’í songs. Then Eden and I would make up dances. It was a very nice community kind of atmosphere.

Q. As a kid, what was your most challenging experience, and how did you handle it? I can remember coming back from Guyana and starting grade one, and feeling really disconnected from the culture and what to expect. I remember saying to my parents . . . “Nobody loves me here.” . . . [But] you find some courage and stick it out. And then . . . a Persian Bahá’í girl [came] . . . to my school. So I was able to relate to her really well and sort of help her orient a little bit.

Q. What inspired you to serve others in your work and your volunteer projects? I grew up in a place [Guyana] where there was such poverty . . . The country was in such debt that we weren’t allowed to have flour or cheese or anything imported . . . The police could come and place you under arrest if you had any of that stuff. Just seeing the state that so many people are forced to live in, and thinking that those people aren’t allowed to contribute to the betterment of the world because they’re so concerned every day about how they’re going to live and survive.

Top Left: Tahirih (right), about age 6, with her siblings in Guyana.

Above: Tahirih (left), age 8, and her family in Canada.

Left: The Naylor family at the first birthday of their twins (front). Tahirih is at right. [Page 23]

STARGAZER

An interview with an inspirational Bahá’í

Q. In this issue of Brilliant Star, we’re focusing on themes of love and justice. What do you think are the greatest challenges kids face around the world today?

I think that every day, each of us faces a challenge in trying to be loving to those around us . . . whether or not someone is easy to get along with . . . To care for them because they’re God’s creation, and they’re noble beings. The other part . . . is trying to work for justice in our families and in our communities, in the world . . . To have courage to speak up when we see something that’s unjust, and to work for justice in a way that doesn’t create divisions and disunity, but that actually creates unity.

Q. In your work with youth, you’ve used the arts to address social issues. How can art play a role in social justice?

Arts have the potential to address the heart, people’s emotions, and core underlying values . . . When people might not be willing to listen to someone just standing and talking at them, they enjoy seeing a song or a dance or a play and then trying to think about the issues in a way that doesn’t feel . . . confrontational . . .

Q. What can kids do to promote fairness in their families and schools?

One of the best tools we have to promote fairness is . . . consultation. [We can] study the writings about what consultation is and then try to practice it . . .

Left: Tahirih (middle) visited Western Samoa to share the Bahá’í Faith with others. Right: Tahirih (middle) and friends outside the Bahá’í Temple in Western Samoa before going to Bahá’í Feast.

Tahirih passes by a globe sculpture at the entrance to the grounds of the United Nations, where she works in New York City.

Q. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned traveling?

I think what I’ve learned is to be humble in learning from people. You can learn such profound things from people all over the world, whether they’re highly educated, or have money, or they have none. Probably, from the people who have none, there are more profound lessons to be learned.

Q. What tips do you have for kids who want to make positive changes in the world?

To really think about concrete things they can do in their community, and to ask adults for help in doing them. So they can really be the leaders in doing that . . . I think they have to [be] confident that they really can make a difference, that they really can achieve great things, and not be afraid to ask for help from those around them, and don’t listen to discouragement or nay-sayers. [Page 24]

MUSIC CAFÉ

“Music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart.” —Bahá’í Writings

Just as the parts of the human body are connected, each person is connected to every other person. When we share love with others through kind actions, we can inspire them to be kind to someone else. Celebrate our heart-to-heart connection by singing . . .

A WHOLE LOT MORE

By Dan Duncan

When you give a lit - tle bit, you get a whole lot more. With just a pen - ny of kind - ness you could buy a whole store. Now let me tell you one thing that I’ve learn - ed and I know. Well, if you give a lit - tle love, it will grow and grow. Ya, when you give a lit - tle love, you get it back and then a whole lot mo - re. (Fine)

When you

(2.) Well, there once was a man who plant - ed seeds, just one lit - tle seed for you and me. But the seed it grew up in - to a great big tree, and now we have e - nough seeds to make a mil - lion tree - s. (DC al Fine)

©2004 by Dan Duncan. Used with permission. For more songs by Dan Duncan, visit www.characterrocks.com [Page 25]

MARCH 2007 • 163/164 Bahá’í Era

It’s easy to refresh your body. If you’re hungry, you can eat. If you’re tired, you can sleep. It’s important to refresh your spirit, too. You might pray, meditate, or enjoy nature when you want to feel peaceful. In many religions, people fast to lift their spirits. From March 2 through March 20, Bahá’ís ages 15 to 70 don’t eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.* During these days, “the heart becomes tender and the spirituality . . . increases.” When the Nineteen Day Fast ends, Bahá’ís celebrate Naw-Rúz, the Bahá’í new year. It’s a time to pray, enjoy each other’s company, and share refreshments.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Women’s History Month (U.S.) Jackie Mitchell, the second woman in professional baseball, struck out Babe Ruth.				1	2 BAHÁ’Í MONTH OF ‘ALÁ (LOFTINESS)	3 Holi (Hindu) Spring is celebrated by throwing colorful dyes.
4 Every 19 days, Bahá’í Feast is held on or near the first day of the Bahá’í month.	5	6	7 Peace Corps Day (U.S.) Volunteers have helped people in 139 countries since 1961.	8 International Women’s Day (UN) When women and men are equal, world peace is possible.	9	10
11 Daylight Savings Time Begins (U.S.)	12 True or False?* 133 million young people in the world can’t read or write.	13	14 Save a Spider Day (U.S.) Spiders help us by eating harmful bugs.	15	16	17 St. Patrick’s Day
18	19	20	21 NAW-RÚZ Bahá’í New Year BAHÁ’Í MONTH OF BAHÁ (SPLENDOR)	22 World Day for Water (UN) Over a billion people lack safe drinking water.	23	24 If you were a superhero, what would you do to promote justice?
25 Did you know? Young artists have painted more than 4,000 portraits as gifts for orphans.*	26	27	28 True or False?* You can donate ducks to help a family in need earn a living.	29	30	31

• Intro: If a person is ill, pregnant, nursing, traveling, doing heavy labor, under 15, or over 70, they do not have to fast.

March 25: See www.thememoryproject.org. Answers: March 12: True. March 28: True. [Page 26]

APRIL 2007 • 164 Bahá’í Era

In 1863, Bahá’u’lláh was banished from Baghdád, Iraq, by officials who were hostile to the Bahá’í Faith. Before He left for Turkey, Bahá’u’lláh entered the Garden of Ridván (Paradise). His departure from Baghdád saddened many people, and they wanted the chance to say goodbye. Wearing a tall felt crown called a taj, Bahá’u’lláh walked through the garden, which was filled with roses and singing nightingales. With joy and majesty, He announced that He was a Messenger of God. Bahá’ís celebrate this period as the Festival of Ridván, the most sacred holiday, from April 21 to May 2.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 April Fools’ Day	2 Enter Brilliant Star’s “Discovering Art in Nature” Contest. DEADLINE: APRIL 16*	3 Passover begins (Judaism)	4	5	6 Good Friday (Christianity)	7 World Health Day (UN) Learn how to make a disaster kit for your family.
8 Easter (Christianity)	9 BAHÁ’Í MONTH OF JALÁL (GLORY)	10	11 True or False?* Kids think that coaches should care most about winning.	12	13 Songkran, Thai New Year (April 13–15) People thank their elders with gifts.	14
15 National Poetry Month (U.S.) Tell a tale of love or justice in a poem.	16	17	18	19	20	21 FIRST DAY OF RIDVÁN Celebrate Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration
22 Earth Day (U.S.)	23	24 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month (U.S.) If you or a friend feels unsafe, tell someone you trust.	25	26	27 Arbor Day (U.S.) Plant a tree and celebrate Earth.	28 BAHÁ’Í MONTH OF JAMÁL (BEAUTY)
29 NINTH DAY OF RIDVÁN Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the garden.	30

Did you know? 1.2 billion people live on less than $1 a day. African scientists have developed more than 100 new, more efficient crop varieties to help fight hunger.

• See Brilliant Star, January/February 2007, or www.brilliantstarmagazine.org, for contest details

Answer: April 11 – False. 64% of kids surveyed by kidshealth.org said coaches should care most about giving everyone a chance to play. [Page 27]

Climb Mount Justice

“Tread ye the path of justice and equity in all things.” —Bahá’u’lláh

Have you ever stood up for a friend who was criticized for being different? Have you ever said “no” to something that would hurt you or someone else? Like climbing a mountain, your path to justice can have challenges. It takes courage and honesty to do what you think is right. Sometimes you might feel afraid, angry, or sad.

What helps you on your journey to justice? Maybe it’s talking to friends, saying prayers, or playing music. You can find ways to keep your spirit strong.

Draw your path to the top of Mount Justice. Include the people or things that can help you overcome obstacles along the way. [Page 28]

COSMO CHAMELEON’S CORNER

Look for clues to the crossword puzzle throughout the magazine.

ACROSS

2. Justice is a _______ force. (p. 4)

3. You can put love into _______ when you cooperate as one unified crew. (IFC)

5. Tahirih says this is one of the best tools for fairness. (p. 23)

7. To Jasmine, this person is more than a hero. (p. 18)

10. They help keep us healthy and safe. (p. 11)

12. Martin wants to be an _______. (p. 7)

13. Women and men are _______. (p. 1)

14. Who joined the sports and fitness club with Yao and Ruby? (p. 13)

16. Charity is ______________. (p. 17)

DOWN

1. Goli loved _____________. (p. 20)

4. Home to half of the world’s animal and plant species. (p. 10)

5. Everything in the universe is __________. (p. 4)

6. If we work in _______, we can help end hunger and other injustices. (p. 5)

7. They are cooperative creatures. (p. 9)

8. Leaders are responsible for promoting __________ in their communities. (p. 16)

9. Carys’ best virtue. (p. 6)

11. It takes __________ and honesty to do what you think is right. (p. 27)

15. Women and men are like two wings of a __________. (p. 8)

CHECK OUT THIS LETTER FROM A FRIEND. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST IN BRILLIANT STAR? WRITE ME AT BRILLIANT@USBNCO.ORG

Campbell Thomason, Age 8, Indiana, U.S.

“I really like to see the kids in Radiant Stars. Someday, if there is space, I would like to tell the Brilliant Star kids about my family. I also want to let you know that I really like the mazes, Lightning and Luna, and the drawings where you find things that are hidden. I also like the stories of people helping each other, [and] the craft ideas . . .”

WHERE in THE WORLD?

UNSCRAMBLE THESE CLUES. I’m a COUNTRY WHERE . . .

You can climb the world’s STENLOG _ _ _ _ _ _ _ mountain range, the Andes.

More than half of the land is covered by lush STEFRAOSRIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Alpacas, a type of llama, are raised for their OOLW _ _ _ _.

You can eat sweet, ring-shaped ETASTR _ _ _ _ _ _ called picarones.

The Incas began building a vast EPIREM _ _ _ _ _ _ in the year 1438.

MY NAME IS _ _ _ _.

answers

PAGE 4: “Justice is a powerful force. It is, above all else, the conqueror . . . of the hearts and souls of men, and the revealer of the secrets of the world . . .” —Bahá’u’lláh

PAGE 9: 62 meerkats in one unbroken line.

PAGE 11: Kids respecting the rules and encouraging each other are cheering from bench; not touching the net; trying to shake hands with an opponent; patting a teammate on the back; teaching a teammate to serve; wearing sport shoes; listening to the coach; snacking off the court. Kids breaking the rules are moping on the bench; yelling at an official; kicking the ball; wearing roller skates; moving the boundary line; refusing to shake hands; laughing at an opponent; eating on the court; touching the net.

PAGE 17: Bahá’u’lláh said charity is “pleasing and praiseworthy” and is a “prince among goodly deeds.”

Answers for Where in the World: longest, rainforests, wool, treats, empire, Peru. [Page 29]

Justice Shines

“Justice must be sacred, and the rights of all the people must be considered. Desire for others only that which you desire for yourselves. Then shall we rejoice in the Sun of Justice . . .” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Most faiths teach a version of the Golden Rule—that we should treat others as we want to be treated. When we treat people with respect, we let go of prejudice and selfishness. Imagine a world where peace and unity encircle all of us, like the life-giving sun. Think of how it would feel to live in a world where wars and poverty have been eliminated, and where everyone has good schools and medical care.

The Bahá’í writings tell us that this is the world of our future. And you can help build it—by letting your virtues of love and justice shine each day.

Tocho and Sienna want to help their friends build the Golden Sun School. Help them find their way. [Page 30]“Oh, friends of God, be living examples of justice! So that . . . the world may see in your actions that you manifest the attributes of justice and mercy.”

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Brilliant Star www.brilliantstarmagazine.org

BUILDING JUSTICE • MARCH/APRIL 2007 • VOLUME 39, NUMBER 1

AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES