




                         Answering difficult questions 

     The opening of the Terraces will generate many questions about why the 
Baha'i community undertook this extraordinary project.  We should welcome 
challenging inquiries because they provide us with the opportunity to convey 
the deeper implications of Baha'u'llah's Revelation.  Difficult questions, and 
the subsequent search for answers, often serve to clarify and refine our 
thinking.  

     There are a few essential points to remember when attempting to answer 
difficult questions.  Everything about the Faith, from the significance of the 
number nine to the workings of the Baha'i administrative system to laws 
concerning personal behavior, is informed by certain overarching spiritual 
principles that do not lend themselves to easy analysis or simplistic 
responses. 

     Yet simple, succinct answers are exactly what will be asked of us.  
Bearing in mind that a reporter wants a quick, ten-second "sound bite" or a 
one-sentence quote for a print article, we must not be rushed in our responses, 
or take shortcuts where we know that none exist.  A "yes" or "no" answer on a 
delicate or controversial topic can create false impressions.  We should also 
take care not to come across as dogmatic.  

     Even when we try to provide fuller explanations of a Baha'i position, 
reporters may not like or agree with our answers.  In such circumstances, it 
is important to communicate confidence and not be apologetic.  We should not 
allow ourselves to be shaken nor try to win an argument.  Instead we should 
endeavor to share our thinking about a particular issue.  A key point is that 
there is a spiritual worldview that animates the Baha'i understanding of 
life.   

     We should avoid appearing defensive or using phrases like "no comment" to 
avoid answering a question.  It is also important to recognize that on many 
issues the Baha'i community simply has no position.  We can feel perfectly 
justified in saying, "The Baha'i Faith does not take a position on ..." rather 
than feeling pressured to say something.  If you do not know the answer to a 
question, or you are unsure of the appropriate answer, tell the reporter that 
you will find out and get back to him or her.  You can then consult with your 
National Spiritual Assembly or with the Baha'i International Community's Office 
of Public Information.  

     What are some of the qualities that should guide our interactions with 
the media?   
    -  Patience - especially when confronted by a skeptical questioner or even 
       a veiled attack - attacks are inevitable and invariably blessings in 
       disguise, but must be handled very carefully.   
    -  Wisdom and tact - don't over-explain or suffocate the questioner, and 
       avoid entanglement with political questions.   
    -  Courtesy and encouragement - everyone needs encouragement!   
    -  Sincerity, truthfulness, fidelity - follow through on commitments and 
       promises.   
    -  Integrity - be true to Baha'i principles in your dealings with the 
       media.   
    -  Fairness - acknowledge the legitimacy and reasonableness of a 
       particular question regardless of how challenging it might be.    

     Finally, it should be recognized that our efforts to tell our story will 
in many cases be greeted by indifference.  We should strive to attain the 
highest levels of excellence and proficiency in our public information work, 
but we should never forget that we are engaged in a process that is 
essentially spiritual in character.  Thus we should always call upon the 
power of Baha'u'llah to change the circumstances of any situation. 





 




Answering difficult questions                                           Page 2


     Below are some points to keep in mind when answering questions on 
particular issues specific to the opening of the Terraces.   

Spending money on gardens in light of the great suffering in the world 

-  Baha'is believe that the problems in the world are systemic and cannot be 
   solved in a piecemeal fashion.  Creating conditions of equity and justice 
   in the world is, in essence, a spiritual and moral challenge.  The 
   Gardens and Terraces on Mount Carmel represent something much more than 
   physical structures and may be viewed as symbols of an entirely new way 
   of life and a point of unity for millions of people around the world.  
   Drawing inspiration from this spiritual center, to which they have 
   contributed willingly, with great devotion and pride, Baha'i communities 
   around the world are learning how to build and provide models for 
   patterns of community life that promote both material and spiritual well-
   being.  

-  The amount spent on the Mount Carmel projects - about US$250 million over a 
   period of 10 years - is relatively small in comparison with what is 
   expended on many public and private activities or ephemeral events.  
   Moreover, the buildings and gardens at the Baha'i World Centre have been 
   built to last hundreds of years. 

-  At the time the projects were launched, they represented the single largest 
   private investment in Israel.  Hundreds of local workers and contractors 
   have been employed, as well as much local building material, representing a 
   significant contribution to the local economy. 

-  No public funds were used, and no donations were accepted from outside the 
   Baha'i community.   

-  Baha'i institutions and individuals are deeply concerned with ameliorating 
   human suffering.  Although relatively small in size, the Baha'i community 
   has sought to do its part in alleviating conditions of deprivation where 
   its very modest funds have effect.  Thus, at the grassroots level, Baha'i 
   community resources are frequently directed to humanitarian and development 
   activities. 

Questions about the Arab-Israeli conflict and our relationship with the State 
of Israel 

-  The Baha'i Faith is entirely non-partisan and takes no position concerning 
   the conflicts in this region.  Its principal aim is the establishment of a 
   just and peaceful future for all peoples.    

-  Many Baha'is around the world come from both Muslim and Jewish, as well as 
   Christian and other, backgrounds. 

-  Baha'u'llah was brought to Ottoman Palestine as a prisoner in 1868, 80 
   years before the establishment of Israel.  The small community of Baha'i 
   exiles established friendly relations with all groups.  When Baha'u'llah's 
   son 'Abdu'l-Baha passed away in 1921, more than 10,000 people came to His 
   funeral, and He was eulogized by the Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders.  


-  Under the British mandate, the Baha'i holy places and other endowments were 
   legally recognized. 





 




Answering difficult questions                                           Page 3



-  In 1948, cordial relations were established with the State of Israel, 
   culminating with the signing of a Status Agreement in 1987, an agreement 
   that recognizes the status of the Baha'i World Centre as the center of a 
   world religion. 

-  The relationship of the Baha'i World Centre in Israel with the State of 
   Israel is identical to the relationship of any Baha'i community with the 
   government of the country in which it resides - it is characterized by 
   obedience to government and a strict abstention from partisan politics. 

-  There is no local Baha'i community in Israel.  The Founder of the Faith 
   Himself instructed His followers not to propagate His Faith in the Holy 
   Land, a practice that is continued to this day.  This is not a restriction 
   imposed from the outside, nor an agreement with the authorities, but is 
   rather a matter of our own self-restraint out of respect for the character 
   of the Jewish State.  

-  Much of the land for the Terraces was acquired before 1948 when the 
   mountainside was bare.  A few plots were purchased more recently.  

Questions on the environmental impact of the Terraces 

-  Although the gardens in Haifa appear to be extremely large, it is only the 
   quite limited formal portion in the center which is environmentally 
   controlled.  On both sides of the Terraces, the formal gardens are bordered 
   by informal plantings that recreate the natural landscape of the area and 
   feature native trees and wildflowers which harmonize with the Mount Carmel 
   ecosystem.  This aspect of the gardens' design greatly limits the amount of 
   water needed.  Overall, the gardens are designed for very slow, rather than 
   rapid, growth. 

-  The gardens and fountains employ a number of advanced systems and methods 
   that conserve water.  Recycling, the use of drought-resistant plant species 
   and sophisticated irrigation techniques are intrinsic to the design of the 
   Gardens.  Several outside specialists have described the usage of water in 
   the Baha'i Gardens as exemplary.   

-  The creation of a green belt within the heart of Haifa is already resulting 
   in an array of beneficial environmental effects.  These sanctuaries are now 
   serving as wildlife corridors for many species of birds and animals.    

-  Integrated pest management methods which monitor need and which use an 
   array of non-chemical controls, and, if necessary, "soft" pesticides are 
   being applied in the gardens.  Currently, pesticides are employed very 
   sparingly.  Herbicides are used only when essential, and, even then, only 
   easily biodegradable chemicals are applied on specific areas through "spot-
   spraying".  In fact, most weeds are controlled through cultivation, 
   mulching and plant competition. 





 
