ZionRoots band site: Speech by His Majesty Haile Selassie I to the United Nations!

WAR

 California, 28 February 1968. "Last May, in Adis Abeba, a meeting of Heads of African States and Governments was convened. In three days, the thirty-two nations represented at the Conference showed the world that when will and determination exist, nations and people from different backgrounds can and will work in unity to achieve common goals and ensure the equality and brotherhood we all desire." "Although our position regarding power blocs is identified as that of the policy of the 'non-aligned,' our historical past proves that we have always striven to cooperate with all nations, without exception. Thus, one of the fundamental principles we agreed upon at the Adis Abeba Summit Conference gives strength to our essential desire to live in harmony and cooperation with all States." "As for the issue of racial discrimination, the Adis Abeba Conference taught all who will learn this future lesson: that, as long as the philosophy that declares one race superior and another inferior is not finally and permanently discredited and abandoned; as long as first- and second-class citizens of any nation continue to exist; as long as a person's skin color is of greater importance than the color of their eyes; as long as basic human rights are not guaranteed equally to all, regardless of race, until that day, the dreams of lasting peace, world citizenship, and government by international morality will remain a fleeting illusion, pursued but never attained. And likewise, as long as the unfortunate and ignoble regimes that suppress our brothers, in subhuman conditions, in Angola, Moçambique and África do Sul are not overcome and destroyed, as long as fanaticism, prejudice, malice and inhuman interests are not replaced by understanding, tolerance and goodwill, as long as all Africans do not rise and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men as they are in Heaven, until that day, the African continent will know no peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know we will win, for we are confident in the victory of good over evil." "The United Nations has done much, both directly and indirectly, to speed the disappearance of discrimination and oppression on Earth. Without the opportunity to focus world opinion on Africa and Asia, which this organization has provided, the goal might still, for many, be distant and the struggle would take much longer. For this, we are truly grateful."

BIBLE

 THE BIBLIA AMARICA MAGAZINE Etiópia, a land of Christianity, is marked in History for having been the first to receive the Old Testament and the New Testament long before the other countries of the world. When, in the time of the Old Testament, it received the Law and later, in the time of the New Testament, received the Gospel, it ensured that the Scriptures would be translated into the ancient language of Ge'ez. Since then until today, several books of spiritual and material value have been periodically compiled and written in Ge'ez. We recall with deep gratitude our ancestors who, with the permission of time and opportunity, worked with great care and effort and left us books for the preservation of Faith and for the growth of learning and knowledge. In ancient times, Ge'ez was the language of the country and therefore people had no difficulty, even without an interpreter, in examining and understanding the books. But just as one era succeeds another, so too did Amárico, which came from Ge'ez, gradually become the language most commonly spoken by the people, thus replacing Ge'ez. At that time, Ge'ez was spoken by the most educated people of the Church, but it was not entirely understandable to the People. This caused scholars to be forced in their teachings to interpret their prayers and works from Ge'ez into Amárico. And these conditions prevail to this very day. From the time when, by Divine goodness, We were chosen to ascend to the Throne of Etiópia and have led Our People toward progress in learning and knowledge, We have worked in every possible way for their spiritual and material development in the fields of learning and knowledge. In order to accomplish this goal, and realizing that the first necessity would be to have the scriptures translated into Amárico and printed in large quantities. In 1918, when We were only heirs to the Throne, We selected from among scholars some to translate the Scriptures and produce the translation side by side with Ge'ez. Then, also at Our own expense, We had a printing press brought from Europe, established a Printing Publisher, and began printing books. Some of the books We had printed in Ge'ez and Amárico at that time were read in churches and homes, and We found them fruitful in establishing Faith and spiritual strengthening. Next, noting that people's minds continued to grow in understanding, We had the Books of the Old and New Testaments translated word-for-word into Amárico. Our scholars completed this work and presented it to Us in 1931, which was followed by Our order to print it. However, while the book was still being printed, enemy aggression in 1935 stopped the work. Even so, during exile in London, We gave permission for this same Bible to be printed in photo-offset and this task was completed in time. Through this Book, our Ethiopian subjects exiled in so many countries turned to their Faith and made their prayers to Almighty God while awaiting the restoration of Etiópia. When We brought liberation to Etiópia and re-entered Our Empire, with God's honor and grace, We realized that there should be a revision of the existing translation of the Hebrew and Greek Bible. Thus We chose scholars qualified for Bible work and on March 6, 47, We formed a Biblical Committee in Our Palace. The Committee worked diligently for five years and on April 19, 1952 presented Us with the translation. We express heartfelt gratitude to all who helped Us in this task. All ancient Scriptures were written for Our instruction, so that through the encouragement they give Us, We may hold Our hope firmly. Because We wish that the light shining from the Scriptures may illuminate all, this Bible was revised and printed by Our order in the thirty-first year of Our Reign.  

23 July, 1961.

"Spiritual Kings": Knowing that material and spiritual progress is essential to Man, we must work without ceasing for the equal attainment of both. Only then may we acquire that absolute inner calm, so necessary to our well-being. Whenever conflict between spiritual and material values arises, conscience plays an important role, and whoever has a bad conscience will never truly be free from this problem until at peace with oneself and with one's conscience. The discipline of the mind is the basic ingredient of genuine morality and consequently of spiritual strength. Spiritual power is the eternal guide, in this life and the next, for Man to reach the summit destined for him by the Great Creator. As no one may interfere in the domains of God, we must tolerate and live side by side with people of different faiths. In the mystical tradition of different religions we have a marvelous Peace of Spirit. Regardless of the religion they profess, they are Spiritual Kings. While different religions, in their historical forms, bind us to limited groups and work against the development of loyalty to the world community, the Mystics have already struggled for the community of humanity ... in harmony with the spirits of mystical ancestors. No one should question the faith of others, for no human being can judge the ways of God. With the elevation of all Men to their deserved dignity and honor as individuals, they will be able to look at their fellow beings, of any nation, of any race, of any historical, linguistic or religious tradition, through the eyes of equality, without envy, without fear, without excessive pride. As long as intolerance, prejudice, and inhuman and malicious interest are not replaced by understanding, tolerance and goodwill..."