When Are Thoughts "New"?

Last night on CNN's Larry King Program, the guest, Mr. Woodward, suggested that society needed to develop "new institutions." I contend that his suggestion points to a workable solution, but not a new solution.

In 1912, when Abdu'l-Baha walked off of the ship that had carried him to the United States, he told the reporters at the dock that he had come to usher in an era of "universal peace." Later he told those same reporters that he intended to lay the foundation for the "oneness of mankind."

Abdu'l-Baha knew that Baha'is could achieve those lofty goals by relying on the "out of the box," Baha'i institutions. Abdu'l-Baha made his statements well before creation of the United Nations.

The world now realizes that the mere creation of the U.N. did not insure the maintenance of peace in any part of the world. Today, the world is playing with new institutions, such as the appearance of small, community interfaith groups. I believe that our world leaders can learn more about the potential of new institutions by studying the activities of the non government organizations, many of which have representatives at the United Nations.