The Final Call

America must repent to save herself

By Ashahed M. Muhammad
Assistant Editor | Last updated: Mar 12, 2009 - 3:20:00 PM

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Black America: Accept Responsibility To Build

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

ROSEMONT, Ill. (FinalCall.com) - The Honorable Minister Farrakhan delivered a message of guidance to the faithful and a warning to the country’s governmental rulers at a time when America is confronted with the gravest challenges it has faced since becoming a nation, during his Saviours’ Day 2009 message commemorating 132 years since the birth of Nation of Islam founder, Master W. Fard Muhammad.

Standing and sounding strong for the duration of a dynamic three and a half hour message on the subject, “We Must Accept Responsibility to Build Our Community” a beaming Min. Farrakhan addressed a combined crowd of nearly 10,000 at the Rosemont Theater and the Stephens Convention Center. Many more viewed via live internet webcast.

“We are blessed today, for the first time in the history of our sojourn in America, to have a Black man as the 44th President of the United States of America, and although he has only been in office a little over 30 days, he’s moving at break-neck speed to accomplish what many would think is impossible.”

Crowd at the Rosemont Theater cheers during Min. Farrakhan SavioursDay keynote address. Photo: Mikal Veale

Min. Farrakhan said the American people voted for Barack Obama because they wanted change, but not simply a change from Republicans to Democrats, they wanted to see an end to the government’s corrupt practices and immoral policies—carried out in the name of the American people—that have caused great hatred and resentment across the globe.

Despite the high hopes and expectations of an Obama presidency, Min. Farrakhan warned that the change he seeks will not be possible without the power of the anointing of God to change a country that is “rooted in good words, but bad deeds.” The severe economic downturn and extreme weather conditions are indications that are consistent with prophetic scriptures, God is chastising America for these wicked deeds, and in order to be spared, America must repent, the Minister said.

Referring to the spirit of the Republicans, and the comments by extremist right wing radio talkshow host Rush Limbaugh who said he hopes the policies and presidency of Barack H. Obama will fail, Min.. Farrakhan questioned the root motivation of such desires.

“A man (Obama) who is trying to save America from her destiny, and you hope that he will fail? Is it his Blackness that troubles you? That you don’t want him to succeed because that will say that he does something that you all have failed to do? Is the hate so deep, that for political reasons, you would say that the stimulus package is putting debt on future generations, as though you haven’t done it? What hypocrisy!” Min. Farrakhan said. “This man has inherited the fall of America! He has inherited the collapse of your institutions! He has inherited what your greed, your false pride, your arrogance and your wickedness has brought to your door!”

Min. Farrakhan also said it bothered him that the President of the United States, and others in government take their oath of office with their hands on the Bible, yet fail to use the guidance contained within to direct their actions.

Photo: Mikal Veale

“How can you reject God and expect the right results?” Min. Farrakhan asked.

America for sale?

Min. Farrakhan pointed out that America’s economic downturn is affecting global markets and, reminding the audience of the words of his teacher the Hon. Elijah Muhammad who said that once the dollar falls, the government will fall soon after.

As it relates to the country’s infrastructure, 44 states are facing bankruptcy, foreign companies own most of the infrastructure used in the domestic shipping industry.

China has bought more than $1 trillion of American debt.

In the jobs market, 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008, the most since World War II. Economists are predicting a net total of 1.5 to 2 million or more jobs will vanish in 2009. Already, just barely into the third month of 2009, over one-million jobs have been lost. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits was over 5 million for the first time since record keeping began in 1967.

Snoop Dogg Photo: Mikal Veale

Mentioning the recent Israeli assault on the Palestinian people of Gaza, the Minister then took the listeners into America’s foreign policy and the primary reason members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are not only unable to make change, they are not even able to raise a critical voice for fear of punishment from the Israeli lobby in the United States and the influence of the International Bankers.

“Now, look you’re dealing with Satanic minds. You’re not dealing with little cheap thieves. You’re dealing with people who know how to take whole countries,” said Min. Farrakhan.”

America’s choice

The Hon. Elijah Muhammad said that the “Mystery Babylon” written of in the book of Revelation refers to the United States of America, a point that Min. Farrakhan said he is willing to debate with scholars who believe otherwise.

He spoke of the prophetic words of scripture, specifically, the story of the “reluctant prophet” Jonah and the history of Ninevah. Ninevah is the only city in scripture that God planned to destroy, yet spared as a result of the king fasting, praying and putting on sackcloth and ashes, begging God for mercy.

Min. Farrakhan with longtime friend and companion Brother Jabril Muhammad. Photo: Kenneth Muhammad

The Minister also recounted the story of Daniel. Though a slave, Daniel was gifted with the ability to read the writing on the wall which said “mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.” He informed the king that his “kingdom has been weighed in the balance, and found wanting” and as a result, God’s wrath followed. These are all signs for America, he said.

“As Babylon could have been healed, America could be healed,” said the Minister. “Babylon could have been healed and under the right conditions, America, too, can be healed. But the question is, will she?”

Building community

This year’s Saviours’ Day celebration brought together a sensational cross-section of influential minds, personalities and organizers of the Black liberation struggle.

Minister Farrakhan defined community as “a group of people living in the same locality, having common interests, and under the same government, sharing responsibilities of participation and fellowship.”

According to that definition, and with the presence of a common attitude, collectively combining our financial resources, we could in fact, create our own communities in fulfillment of the scriptural reference in Judges 14 where busy bees were found making honey, in the carcass of a dead lion.

Consistent with the theme of accepting responsibility, Min. Farrakhan described how great minds such as Ambassador Dudley Thompson, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Dr. Ron Daniels, executive director of the Institute of The Black World, Dr. Conrad Worrill of the National Black United Front, Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, Dr. Iva Carruthers and Dr. Abdul Alim Shabazz, could assist in developing a curriculum that could place the proper emphasis on what is needed for our children to be considered truly educated.

(L-R) Ali Baghdadi, Atty. Malik Zulu Shabazz, Dr. Conrad Worrill

He also spoke of the brilliance of activists like Atty. Malik Zulu Shabazz, National Chairman of the New Black Panther Party and director of the Black Lawyers for Justice, writer and Palestinian activist Ali Baghdadi and other spiritual leaders such as Rev. Dr. Hycel B. Taylor, Father Michael Pfleger of the Faith Community of St. Sabina.

From the hip hop world, Min. Farrakhan was joined by NYOIL, Doug E. Fresh, Snoop Doggy Dogg, KAM, NO ID, Brother J of the X-Clan, and Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers, all expressing the desire to do their part to build our community.

Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers said the Minister’s message is bringing in an entire new paradigm.

“His message showed that it is absolutely not smart to be dumb anymore. At this point it is too critical for us to be uninformed. After hearing Minister Farrakhan, we know what must be done. The responsibility has always been on us even before Barack. We have to keep it moving in the community. Keep it moving on the grassroots level Elijah Muhammad style.”

Student Minister Richard Muhammad who leads Muhammad Mosque No. 18 in Cleveland, Ohio described Min. Farrakhan’s message as “thoroughly enlightening.”

“One thing that is clear to me is that Minister Farrakhan is not just speaking for today, he is speaking for future generations,” said Bro. Richard.

“The message was impactful and great. It was about the true change that America should be making which is building communities. I am very impressed with all of the leaders and everyone who came out today,” said Brother J of X-Clan, who was a panelist at one of the most popular workshops over the Saviours’ Day weekend, “The Influence of Islam on Hip Hop.”

Theologian, author, long-time friend and confidante of the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan Brother Jabril Muhammad was on hand for his first Saviours’ Day in several years. He is recovering from a heart attack and a stroke. He is experiencing a condition called Aphasia, which is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language at times, but does not affect intelligence.

Although most people with Aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing, through his condition, Brother Jabril has continued to write his weekly column, Farrakhan the Traveler. He also told The Final Call that he wanted to tell the Believers that sometimes, he recognizes faces, but has difficulty matching the face with the name, however, experiencing the spirit of the Believers and all of those present -for Saviours’ Day, his brain was “making new connections” and he felt that this weekend of enhanced therapy has sparked healing and sped up his recovery.

Student Minister Abel Muhammad from Mosque Maryam said he heard the “sense of urgency” in Min. Farrakhan’s keynote address that displayed not only his love for the people, but his vision of what is possible in unity.

“It is not about us just building a small community here in Chicago or any other city alone but it is about building a national community. We have a narrow view of community but he (Farrakhan) wants us to see it on a broad scale. The only way we can build up our communities, this nation and the world is the acceptance of this guidance from Minister Farrakhan which is good for all the human family because that national community will eventually include the entire human family.”
(Staff Writer Brother Jesse Muhammad contributed to this report.)