"Righteous exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

It is a known fact that the character of a person is that which determines the outcome in history. Let us look at the honorable Mrs. Rosa Parks and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

The nobility of the character of Mrs. Parks opened the door to a constitutional liberation process that continues to this day. She provided shoulders upon which students stood to desegregate restaurants, theaters and interstate travel.

It was the strength of character of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad that allowed him to forge an Islamic nation of peace in North America while providing shoulders upon which the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan stood in calling male and female to atone.

It is a divine measure of character that causes a man of God to challenge others, both male and female, to perfect their relationship with Allah (God).

Those who will heed the call and go through the eight steps of atonement will be the only ones who have the strength of character to determine just and equitable outcomes which are so badly needed to heal the nations, peoples and families which have been torn asunder by strife and discord.

The eight steps of atonement are Allah�s (God�s) question to every person: "Will you give up every sin in order to save the nation and all of the people?"

Those who are not interested in saving the nation and all of the people will ignore the call to atonement and Allah�s (God�s) question, and of course they will continue with an unexamined life, therefore making the same mistakes and having no significant impact on the course of history.

When there is a complete surrender to the call of atonement, and a sincere response to Allah�s (God�s) question of giving up every sin to save all of the people, one goes through a mind transformation. One then has, both in fact and indeed, the same mind as Christ.

With the renewed mind, one then is able to ask the appropriate questions to arrive at correct answers. One is also able to propose comprehensive constitutional and educational propositions that are a benefit to all the people as well as the nation.

Sins confessed to Allah (God) first and then to the God-centered congregation and assemblies give one the strength to forgive others, thus allowing the Holy Spirit of instruction to enter one�s life.

As we go forward in calling all families to atone on Oct. 16, 2000, and calling all of our youth to seek prayer-mate marriages, we ourselves must be striving to perfect our relationships with each other and with Allah (God).

There are those who believe that it is not a matter of character but a matter of perception that makes the difference. Such people are self-deceived, for they think that the manipulation of a few uninformed people with false information in order to raise a dollar or two or to be cheered by an uninitiated, emotional crowd has meaning. However, close inspection would reveal that such action inflates the egos of those who take pride in making false impressions, but such actions have no measurable impact on science or history.