faith. He had no intention of starting a new religion. He was only
trying to uplift the thoughts and aspirations of his people. His
followers called themselves Christians because they wanted to follow his
teachings more than the traditional Jewish teachings. His teachings were
misinterpreted by later followers and sometimes deliberately distorted
or had parts removed by them in order to suit the Church's thinking at
the time. It is sad that some Christians today make judgments on the
other faiths. Some even go so far as to believe that non-Christian
religions, are doomed unless they convert to Christianity. God loves all
people. He is not concerned with their individual beliefs and religions.
He wants only for His children to grow spiritually and to love one
another; to express kindness and gentleness and to live in peace and
understanding. That is all He wants. Each may think as he wishes
religiously, as long as those thoughts are of the highest order and as
long as there is a desire to know more of the nature of God and His
universe. Too many are smugly satisfied with their religious beliefs and
will investigate no further, believing sincerely that they have been
told all that God wishes for them to know, and so will refuse to listen
to any other point of view, or to study the many writings that exist,
some of which are very spiritual in nature. These people deprive
themselves of a great deal of knowledge, thereby inhibiting their
spiritual advancement. Of course, others are spiritually advanced who do
not even belong to any organized religion or philosophy."
"It's all so very interesting," said Dorothy. "I had never thought of
any of this before -- or at least very little."
"Most children don't think too much about it, but they do wonder about
things sometimes. When you get back to Kansas, Dorothy, you really must
find a way to bring this knowledge to the children," said the Tin
Woodman. "Although some adults will understand it, many others are too
set in their ways to change their thinking or attempt to understand it.
It is up to you children to change the world, and you can do it. If you
will all learn to think and act in a more spiritual manner, by the time
you grow up and fill all the positions of government and industry, you
will be living in a beautiful world, one of harmony and honesty and
trust. Oh, there will still be problems, but nowhere near the degree
there is now. And the adults, from their various levels of
consciousness, will be amazed at what you have accomplished. And to
think it will all be because each individual decided within himself to
raise his thinking to a higher level and to serve his brother as himself."
"I just wish it could be that simple," said Dorothy. "But even if all
children everywhere could be told all this; there are so many that would
not listen. They would just scoff at the idea of being nice. Some
children just seem to delight in being mean."
"Perhaps that is because they have not evolved very much over their
lifetimes," said the Scarecrow. "And they have no desire to evolve now."
"This is true," said the Lion. "But this change is not expected to
happen overnight. Every child that does accept this philosophy will
teach their own children too, and if the philosophy is taught from a
young age, there is so much more chance of it being accepted. Especially
if it is also taught in the schools. The world could not help but improve."
"What about countries," said the Scarecrow, "whose governments don't
believe in a supreme intelligence, life after death, or rebirth? What
about them? Their governments like to have full control over the people.
They control the factories, the newspapers, everything! They would never
allow their children to be taught this."
"Never say never," said the Tin Woodman. "I believe this old hard line
thinking will break down -- ever so slowly, mind you. But mass thinking
does not change quickly. As younger people with more inquisitive minds
grow up and replace the old die-hards, things will change."
"Mortal is the word, all right," said the Scarecrow. "It is the mortal
mind which causes people to be enemies. The spiritual mind would never
allow this."
"Just think what could be achieved," said the Lion, "if all that money
that the various governments spend on armies and sophisticated weapons
could be spent on humanitarian projects ... like helping to feed all the
children in the world who go to bed hungry each night."
"You would think that would be a lot more important to them than arming
themselves to the teeth," said the Scarecrow. "But I guess that they're
all so afraid of each other they feel they have to build their huge
armies to protect themselves. I hope one day they'll all come to their
senses and see how ridiculous the whole thing is."
"I'm sure it's only a matter of time," said Dorothy. "My fellow mortals
can't remain in the dark ages for ever."
"Not to change the subject," said the Tin Woodman, "but where do we go
from here?"
"We haven't heard much of the Wicked Witch lately," said the Scarecrow.
"Maybe she's gone into hiding," said Dorothy.
"Not her," replied the Tin Woodman. "She's not scared of anyone."
"She could be getting scared," said Dorothy, "now that we're getting
closer to where she lives."
"Why should she be scared of us?" asked the Cowardly Lion. "She has all
that magic. We don't have any."
"We may not have all that exotic magic," said Dorothy. "But we have more
power."
"More power?" questioned everyone at once.
"Yes," said Dorothy emphatically. "Haven't you been absorbing all that
we have been told? Love is the greatest power in the world -- in the
entire universe."
"Well, the proof will be in the pudding," said the Lion.
"What did you say would be in the pudding?" asked the Scarecrow.
"What I'm trying to say," answered Lion, patiently, "is that when we
meet face to face the real test will begin."
"Oh," said the Scarecrow. "I understand."
"We must all have faith," said Dorothy, "and know that, without a doubt,
we have overcome hate."
Everyone was so busy talking that none had paid too much attention to
the surroundings. "Look!" said the Lion. "Look at the beautiful homes!"
They were very surprised to see several lovely houses scattered about.
The landscaping was comprised of little wooden knolls surrounded by the
greenest of green grass. Little winding paths of yellow brick connected
all of the houses together. The homes themselves were all of different
architecture and design: from a southern mansion to a very modern
split-level. One house was a very pretty Tudor style home, with flowers
of every variety around it. Another, a beautiful Spanish style home, had
the most beautiful garden that Dorothy had ever seen; with small lakes
and waterfalls and exotic plants and trees of every variety. As they got
closer, they could make out the figures of three men on the porch
sitting in very comfortable-looking rocking chairs. They seemed to be
just enjoying the warm lazy sounds of the garden -- the droning of a bee
collecting pollen, birds chirping, and the soft rippling sound of water
from nearby fountains.
In front of the men, on a little round table, was a pitcher of what
looked to Dorothy, like ice-cold lemonade.
As if reading her thoughts, one of the men said, "Come and join us for
lemonade, my dear. You look thirsty -- all of you, please come and sit down."
The man brought out some more rocking chairs and said, "Welcome to
Presidentland."
Dorothy looked up quickly. He had looked very familiar to her when she
first saw him. Then it dawned on her. Presidentland! Of course! The man
was none other than President Andrew Jackson! Dorothy gasped. She had
seen President Jackson's face in an American History book. "But sir,"
she said. "I-I thought you were...."
"Dead?" interceded the man. Then he chuckled. "No, not at all, my dear
young lady. Oh yes, my physical body died a long time ago. But no one
can ever really die. That would be impossible. Each of us is part of
creation; we are all part of the scheme of things. Nothing can destroy
us, nothing. We can destroy the quality of our existence by our wrong
thinking and behavior. In other words, that beautiful true nature of our
being can be covered up until it is invisible -- both to others and to
ourselves. This true nature cannot be destroyed, only temporarily buried
in the murk of mortality until either someone rescues us, or we rescue
ourselves. Usually it is a combination of both. Now, my young friend,
let me introduce you to my associates."
Dorothy turned to see the faces of none other than George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln. Her eyes grew wide, and her heart skipped a beat as she
whispered, "I am very honored to meet you, sirs,"
"Not at all," they replied. "The honor is ours," said Mr., Lincoln. "It
is a delight to meet such a fine young lady and her equally fine
friends." They shook hands with everyone.
"Please be seated," President Jackson said. He poured Dorothy a large
sparkling glass of lemonade and began to explain why the three of them --
all ex-presidents of the United States, were together.
"We call this area Presidentland. It is not really a land and we don't
all live here permanently. But we do meet here often. That is why we
have homes here. We live with our families in our regular homes
throughout the land. The full name of our little club here is
/'Americanpresidentland/,' and it is a private club made up of United
States Presidents. Of course, anyone can visit us, just as you are
visiting us now. We are only private in the sense that we are generally
alone in order to conduct the business that we must conduct among ourselves.
"The reason we meet so often is because of our dear love for our country
and for mankind in general, we are anxious to help resolve the many
problems that exist on the earth today, and especially those related
directly to our beloved country. We work with many members of the
government, as well as the current President. We will be holding a full
meeting very shortly. You are all welcome to join us and to observe the
proceedings."
"Oh, we'd love to, Mr. President," said Dorothy. "Wouldn't we, everyone?"
"Yes indeed!" said the Tin Woodman. Everyone nodded excitedly.
"This will really be a historic occasion, to say the least," said Dorothy.
"While we are waiting for the meeting to begin, if any of you have a
question you would like us to answer, please do so," said President Jackson.
"I would like to ask what you think of the world today compared to your
time," said Dorothy.
"That is a very good question," answered President Jackson. "We could
all talk for days on that subject. Would you like to answer first,
George?" he said to President Washington.
President Washington looked rather stern as he spoke: "The world has
certainly changed since my day. But that is to be expected. Things
cannot stay the same if progress is to be made.
"Unfortunately, nearly all of the progress being made is of a material
nature. There is nothing wrong with material progress, of course. And
science has certainly made some amazing advances since my time. The
unfortunate part is that spiritual growth has not advanced at the same
pace. As a consequence, the world is presently in a very unbalanced
state. We are all quite alarmed by it. Something must be done soon to
get people to change their ways -- to be more considerate of one another,
to show more concern -- to have more love in their hearts.
"Our great United States of America must lead the way. We must be a
Light unto the world. Yet presently we are much alarmed over the state
of our nation. Before She can become that Beacon of Light, there are
many things She must put in order. We have the best system of government
in the world, but the government must be purified -- the people must be
purified, and this can only be done by taking the little children and
teaching them strong moral principles, the importance of honesty and
integrity -- of love and compassion -- of fairness and justice -- of the
value of human freedom, of God, and the nature of the universe. To
instill in them a great love for all nature, for all mankind.
The adults must become examples to the children. When someone who is in
a position of public trust -- such as a member of the government -- turns
dishonest, and the public reads about it, they shrug their shoulders and
say, /'Another dishonest politician/.' The children hear and see all of
this. Then they grow up with a very negative outlook towards politics.
Many don't even vote, rationalizing that it doesn't matter who gets into
power, for they will sell what principles they have for money.
"Politicians who do turn dishonest and lie to the American people have
no idea of the damage they do to our beloved country. Needless to say,
most of the people in government posts are dedicated, honest people,
seeking only to serve. But it is the dishonest ones who undo whatever
good the majority are able to achieve.
"Of course, a few are in politics for the power. Not to mention the
lucrative lifetime pensions at the end of their service. They do not
necessarily take money dishonestly, but they weaken the entire structure
just the same, because their motives are selfish ones.
"People from all walks of life; doctors, lawyers, government workers,
factory workers, people who work in stores -- all of these people are the
strength of our society -- of our way of life. But if dishonest; even in
the slightest; they drain this strength off and weaken our nation.
"Many people justify stealing from their employer -- from the government
-- from the insurance company, by thinking, /'Other people do it, why
shouldn't I/?' Or /'If I don't do it, others will,'/ or /'They can
afford it. They won't even miss it/.' But these people are just as
deadly to our society as the hardened criminal who cashes bad checks or
pulls a gun. For they are not really stealing from their company or from
the government or from the insurance company, oh no. They are stealing
from their brother and sister -- from their fellow human beings. Because
business must figure in these losses as part of the cost of doing
business, the price of their products or services must increase
accordingly to all the people who avail themselves of these goods or
services.
"Thefts from government, for example, must eventually mean higher taxes.
So you see, any form of stealing, whether by a hardened criminal with a
gun, or by a clever employee falsifying records, serves only to weaken
the entire economy. Government funding of research for projects that are
of interest only to a few is also a form of stealing, unless, of course,
the results of that research will ultimately benefit the many. Gross
inefficiency, through lack of concern -- all these things are forms of
stealing. The greedy and the selfish who indulge in these activities
serve themselves at the expense of their fellows. What they fail to see
is that their gains are temporary -- they will eventually pay the price.
One cannot take from another, or hurt another in any way, without
eventually taking from oneself -- for all are one."
"Well now, George," said President Lincoln, "I realize that this is all
very interesting and a very important topic. But we must be watching the
time." He turned to Dorothy, smiling. "You must excuse George. He really
gets carried away at times. He would talk all day if we let him."
President Washington placed his hands on his hips, pretending to be
indignant. "Listen to who's talking," he said. He whispered loudly into
Dorothy's ear so everyone else could hear: "He only wants me to stop
talking so he can talk."
"Now, now boys," interceded President Jackson. "No bickering in front of
our guests. Presidents are supposed to be dignified."
President Lincoln turned to Dorothy. "I'm afraid all presidents like to
hear the sound of their own voices. It's a built-in trait of all
politicians and actors."
"Well, I think that's part of the charm of both politicians and actors,"
said Dorothy. "Most seem to have very vibrant speaking voices."
"If you have any more questions," said President Jackson, "we can talk
as we walk to the meeting."
"Well," said Dorothy. "I was wondering which political party is the best
for our country, Republican or Democrat?"
President Jackson chuckled. "Well now, the answer to that would depend
on which president you talk to. But perhaps you'd like to hear what
President Lincoln has to say on that subject. I'm sure he's most anxious
to answer this one."
"Thank you, Andrew," responded President Lincoln. "You're quite right, I
would like to answer this question. Neither the Republican nor the
Democratic party would be good all the time, Dorothy. If one or the
other is in power too long, the country tends to go too far in one
direction. Balance is the key word. By alternating the power every few
years a balance is maintained. That is why in so many other countries
the masses are unhappy. They have had one system of government for too
long. That is why dictatorships are bad, or where the government is so
powerful, so strong, that the people cannot vote for a change.
"You see, there are certain individuals who see themselves as a sort of
God above all the people. They think they know far better what is good
for the people than the people do. So they treat the people like
children. And anyone who opposes them is treated like a naughty child
and punished. In other words, the '/children/' are not allowed to
disagree with them. That is why in many countries there is no free
speech. That is, people have to be very careful what they say, or
someone will tell on them and they will be punished. Even the newspapers
and radio are all controlled by the government. It is hard for us to
imagine -- but it is true. The factories, and the railroads, the
electrical power -- all are under government control. Even the housing.
Needless to say, people are not very well off. That is to say, most of
the people. The ones in power always make sure they feather their own
nests. Yet these governments are generally founded on the principle that
all are equal, and will share in the national wealth. It sounds a little
bit like Oz, doesn't it? But unfortunately, the results are not at all
like Oz. You see, Oz doesn't have any greedy people, or people who
become overwhelmed by their own power, except for the wicked witches, of
course. Also, if someone in Oz decides that he'd like a bigger house, or
more land, he has only to ask. But in the countries we are referring to,
the government sets rules and regulations in all things. A person is not
even free to travel where he wishes. And the people in power are quickly
filled with a sense of their own importance. It is very dangerous for
any nation to allow a small group of their citizens absolute control
over them. People cannot handle having absolute power over others. When
one person can do anything he wants to another person without fear that
he himself will be punished, it is very difficult to keep a balance.
This enormous feeling of power seems to bring out the worst of human
behavior. Some of the worst atrocities mankind has ever suffered
occurred under these exact conditions.
"When people in power know that there will be no repercussions for what
they do, it is very few indeed who can remain dignified and just. It is
under these kinds of conditions that people are thrown in jail without
trial -- executed, have their property confiscated, or their families
abused; et cetera.
"No group can be a law unto themselves. That is why our founding fathers
wrote the Constitution as they did. They knew the dangers of tyranny,
for they had experienced it first-hand. So they built in safeguards.
Free enterprise must flourish. Individual initiative and hard work,
honesty and integrity, must be recognized and rewarded. These are the
strengths of our nation. Individual effort is the key to a nation's
greatness. No laws must ever be passed -- tax or otherwise -- that would
inhibit individual ambition and initiative. And to paraphrase one of our
peers: /Ask not what others can do for you, but rather, what you can do
for others./
"And I might add, although God created all men equal; the right to enjoy
that equality must be earned. One cannot be expected to shirk one's
duties to self, to family, to country and still hold one's head high as
an equal member of society."
As President Lincoln continued to talk, they arrived at what appeared to
be a southern mansion with the traditional white pillars. As she drew
closer, it became apparent to Dorothy that the building was an exact
replica of the White House.
Dorothy noticed that other men were arriving too. It was as if an
American History book had come to life. Their mode of dress ranged from
the 1700s to the present. Many of the faces were quite familiar to her;
others she recognized but could not quite place. Then it dawned on her;
each of these men was, at one time, the President of the United States.
Several smiled and nodded as they walked by. Some stopped to say hello
to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson; others gathered in
little groups to chat, while others went directly inside.
"Shall we go in?" said President Washington.
The interior of the mansion was most luxurious. The furnishings were
mostly antique. Beautiful paintings and tapestries hung on the walls. As
they walked, their feet sunk into deep soft carpeting. Here and there
were little bowls of colorful flowers. The whole atmosphere was warm and
friendly -- it gave Dorothy a most happy feeling inside.
They walked into a large room which had a long, beautifully ornate oak
table in the center. Around the table were matching oak chairs with one
at the far end slightly larger than the rest.
"As you can see," explained President Jackson, "one chair for each
United States President -- past and present."
Dorothy appeared somewhat puzzled, and was about to speak, when
President Jackson continued: "As you know, most of the American
presidents have left their earthly bodies and now live here. However, at
any given point in time there are usually one or more ex-presidents
still in their physical bodies as well as, of course, the existing or
current President. A chair is required for each of these people because,
although they are still on the earth, they are able, while in restitude,
to depart temporarily from their physical abode -- their bodies; and join
us for our meetings.
"Incidentally, time is not the same here as on earth. For example, we
could have a meeting here which lasts for several hours. But only
minutes would have elapsed on earth. Peculiar, isn't it? You will
understand why this is so at a later date.
"Now, the earth presidents will more than likely not consciously
remember their visit here. In fact, it is very difficult for anyone to
recall such visits upon awakening. But these visits are so very
important. A great deal is impressed on the subconscious level of the
mind during these excursions and much is accomplished."
President Jackson sat down and motioned Dorothy and her friends to do
the same. "I think the proceedings are about to begin," he whispered.
Dorothy looked around the table. What a distinguished sight to behold,
she thought. Every single president of the United States of America. And
to think she, little Dorothy from Kansas, was here with them as a guest.
She had noticed earlier that each chair had a beautifully designed
silver nameplate attached with a president's name engraved. Two dates
also appeared. One said "Birth date," the other "Transition date." She
noticed that the transition dates on the chairs belonging to the current
President and ex-presidents still on earth had not yet been engraved.
She wondered if those dates were known in advance by those present who
had already made the transition.
The presidents were seated in sequence, beginning with George
Washington, and ending with the current President. The only chair not in
sequence was President Andrew Jackson's, whose chair was the larger one
at the end of the table.
President Jackson now stood. He spoke with a strong, vibrant voice. "Let
us recite the Pledge." Everyone stood and, holding the right hand over
the heart, began.... /"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."/
"Please be seated," said President Jackson.
On the wall behind President Jackson was a large sculpture of a
beautiful eagle. It appeared to be made of solid gold. In each corner of
the room was a large American flag.
Dorothy thought: "What if Aunt Em could see all this?"