Caught On Tape: Young Unificationist Shocking Response to Racism (ABC News)

Immanuel Rinkema, a young 19-year-old Unificationist was recently shown on ABC’s television show, “What Would You Do,” this past Friday, March 25 at 9p.m. This primetime news show is famous for setting up elaborate realistic scenarios with actors testing real controversial subjects to see what ordinary people would do when pushed to act, or if they act at all. This week Mr. Rinkema was one of these ordinary people.

Mr. Rinkema speaking with mother about racism on the hidden camera
tv show "What Would You Do?" on ABC.

Young Unificationist in ABC News

The purpose of one scene in the show was to see what customers would do if they saw a caretaker refusing to buy a black doll for a white girl who insisted that she wanted the black doll. Soon, other customers became involved with this explicit act of racism.

Mr. Rinkema was the last customer recorded by hidden cameras while speaking with the customers at the toy store in New York City. He is first introduced on the show as a “remarkable young man, who surprises all of us with his wisdom and maturity.”

While not knowing that he was on camera, Mr. Rinkema was filmed talking about the importance of acknowledging someone for his or her internal self, instead of his or her race and outer appearance. “All I have to say is that we are all God’s children, and the value comes from the inside, not the outside,” Rinkema says to the caretaker.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Rinkema himself is half-Japanese and half-Dutch and has grown up in a church community in which mixed race is common and welcomed. He also tells the customer that, “As a Sunday School teacher, I have a lot of different races in my class. It kind of hurts me to hear you say that about African-American children.”

Immanuel Rinkema speaking with host John Quinones.

Young Hero amaze Host and Actress

He is soon surprised by the host, John Quinones, who appears with cameras and tells Mr. Rinkema that the caretaker and child are actresses who had tested his response to the scene. Mr. Rinkema is then shown crying, as a narrator explains that he had been holding back his emotions for the sake of the child.

Both the show host and actress watch in awe as Mr. Rinkema gives his views: “We create the boundaries between the nations. We create the boundaries between people. We create, ‘Oh, she’s white.’ Everyone is our brother and sister, I feel. We are one big family, and we need to learn to love people like that.”

The clip finishes with Mr. Quinones’ observation: “The wisdom of this young hero shows us just how far we’ve come as a society."

Where did He learn this from?

Mr. Rinkema has shared with familyfed.org that although it was not aired on the show on Friday, after he spoke, the show host said to him "Wow, I'm impressed, a 19-year-old boy with this kind of outlook. Where do you get it from?"

Mr. Rinkema says that he responded:" I grew up in the Unification Church, and I learned this standard of taking care of people from my parents and their love for the True Parents. They teach us how to take care of each other and this standard of love like a real parent would. I had a picture of my parents and True Parents with me, so I showed it to the show host. They (True Parents) gave me the understanding of who I am as God's child, and that is where I get my value from.” 

(Note: Unificationist refer to their founder Rev Moon and Mrs. Moon as 'True Parents'.)

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Rev Moon: Role in Ending Communism

Rev Moon: Most Successful Religious Leader

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Rev Moon: Role In Ending Communism

His Strategy: Love the communist people and educate them about how Marxism/Leninism was fatally flawed; offer them a counterproposal based on Godism, and help them achieve their ideal. 

WHY COMMUNISM ENDED

When historians make a final analysis of why communism came to an end, they will recognize that no single person did more than Reverend Sun Myung Moon to bring about the peaceful end of communism. Reverend Moon's works covered a spectrum of major activities in education, culture, conferences, rallies and the media. The programs were worldwide including Korea, Japan, the United States and Latin America. 

From the beginning of his public mission Reverend Moon called communism “one of God’s three great headaches.” Therefore, in the 1950s, in circumstances of  extreme poverty in a war-torn nation, he began tireless, intensive work to personally solve this major headache of God.

Reverend Moon predicted the downfall of communism, publically saying that it could not prosper beyond its 70th year. And indeed, by its 70th year in 1987, it was it was fast disintegrating, although few in the West were aware of that. 

I think every city square in America should have a statue of Sun Myung Moon for his having created The Washington Times. – Ralph Smead (Political Activist. Boise, Idah)

The Washington Times' International Impact

That The Washington Times would be able to play such a pronounced role in the Cold War was intuited by some affected parties from the newspaper's inception. In 1982 neither the Soviet nor the Chinese governments allowed the Times to open news bureaus in their capitals. The American radical left newsletter Overthrow in its June/July 1982 issue called for sabotage of The Washington Times , and the Times was subjected to frontal attacks in pro-communist publications such as Covert Action and CounterSpy. On the other hand, it was reported that Ronald Reagan made it a daily practice to make The Washington Times the first paper that he read every morning. The Washington Times was directly credited with certain of President Reagan's responses to critical issues, including the 1985 forced landing and apprehension of the Palestinian terrorists responsible for the hijacking of the luxury ocean-liner Achille Lauro and for the cold-blooded murder of American businessman Leon Klinghoffer.

The Washington Times influenced reporting practices and news coverage worldwide, even in communist and frontline countries. In 1988 Nobel peace laureate Oscar Sanchez Arias, then president of Costa Rica, a nation with a border on Sandinista-controlled Nicaragua, told the American Society of Newspaper Editors that Costa Rican newspapers depended on The Washington Times for news of their world. He went on to say that the only American newspaper Costa Rican citizens know exists is The Washington Times, and that if Costa Rican newspapers published something from the U.S. it was from the Times. In 1990, future Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro Barrios, owner of Nicaraguan independent newspaper La Prensa, the only daily newspaper which dared to defy Nicaragua's Sandinista government, confided to The New York Times' editorial board that the Sandinistas themselves regarded The Washington Times as "the newspaper of the Nicaraguan opposition." Washington Times Editor-in-Chief Arnaud de Borchgrave informed American Leadership Conference attendees in 1988 that by that time, The Washington Times served as the source for more than half of all the news stories broadcasted into the Soviet Union and its satellites via Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.

The Role of Rev. Sun Myung Moon in Downfall of Communism

Washington Times and Moon, Sun Myung Moon and the conservative Washington Times

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Stop Japan Abductions: Help Quake Relief

Human-Rights Activist To Help Quake Relief in Japan

Mr. Luke Higuchi, president of Survivor's Against Forced Exit (SAFE), a group dedicated to stopping religious kidnapping and forced conversion in Japan, is scheduled to spend several weeks in Japan to assist relief efforts and to gather facts about the status of Japanese victims of religious persecution.

A U.S. citizen and a resident of Leonia, New Jersey, Mr. Higuchi will serve as a liaison and translator for nonprofit relief organizations that will send food and medicine to the hardest hit areas on Japan's eastern coast. Mr. Higuchi is also a Unificationist active in the Northern New Jersey branch of the Unification Church.

"I am going back to my native Japan to rebuild the country – but not only with bricks and mortar but with a better human-rights foundation," Mr. Higuchi says, adding: "Although I still have a passion to help victims of religious persecution, the fact is that now is the time to help the whole nation of Japan, regardless of partisan or religious differences. We will help anyone, including those who have gone out of their way to deny the religious freedom of members of new religious movements."

Mr. Higuchi has spent the last year speaking at rallies and on public-affairs TV programs about the problem of kidnapping and false imprisonment suffered by more than 4,300 Japanese citizens who are members of the Unification Church. (Mr. Higuchi's talk at a press conference in Bowie, MD on March 15, 2011 was cancelled in deference to the crisis in Japan.)

Sometimes referred to as "deprogramming," the practice of holding people against their will for days, weeks, or months and until they agree to recant their beliefs was the fate of hundreds of American citizens 35 years ago, but such practices ended after successful prosecutions of the so-called deprogrammers. However, in Japan, the phenomenon continues and has drawn investigations by two working groups within the UN Human Rights Council. Professional faith-breakers in Japan reportedly are paid $50,000 to $100,000 to forcibly de-convert members of minority religions, who sometimes endure physical and psychological abuse for weeks at a time.

Mr. Higuchi has said that he will relay some reports of his fact-finding mission which could be published on the Familyfed.org website while he is in Tokyo.


The Case of Mr. Goto
Toru Goto was born in Yamagata, Japan on November 2, 1963. During his college days in Nihon University, his older brother invited him to learn the Divine Principle which later led him to join the Unification Church. After graduating in 1987 with a degree in architecture, he started working in a construction company. His first kidnapping occured in October of 1987, which he successfully escaped by pretending to surrender his faith after a month of confinement. He was kidnapped again on September 11, 1995, and the confinement continued for 12 years and 5 months until he was released on February 10, 2008. On October 2008, together with other victims and determined people, he founded a civil group called “Association to Eliminate Religious Kidnapping and Forced Conversion”. He presently serves as the vice-representative of the group.

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Rev Moon Donate $1.7 Million to Japan

Stop Japan Abductions Organization
International Coalition for Religious Freedom

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Rev Moon donate $1.7 Million to Japan

Rev. Moon: "I hope people of Japan will find courage to rise again"

The following article was published in Segye Times, a nationally distributed newspaper in Korea on March 21, 2011. Translated by Tongil Foundation

The donation of $1.7 million by Rev. Sun Myung Moon on March 20 for relief of Japanese earthquake victims reflected Rev. Moon’s deep love for Japan.  

“Rev. Moon is heartbroken that Japanese citizens are going through tremendous suffering as a result of the recent earthquake,” said Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, the international president of the Unification Church who visited the Japan Red Cross office this day to convey the donation on behalf of the 91-year-old Rev. Sun Myung Moon.” 

“We are making this contribution today following the instruction of Rev. Sun Myung Moon so to comfort the people of Japan, particularly the earthquake victims, and to encourage the victims,” Rev. Hyung Jin Moon said. 

Unification Church International President Rev. Hyung Jin Moon (4th from left) presents a donation of $1.7 million from Rev. Sun Myung Moon for earthquake and tsunami relief to an official of the Japan Red Cross Society in Tokyo on March 20, 2011. Rev. Yeon Ah Lee (3rd from left), wife of Rev. Hyung Jin moon, was also present. 

Rev Moon was tortured by Japan before, but still loves

Rev. Sun Myung Moon lived in Japan as a student during the period when Japan occupied Korea as its colony. Rev. Moon was tortured severely by Japanese police following an arrest on suspicion of participating in the Korean independence movement. 

Earlier, on March 19, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon visited an area in Aomori Prefecture that had suffered damage from the earthquake and tsunami and met with victims and their families. 

On March 20, prior to visiting the Red Cross, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon visited the Headquarters of the Japan Unification Church to offer prayers for Japan’s quick recovery from the earthquake damage. He also pledged to provide support to victims. 

Meanwhile, at the Unification Church World Headquarters Church (Cheon Bok Gung) in Yongsan, members are praying at 5 a.m., 12 moon and 7:30 pm for the victims of the Japan earthquake and for Japan’s quick recovery. 

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Malaysia to let go 35,000 seized Bibles

There is much to solve in Malaysia pertaining to the government, Islam, and religious minorities. This decision and action on the part of the Malaysian government recently, must be acknowledged and praised. 

By SEAN YOONG of the Associated Press reports the following:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's government agreed Tuesday to release some 35,000 imported Bibles seized by customs officials amid a dispute over their use of the word "Allah" as a translation for God.

The decision was a major step by the Muslim-dominated government to soothe frustrations among religious minorities. Last week, Malaysia's main Christian grouping said it was fed up and disillusioned with authorities' refusal to allow the distribution of the Malay-language Bibles.

The Prime Minister's Department said in a statement that the government was releasing the books, which have been held for months at two ports, because it was "committed to resolve amicably any interfaith issues."

But the statement also assured Muslims that the announcement would not jeopardize their interests in an ongoing court case on whether non-Muslims have the constitutional right to use "Allah."

Authorities have long placed restrictions on the distribution of Malay-language Bibles, mainly imported from Indonesia. Such Bibles must be stamped with the words "For Christians Only," which is generally meant to prevent anyone from trying to convert Muslims, who comprise nearly 60 percent of Malaysia's 28 million people.

Authorities say they fear that Malay-language Christian texts using the word "Allah" for God will confuse Muslims.

The Rev. Hermen Shastri, an official with the Council of Churches of Malaysia, welcomed the government's decision but stressed that Christians should be guaranteed the right to obtain the Bible in any language.

A court ruled in December 2009 that Malaysia's religious minorities - mostly Christians, Buddhists and Hindus - have the right to use "Allah." The government has appealed the verdict, but no hearings have been scheduled.

The dispute caused a brief surge in tensions in January 2010, when 11 churches were attacked by firebombs amid anger among some Muslims over the court ruling.

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21,000 Bows for The Temple For World Peace and Unity

21,000 Bows - A Passion To Save Mankind 

A man wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) offered three thousand bows a day for a whole week. If you are wondering what might drive a Buddhist to do such a thing, you are only half-right. He is, in fact, interested in Buddhism but not a Buddhist himself.

The man in question is none other than the world president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unificationism) Rev. Hyung Jin Moon. Rev. Hyung Jin Moon is the youngest son of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who is the founder of Unificationism.

The Buddhist community, which has recently been at odds with Christians and the government due to religious prejudice, now seeks to resolve conflicts through academic seminars, debates and forums. Given the current religious climate in Korea, the fact that the president of the Unification Church, who believes in the Christian God, offered a set of bows came as a surprise. As the feeling of pleasant surprise evolved into an epiphany that he could aid in seeking a solution to religious conflict, we visited Rev. Hyung Jin Moon in the church he pastors, the Unification Church World Headquarters Church in Cheong-Pa Dong on Aug. 12th.

Despite the fact that he had finished the 21,000-bow devotion only a few days ago, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon looked to be in good health.

Offering 21,000 bows for Peace
I asked him about his motivation for offering bows. His answer was simpler than I expected.

He said, “In the Unification Church, we bow to God as a sign of respect. There is nothing wrong about bowing to your own parents out of respect. It is customary for our church members to offer a predetermined number of bows.” He added, “The reason I offered a set of 21,000 bows was so that the holy temple of our church could be established smoothly. In the Unification Church, the number 21 symbolizes the period which is needed for human beings to achieve perfection.”

The Holy Peace Temple 

A place where all people can come together beyond race, religion, and culture in harmony and receive Heavenly Blessing is on Earth, the Fatherland of Korea. On October 12th 2008, Reverend Sun Myung Moon has initiated the historical task in building this temple. Cheon Bok Gung, the temple for world peace and unity. Today, it has been completed.

“Peace will never come to this earth unless we first tear down the walls between religions I have called on people until my voice is hoarse to transcend their religious factions and even their religions. They have fallen into a selfish thought process that puts their religion or faction first. They are oblivious to the fact that the world has changed and a new era of selflessness has dawned” says Sun Myung Moon.

A very unique thing in this building is it's prayer room, where there's paintings of the four great saints, statues of religious and also all centering upon the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. All kinds of religious people are welcomed to pray in this room to their own respective religions and bow to True Parents. This is truly the actualization of inter-religious harmony. Rev Moon is truly the Messiah who brings unity among religions.

The Four Great Saints in the prayer room.

Mother Mary & Amitabha in the prayer room.

There has never been a place like this before, where all religions may come together, be represented and connected to a common purpose. We believe that God message is true love through universal shared values, and that the Temple for World Peace & Unity will be an ideal stage to bring this message to the world.

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Rev Moon unites Christians, Muslims and Jews

MEPI: Reconciling the Family of Abraham

Sun Myung Moon Unites Abrahamic Faiths 

From the early days of his ministry, Rev. Sun Myung Moon recognized the importance of and invested in interreligious dialogue and cooperation for future world of peace. In fact, he spent more money on interreligious activities than on his own faith community. Reverend Moon knew that interreligious understanding and cooperation would be the most effective means to bring about a world of peace in the future.

In His Own Words:

“How about God’s headache – the division and disunity within Christianity and between the world religions? For God, religious people are the conscience of the world. Religious people have the tradition, values and practical power to overcome evil and educate the world about the true way of life. From the earliest day of the Unification Movement I devoted the greatest portion of our resources to serving other religions. In the 1950s, when many Unification families did not have enough to eat, I devoted funds to the cause of interreligious harmony. I suffered for their hardships and begged for their patience for the sake of mankind’s future.” – Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Abrahamic Religions embraces each other.

Old City of Jerusalem Prophesy

Bishop Pugh testified that it was there in the Old City of Jerusalem that he saw the prophesy of Reverend Moon that he heard him speak almost 20 years ago that one day Muslims, Christians and Jews would worship together. He didn’t believe when he heard it. But when he saw the Christians, Muslims and Jews at the Western Wall and the heads of Islam praising Reverend Moon at Al Aqsa Mosque, deep inside the Holy Spirit touched him and he knew who Reverend Moon was.

Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI)

Founded in 2003, the MEPI is based on Reverend Moon’s vision that problems of the Middle East will ultimately be solved by religious leaders – the leaders of Christianity, Judaism and Islam working together, rathen than political leadership alone. To bring reconciliation between the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, MEPI organizes pilgrimages, dialogues and peace rallies in the Holy Land. 

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