Many ways its quite schizophrenic is it not?
Schizophrenic is the word, Rothaus. SGI as an organization is like those Christians -- politicians, priests, ministers -- who insist that they are for "family values," chastity before marriage, fidelity after, marriage is a man and a woman and a sacred commitment -- while, all the while, having their girls, or their boys, on the side.
Honestly, if SGI SAYS it does something -- the odds are good that it's doing the opposite.
--------------------SGI Charter from SGI-USA Website---------------------------------
Purposes and Principles
1. SGI shall contribute to peace, culture and education for the happiness and welfare of all humanity based on the Buddhist respect for the sanctity of life.
2. SGI, based on the ideal of world citizenship, shall safeguard fundamental human rights and not discriminate against any individual on any grounds.
3. SGI shall respect and protect the freedom of religion and religious expression.
4. SGI shall promote an understanding of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism through grass-roots exchange, thereby contributing to individual happiness.
5. SGI shall, through its constituent organizations, encourage its members to contribute toward the prosperity of their respective societies as good citizens.
6. SGI shall respect the independence and autonomy of its constituent organizations in accordance with the conditions prevailing in each country.
7. SGI shall, based on the Buddhist spirit of tolerance, respect other religions, engage in dialogue and work together with them toward the resolution of fundamental issues concerning humanity.
8. SGI shall respect cultural diversity and promote cultural exchange, thereby creating an international society of mutual understanding and harmony.
9. SGI shall promote, based on the Buddhist ideal of symbiosis, the protection of nature and environment.
10. SGI shall contribute to the promotion of education, in pursuit of truth as well as the development of scholarship, to enable all people to cultivate their individual character and enjoy fulfilling and happy lives.
#1: Respect for sanctity of life: Well, Linda Johnson, a high-ranking SGI leader prosecutes death penalty cases in California. President Ikeda compares himself to Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. However, both Gandhi and King spoke out many times against the death penalty...Ikeda has said nothing about this, despite Japan's frequent use of the death penalty. Japan even executes mentally ill prisoners who may not fully understand the nature of the crime that they are accused of. Not a peep from Ikeda about this practice. (www.amnestyinternational.org)
The SGI-backed Komeito Party of Japan also voted in favor of sending aid to the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan. As SGI owns a varied stock portfolio, it must also own stock in companies that manufacture weapons.
And if SGI so values the peaceful resolution of differences, and respect for human life -- why did the late President Toda allow Ikeda and several other members of Young Men's Division, to beat up and taunt the Reverend Jisei Ogasawara, an elderly Nichiren Shoshu priest? (From Fire In The Lotus, Daniel B. Montgomery.)
#2 SGI will not discriminate against any individual, on any grounds? SGI will value fundamental human rights? There are many qualified Americans who could lead SGI USA, yet Ikeda keeps choosing Japanese men to lead SGI-USA. This also happens on regional and local levels -- why are Japanese put into leadership positions when there are qualified Americans who have worked hard in a particular area and understand that area better than some stranger coming in?
Isn't freedom of speech a fundamental human right? SGI has expelled or driven out members who have asked members to have greater say in how SGI is run. If you doubt this, go to www.nichirenscoffeehouse.com and do a search for the Internal Reassessment Group (IRG) or www.fraughtwithperil.com, "A Byrd's Eye View" blog. Byrd was told, essentially, that she couldn't write about SGI on her blog unless she submitted her work to a senior leader before she posted it!
Lisa Jones, a former employee of SGI, was also threatened with legal action, when SGI leaders decided that they didn't like what she wrote on her website about SGI.
#3 and #7: SGI will respect freedom of religion, and other religions? Then why are there so many cases of SGI members harassing Nichiren Shoshu members -- why the whole "war" with the temple?
#4: SGI will promote "grassroots exchange" regarding the Daishonin's Buddhism? Nonsense, there is no real "dialogue" at SGI meetings -- if you have a different opinion, you will be shunned and criticized. And Nichiren's teachings is clearly not SGI's focus -- it's all mentor/disciple, Ikeda, Ikeda, Ikeda, culture festivals, Soka Spirit...everything but Buddhism!
#6: SGI will respect the autonomy of its constituent organizations? Yet Ikeda could just fire George Williams as General Director of SGI with no explanation to the American members -- and appoint his own men, Fred Zaitsu and later Danny Nagashima -- again with no consultation with or explanation to the American members? SGI-USA has NO autonomy. Never has, never will. It dances to Japan's tune. While I was a member, Tokyo told us what to study and when to study it, what meetings to hold -- and when to hold them. February was always a Women's Division Meeting, regardless of what SGI members in Fresno, or Baton Rouge, or Cincinnati might have wanted to do. Tokyo said so!
#10: Pursuit of Truth? Why doesn't SGI practice financial disclosure? Why don't SGI members know how much real estate SGI owns, or who exactly owns the community center? Why were SGI members told in the 1970's and 80's to respect and follow the Nichiren Shoshu priests -- and then told in the nineties that the priests had always been evil and corrupt and what's more the SGI senior leadership had always known it?
Also #10: Enable members to cultivate their individual characters and happiness? No, members are encouraged to devote most of their free time to SGI activities at the expense of schooling, work, social life, rest and family life, and told that they are making bad causes if they don't...that they will have bad fortune and never be able to improve it unless they devote ever-increasing amounts of time to SGI.
In short -- SGI is a master at saying beautiful, idealistic words -- and turning around and doing the exact opposite.
Posted by markrogow at January 29, 2010 07:14 PMYou have proved your points Clown. Good job! Giant Laughing Smiley Face [use your imagination].
Posted by: Mark Rogow at January 30, 2010 02:31 AMI won't bother arguing with all your other ascertions none of which are accurate because it would be too stupid a waste for me to even try and point out that it's all just you and your imagination.
Posted by: clown hidden at January 30, 2010 01:03 AMRespect the sanctity of life means no death penalty?
More than 130 years ago, the eminent philosopher John Stuart Mill spoke eloquently on this issue before the English Parliament: "Does fining a criminal show want of respect for property or imprisoning him, for personal freedom? Just as unreasonable is it to think that to take the life of a man who has taken that of another is to show want of regard for human life. We show, on the contrary, most emphatically our regard for it, by the adoption of a rule that he who violates that right in another forfeits it for himself."
http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/affirmation.htm
Why do people get angry at Mark? Is that really a question in your mind? I would think every one can see what is self evident.
Posted by: clown hidden at January 30, 2010 12:03 AMThe SGI Charter goes to prove once again that the master decievers of History all know this truth: the bigger the lie and more often its repeated, the more people believe it, just ask Hitler, Stalin or Ikeda. History always repeats itself, but never the same exact way twice.
Posted by: James at January 29, 2010 11:03 PMand why do so many sgi people get so angry as to use the language and personal attacks on mark that seem to be so far from what is stated in this charter?
gassho
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