The Final Call

Politics, Economics and The Ambassador Of Christ (Part 3)

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Mastering Dialect and Scripture (Pt. 3) 

• Mastering Dialect and Scripture (Part 2) (FCN, 01-09-2012)
• Mastering Dialect and Scripture (Part 1) (FCN, 12-12-2011)

“And Solomon was David’s heir. He said: “O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah.)”
 - Holy Qur’an Surah 27:16

One of the greatest lessons that I ever learned in economic and geopolitical history and about dialect and language, in light of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, was during the so-called ‘Asian Flu’ crisis, when the currencies of several Asian nations—including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea—all lost enormous value within months. To this day economists, scholars and historians debate the cause of the crisis. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammad Mahathir at the time blamed currency speculator George Soros. Dr. Mahathir’s 2003 book The Malaysian Currency Crisis: How and why it Happened, provides his interesting perspective.

The most dramatic chapter in the story, however, was the battle to save Indonesia’s currency, the rupiah—from collapse. On one side were President Suharto and his adviser, currency board expert Dr. Steve Hanke and on the other was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and others. An earlier role played by Paul Wolfowitz, who once was U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia is also important to note.

From a 2000 interview I conducted with Dr. Hanke at BlackElectorate.com:

Cedric Muhammad: Do you think that it was possible that the IMF was the institution on the point for intelligence agencies or whomever wanted Suharto out of power? Because I am pretty sure that it wasn’t just the IMF that would have wanted him out.

Prof. Hanke: Well I think that the IMF was basically the stalking horse for the Clinton administration’s policy vis a vis Indonesia. But it wasn’t only the United States. As far as I am aware, all of the G-7 were on board and the Prime Minister Hashimoto of Japan (at the time) came down when I was there. The Finance Minister of Germany also came down. All of the heavy weights were going to Jakarta (capital of Indonesia). President Clinton even sent former vice-president Mondale to Jakarta as a special envoy during the period of time that I was working with Suharto.

'One of the dangers or barriers that limits the effectiveness of many of our most learned intellectuals and which has poisoned some within the professional class to a degree, is that because our ego can become wrapped around our scholarship and we love the ‘psychic income’ (appreciation, honor, applause, status) our expertise gives us, we too often fail to humble ourselves enough to learn to speak the dialect or language of others.'

At one point during the crisis I was surprised to learn that an economic counselor to an Asian Muslim country was familiar with my writings published in The Final Call newspaper. This was a factor in my eventual meeting with Indonesia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti wherein I discussed with him different avenues—including tying the rupiah to gold—to strengthen the economy. For the first part of the meeting I only used words. But it wasn’t until I pulled out a graph that he became animated and told me that what I showed him is exactly the kind of thing Indonesia’s Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Mohamad ‘Bob’ Hasan would understand and appreciate. Ambassador Dorodjatun then told me of his intention to introduce me to Mr. Bob Hasan for a more in-depth meeting.

A lesson I saw—though very subtle that day—and learned on other occasions is that when one speaks or presents their views and is seeking to persuade another favorably, one cannot only be concerned with what it is they wish to communicate. An equal or even greater amount of time and energy, and concern must be applied to considering what the other person likes, appreciates or responds to. This is very important since while we all learn through the same methods (conversation, observation, reading, experience, intuition/revelation) we are often convinced or persuaded by our different leanings in terms of personality, anatomy and physiology. Some of us like to ‘feel’ more than ‘see’ or ‘hear,’ for instance.

One of the dangers or barriers that limits the effectiveness of many of our most learned intellectuals and which has poisoned some within the professional class to a degree, is that because our ego can become wrapped around our scholarship and we love the ‘psychic income’ (appreciation, honor, applause, status) our expertise gives us, we too often fail to humble ourselves enough to learn to speak the dialect or language of others.

In some cases a disease or poison—vanity, pride, self-righteousness—colors or distorts our view of reality to the point that we care more for what we want to say than whether what we are seeking to communicate is delivered in a manner that is acceptable to the listener, reader or recipient.

I write this as one who has been afflicted with said shortcomings (smile).

Although he can speak the finest English language and converse with and teach the wisest scholars and scientists, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is exemplary in his humility and willingness to place the concerns, manner and learning process of any kind of audience above his own. In that sense he perfectly demonstrates the words of Paul, in Philippians 2:4: “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

It is that spirit and more which enables him to serve as the Ambassador of Christ—and communicate spiritual, political and economic truths better and more broadly than anyone else.

When asked by Brother Jabril Muhammad, “…What are the characteristics of a good ambassador?” Minister Farrakhan responded:

“Every good ambassador is well versed in the policies of his government. If he’s an ambassador for Christ, he must not only know the laws and principles that govern the kingdom of God but he must also have some knowledge of the people and their culture and their ways to whom he’s being sent as an ambassador. Out of respect for their culture and their ways, then he uses the key of his knowledge to raise those people as part of his ambassadorial assignment.”

Only a human being with a humble and sensitive heart like this—and those who follow his example—can be used to reach the entire human family.

Read “A Torchlight For America.”

(Cedric Muhammad is a monetary economist, political strategist and brand manager. He is the author of ‘The Entrepreneurial Secret’ book series [http://www.theesecret.com] and CEO of the Africa PreBrief economic information service [http://www.africaprebrief.com]. Cedric does not provide investment advice but has a referral relationship with SDL Numismatic Properties Inc.—a specialist in rare coin investments. To enjoy a discount, please visit: http://www.usgoldcoins.com or call 1-800-878-2646 and utilize code ‘cmcap’).