120 Japanese students at annual International Leadership Seminar in Barrytown

David S.C. Kim July 31, 1975 Welcoming Address to the third Annual International Leadership Seminar Barrytown International Training Center, NY

Mr. David S.C. Kim (left) welcomes 120 Japanese university students to the third annual International Leadership Seminar in Barrytown, N. Y. The 21-day seminar was sponsored by the International Cultural Foundation. To the right is Mr. Takeshi Furuta, translating.

It is apparent that since World War II your country of Japan has appeared as one of the Oriental aces of the 20th century, as one of the three greatest industrial giants of the world, and as the envy of the Western world.

You are the future leadership material of Japan, of Asia and the whole world. You are college students or graduates. You are intelligent and have youthful bodies and spirits. You have ideals, dreams and scientific reasoning. You are born as Orientals from a rich cultural heritage. In a sense, I envy you very much.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

However, when you look at the condition of your country and the world, you as contemporary intellectuals must be disgusted… some are at a loss and some are confused, because: There is no clear direction for all mankind or all nations. There is a constant battle raging between the two ideological systems of the democratic and the communist or socialist systems, in your own country and throughout the world. Third World nations have suddenly arisen to positions of power. There is conflict in the development of science and technology, bringing a threat to the human race. There is constant decay in ethics and morality.

There is a constant change of values and conflict between old and new values. There is disruption in the family and the generation gap between parents and children has intensified.

Where do we find the answers? With all these in mind, I imagine you intellectuals might be in deep conflict and distress, trying hard to find solutions even before you consider your future leadership role in your nation and the world.

The Congressional reception in their honor

Therefore, contemporary intellectuals must expect something new. Something different than conventional ideas must come out from the many existing educational disciplines in universities and colleges. A new concept — in science, religion, or philosophy — must appear to lead this troubled world into a world of eternal peace and happiness for all mankind. This also means that a new concept of future leadership for young intellectuals based on the new dimension is absolutely necessary.

What basic characteristics muse this new concept have to meet the needs of future leaders? It must be an international concept going beyond any national boundary. It should be able to embrace different philosophies, religions, and cultures to lead mankind to one united thought or ideal. It muse scientifically explain the existence of God. It should unite all mankind as one world family under God.

Our Unification movement, initiated by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, can satisfy basic contemporary needs for young intellectual leaders both for one nation and all nations as well. As you probably are aware, this movement has had a great influence in Asia, specifically in Japan and Korea. Here in the Western world we have acquired many nicknames, such as Moonites or Moon Children.

What does “Moonism” or the Unification movement teach and practice? Moonism teaches the God in the Bible, who created man and woman in the beginning, and the relationship of Father and son between God and men (Divine Principle). Therefore, our movement has no room for atheistic Communism which is the enemy of God and all mankind (Victory Over Communism). We teach world peace and hope in the midst of prevailing pessimism and we bring “Day of Hope” campaigns all over the world. We teach a new philosophy, called Unification Thought (based on new Christian teachings), which is able to embrace all past and existing systems of thought and philosophies.

Touring Harvard University These elements can provide young world leaders with the ideals necessary to lead a nation or the whole world, in order to build the Kingdom of God on earth. There, no sin, no hatred, no war exists but only joy, happiness, mutual cooperation and give and take — one world family under God.

Even though the Unification movement has been active in America since 1972, the world has now begun to realize and admit publicly that the Unification leadership program meets the needs of young contemporary future leaders. I dare say that you have been reached at the proper time and that you can be

the greatest youth in the world. This is the place where many young leaders are trained in a disciplined way to lead not only their own nations but other nations as well.

Why must you come here to America lo learn something about leadership for your future instead of in Japan or Korea? Your future leadership must transcend your national boundary. America is now the leading nation, one of the two superpowers in the contemporary world, and there is much to be learned from the past in terms of culture, technology, and even the problems. America is the melting pot of all races, cultures, and ideas and has a Christian heritage which your nation of Japan lacks. Even though the essence of these new concepts came from one man who is God’s contemporary prophet, Rev. Moon from the Orient, the concept of leadership must be tested and proven in foreign soil such as America, so that your future leadership could be exercised to its fullest extent.

During your short stay of 21 days, you can observe many things in Barrytown International Training Center, where more than 40 different nationalities are represented, each of them learning something in relation to future leadership. You can test what I say to you while you are here. In conclusion, I have to witness to my great teacher, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, whom I met 21 years ago in 1954 and through whom I found happiness and joy. I dedicated my whole life for the cause of all mankind. I recommend you to study and research this contemporary great master and God’s prophet from the East, Rev. Moon and his teachings. I hope you find the same happiness and joy I have had for 21 years.