Wen' De ya Ho... Osiyo As Chairman of the Interfaith Partners of South Carolina, I am here representing over 11 major faith traditions in South Carolina including Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Baha'i, Unitarian Universalist, Native American Spirituality, New Thought, and others. I am here also representing the indigenous Native American people of this Palmetto State, the First South Carolinans.
We are all people who value science and recognize how science serves. We come from all races, all religions and faith based communities, all gender identities, all sexual orientations, all abilities, all socioeconomic backgrounds, all political perspectives, and all nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
We are all interconnected, part of the same Human Family, one within the fabric of life. Mother Earth is our source of life, not just a resource to be used and exploited. We must protect our environment! We must help unite this global diverse society, to save our human family, and instill respect among all peoples.
We are here to make it clear that facts and breakthroughs discovered by scientific means actually matter and should be used to shape public polities and that public investments in scientific research are worthwhile and can benefit all of society. For the sake of our common home, Mother Earth, and for the future generations... seven generations in the future.
Science research and exploration has led to many scientific discoveries about the nature of our universe and its divine design. Scientists have gone on to create technologies that are used in aerospace, consumer goods and electronics, biology, physics. The same is true about research into vaccines and other medications that have benefited everyone, all of the human family, all of humankind. We must stand up for their work and defend it. We must defend the vital role science plays in our health, safety, economies, natural resources, and governments.
In a prayerful way, I come to you today, because it is necessary to acknowledge our interconnectedness, and the interconnected nature of all of creation, in the spirit of common but differentiated responsibility, we accept our duty to one another and to the stewardship of our planet blessed with the gift of life. Our universe, our celestial home.
Oh, Great Spirit, Great Mystery, Divine Creator, call by many different names, Yo he wa, Wakonda, Wanka Tanka, Aasha Monetoo, Gitche Manitou Jissa, whose voice I hear in the wind, whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me; we need your strength and wisdom, today and in our future. Held all of us to learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Make our hands respect the things you have made and our ears sharp to hear your voice make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught our human family, our people.
Today we have gathered here at the Capital of the Great state of South Carolina and see the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds, hearts, and bodies together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People, all part of the Human Family. Celebrating Science.
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers, Scientists, Researchers, Professors of Science who have come to help throughout the ages, all those that perform research towards a more comprehensive understanding of our natural surroundings, including physical, mathematical, and social realms. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind of us the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers and Scientists.
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator, the Great Spirit, the Divine mystery.
We pray for evidence based policymaking. It is about protecting both the human environment and the natural environment. We pray that we may become good stewards of all of creation.
Oh divine creator, inspire scientists to use their gifts well in studying the wonders of creation, thus bettering the lot of the human race and rendering greater glory our divine creator.
We know that you as our Creator have chosen to reveal to Humankind, partly through the study of the biological and physical sciences, limited insight into the processes and the world you have created.
We ask that you direct our research to reveal information that may be used to glorify you as our Creator. We specifically pray that this information will influence those trained in the sciences and scientific method.
Let us greet the world in Thanksgiving as if we were sharing one mind, one heart, and one body. Today we have gathered and come from many different places. We have arrived safely at this place to share with each other our gifts from the Creator.
So we bring our minds together as one in Thanksgiving and Greetings to one another. We now turn out thoughts to Earth Mother. She continues to care for us and has not forgotten her instructions from the beginning of time. Now we bring our minds together in Thanksgiving for the Earth.
We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of diseases. We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squash, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases. We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun was gone.
Most of all our Divine Creator, Great Spirit, Yo He Wah, O Ge Do Da Ga La La de hey he, may our efforts today be blessed, all our proceedings and all those participating
EY Men Na (e me nv)
Dr. Will Moreau Goins is the Chairman of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina and Chief of the Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina. He is a folklorist, cultural presenter, storyteller, chanter-singer, dancer, artist, educator, and arts administrator. He holds bachelor's degrees in Communications and Anthropology and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.
