2025 THEMES: JANUARY
JANUARY'S THEME: ACCOUNTABILITY
Katrina, a member of the Baha'i faith and WIN Board Chair, offered the following:
Certain matters are subject to the free will of man, such as acting with justice and fairness, or injustice and iniquity—in other words, the choice of good or evil actions. It is clear and evident that the will of man figures greatly in these actions. But there are certain matters where man is forced and compelled, such as sleep, death, sickness, failing powers, misfortune, and material loss: These are not subject to the will of man and he is not accountable for them, for he is compelled to endure them. But he is free in the choice of good and evil actions, and it is of his own accord that he performs them.
For example, should he so wish, he can pass his days in praise of God, and should he so desire, he can occupy himself with that which is other than Him. He can light the candle of his heart with the flame of the love of God and become a well-wisher of the world, or he can become an enemy of all mankind or set his affections on worldly things; he can choose to be just or iniquitous. All these deeds and actions are under his own control, and he is therefore accountable for them.
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Some Answered Questions
Liz, who is a Druid, shared the following:
[In the aftermath of a Cylon-induced genocidal attack on humanity, Commander William Adama is contemplating assassinating a superior officer who appears to be an immediate threat to himself and the rest of the survivors.]
Commander William Adama: I've asked you here to find out why the Cylons hate us so much.
Sharon Valerii: [Pause] I'm not sure I know how to answer that; I mean, “hate” might not be the right word.
Commander William Adama: I don't want to fence with you; I just want to know why.
Sharon Valerii: It's what you said at the ceremony before the attack, when Galactica was being decommissioned. You gave a speech that sounded like it wasn't the one you prepared. You said that humanity was a flawed creation and that people still kill one another for petty jealousy and greed. You said that humanity never asked itself *why* it deserved to survive. [Beat] Maybe you don't.
[Later]
Commander William Adama [calling the assassin off at the last minute]: I’ve been thinking about what we talked about before. It's not enough to survive; one has to be worthy of surviving.
“Resurrection Ship: Part 2,” Battlestar Galactica (2003)
The Rev. Annemarie Delgado, WIN Executive Director, shared the following thoughts from a Christian perspective:
Accountability is a tool known to foster a sense of commitment, discipline, and responsibility. As a self-improvement tool, individuals embrace accountability to take responsibility for their actions, to reach personal goals, and to work towards their greatest potential. In a group working together toward a common goal, accountability can improve communication, trust, and teamwork. By embracing accountability as a core value, individuals and organizations can cultivate a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, where people take responsibility for their contributions and behavior, and work towards achieving the maximum of possible objectives.
In the Christian tradition, not only am I accountable to my Creator for my thoughts and actions, but I also look to accountability as a way to build up and encourage my siblings in God’s love and grace, and they me. We remind each other of who we are in Christ: children of the Holy, accepted completely, loved wholly, and forgiven. We find motivation for this throughout Scripture. One good example is in the Book of Hebrews:
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
(Hebrews 10:24-25 [NRSVUE])
Kim shared the following quote by Bell Hooks:
Forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?