Father’s Speech On August 1, 1994 At Belvedere International Training Center Tarrytown, New York
TO look at the Flying Phoenix and New Hope, the first boats I started with, it feels as if it was only a few years ago. However, twenty long years have elapsed. I think about twenty years hence. I will be 95 years of age, and I know that these twenty years will pass as if it was a few days or years. Now I feel just how short a lifetime can be.
Gathered here are all age groups, from young to old and middle-aged. If we see this as a representative group, it embraces the whole world. It is usual for people to feel as if we are representatives of the entire world. We also realize that, though our wish is to embrace the whole world, we are geographically limited. The question is then, how can we as individuals transcend the boundary of the individual, that of the family and eventually be true representatives of the world.
A child attending a grammar school wants eventually to go to middle school, high school, college and even higher academic pursuits. It is not always simple to go over each boundary. It does not happen automatically. Each boundary is a challenge and we must work hard before we can advance to the next level.
THE BEGINNING OF THE OCEAN PROVIDENCE
When we first began our oceanic endeavors, the first thing we had to be concerned about was the boat. No matter how strongly we wished to advance in the ocean providence, we had to have a boat. Without a boat, we could not fish. Without money, without economic power, we could not have a boat. Naturally, I have been thinking deeply about how to make a strong, versatile boat in the most economical way. I realized twenty years ago, when I came to America, that today’s method of fishing would become outdated. The future lies with fish farming, not with hunting and gathering the wild fish. I also realized sightseeing has to be combined with sport-fishing. Whatever the endeavor, be it economic, oceanic or whatever, the human resource is most important. Of course, there were no people immediately available then who were well trained in the areas needed to develop this oceanic realm, so the question became how to train a person to regard fishing as his vocation. That was really a challenging task. How to get hold of a person who would be so happy to go to sea when he was a youth, when he was middle-aged and when he was old, so that he could bequeath his work to his sons and coming generations. Since people are land based, most people regard the sea as a part of land-life, looking at their sea-time from the land-perspective. What about those who go far offshore? All they see is nothing but ocean, and stay there for half and year or more at a time. How will they regard the ocean?
I asked young people if there was anyone who wanted to live on the ocean, 24 hours at a time. Many thought about it, but all shook their heads. Everyone feared the ocean. Almost every-one got badly sea-sick. The theory that the bigger the boat the better does not work. A fishing boat is limited in size to between 100 and 120 feet; otherwise it is too cumbersome and not useful for fishing.
How to get young people to develop a different kind of love for the ocean so that they could adapt themselves well to new circumstances and to see the ocean as an extension of the land? The first thing that came to my mind was that I must create a boat that is not sinkable. The first step would be to create such a boat, take it in the ocean or even in a lake, somewhere close to the land, and capsize it so that young people would see it upside down in the water, but still floating, and then right it again.
DEVELOPMENT OF BOAT DESIGN
A small boat is not really the answer because the large fish are far out to sea, so a larger boat is needed for this kind of fishing. The question remained, how to catch a big fish with a smaller boat. So my first undertaking was to visit boat yards and boat sales locations, then I investigated to find out the biggest fish a small boat could catch. The answer was blue fin and marlin. Sometimes marlins get to be about 3,000 pounds; about fifteen times the average man’s weight. A tuna grows to be five, six, even seven times as heavy as a person. It would be more dramatic and exciting to catch tuna with a smaller boat, rather than a larger boat. I could go on and on about all the things considered. The point here is, however, that the start, the beginning is the most important thing. Fishing with rod and reel was an appropriate beginning point. I also thought that the future of catching fish with nets would not be long.
The result of my original thoughts was the purchase of the New Hope, a boat that is versatile enough to use in the river and the ocean. In the beginning I wanted a boat that could do this, plus go to Alaska; not only to survive, but to be successful. I have taken twelve people on the One Hope successfully. While we were at sea with those twelve passengers, someone in a plane flying overhead could not see the boat; just the yellow dots that were the wet-weather gear of all the people on board. The plane circled and came down to warn us of the danger, that there were too many people on board and we should go back. They sent the US Coast Guard to further warn us. To their dismay, they dis-covered this boat was unsinkable.
If one is serious about being a seaman, he would first go to Kodiak and train in the Coast Guard there. Since almost all senior Coast Guard staff go through the Kodiak post before they are assigned throughout the United States, they get to know Reverend Moon’s boat. Whenever they see a Good Go anywhere in the United States, they recognize it as one of Reverend Moon’s.
THE ONE HOPE IS THE ONLY BOAT
You may not yet fully realize the uniqueness of this boat. It is one that you can fish in most efficiently in any weather conditions. Has it ever occurred to you that this is a very special boat? In the beginning, many American and Western members were very doubtful that I had the expertise to build such a boat. They really wondered if we could do it with-out all the years of experience. Mr. Koo Bae Park, president of International Oceanic Enterprises, in Kodiak, Alaska, was doubtful, too. Perhaps, he was most doubtful. He said, “Father this is a good boat, but….” It took him a long time before he found out that this boat is truly a different and good boat. Now he says, “Father, the One Hope boat is a good boat. It is different.”
When you talk about a boat, the only boat to talk about is the One Hope. It is the top boat. It also has the top purpose. The purpose of that boat is number one. Those who have never been on a One Hope boat, please raise your hand. Hm-m-m-m. Mostly women, but some men, too.
I thought, I must create a beautiful boat, because boats are for men and all men are eager to meet a beautiful woman. There-fore, the boat must be beautiful. This was the first prerequisite. Women represent an island, so a boat is feminine. You will find that this is the most beautiful boat you can encounter, whether viewed from above, from the side or from below. There is no unnatural protrusion. Everything is rounded, like an egg; it is shapely. Have you noticed this before that the egg has a beautiful shape and that the One Hope has a beautiful shape? Some of you may not have even seen a One Hope until today. You must make a point of going for a ride on a One Hope boat as soon as possible. Those who have never been on one might as well go to spirit world early! What is the purpose of living without such an experience? I say this in jest, but it is important for all of us to remember the One Hope.
This boat handles heavy seas very well. Moreover, it is mobile, it can be taken by trailer to any place you wish. If you wish to go to sea in Florida, or even on the West Coast. If you have to get there by sea, it will take you a month or more; but you can transport the O11e Hope on a trailer and go by land to your destination. A good boat also has to be able to handle two oncoming waves without a problem. I have since designed 28-foot, 52-foot, 85-foot and 108-foot boats.
The 108-foot vessel is designed to handle Alaskan waters. I was the one to introduce a fiberglass boat to Alaska. Until then, all experts opposed it saying, “No, fiberglass boats in Alaskan waters are not practical.” I knew they were not experts when it came to fiberglass, though they may have spent many years in Alaskan waters themselves. Many said, “Oh, you wait and see. That boat looks nice, but it will not catch fish.” However, we have proven the opposite. We have been catching the most fish with that boat.
It is rare to have all three features in one boat-fast, beautiful and mobile. We have all these in the One Hope. The conventional steel boat has to be hoisted above the water in a dry-dock and the steel checked. The fiberglass boat only needs routine cleaning. Fishermen are laborers, and are often thought of as some of the worst in the laborer class; but the fisherman does not have to be constantly dirty. If you keep a good clean boat, the fishermen can also stay clean and maintain better manners.
FUTURE AND RELATED AREAS OF ENTERPRISE
I put many hours of thought into creating the various boats. Immediately after creating the fishing boats, I thought about transportation vessels. We have to transport the fish and other commodities as well. If you become very efficient at catching fish, the next logical step is to connect with the transportation business. If you extend that even further, oil tankers would be included in this-as big as 300,000, even 500,000 tons. My determination was to be ready and equipped to be able to build any size boat.
I All you need is a blueprint. We already have the personnel who can build the boat. With boat building comes net making. Most of all, the boat is the most important thing. How to create a classic, traditional boat was the key. If others wish to build such a boat, they must study ours. There are so many different items that fishermen need to fish successfully.
Inevitably, we have to go into fish farming, developing techniques and facilities needed there. We have to be involved with the transportation industry, organically tying in with all other industries through transportation. We will not be alone in the shipping industry, however. Shipping has to connect with land transportation as well.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Mr. Michael Runyon spoke earlier about the purpose of my concern with the fishing industry. Our small boat will enable us to go anywhere in the world, including the deep center of Africa, through the channels and rivers to get to the people who are starving and diseased. They are starving because they have nothing to eat, but, looking at the earth as one entity, there is sufficient food. Distribution remains the problem. There are warehouses in America full of agricultural products that could not be sold and are considered surplus. Years’ worth of surplus products are lying in warehouses. You may recall that in the 1980’s I bought around 200 trucks and motor homes to go around the country for service projects. There is surplus food waiting to be distributed to the needy, but most still sits there because people are not prepared to pay the cost of transportation. Now they will not let you take any unless you take at least eighteen tons of food. If you are willing to transport eighteen tons of food and distribute it to the needy, the government will even subsidize you. I envisioned that, at the right time, we must be ready to transport any amount of food around the world for needy people, not only here in America. Now people know what we are up to and they are looking at us intently to see what will be our next activity.
Fishing is very important, but equally important is transportation. We must pay attention to that. After the successful development of the fishing industry, we will get larger boats for international shipping of goods. The world is important, but the single most important country is America. When boats from all over the world return to their port of origin, they often go empty. If, on their way, they stop at a port where we load and unload in minimum time and most effectively use the empty space, then we will be a most efficient shipping company and the world will recognize this. When the government sees the benefits of such a shipping network, they will all support and help the development of such a group.
In such a wealthy country as this, where there is plenty to eat and plenty of opportunity, is there anyone serious enough to trunk of all the other starving human beings in countries around us? When you trunk about it, I have been thinking and focusing so intently for twenty years. When the circumstances are right, we have to be ready and in the position to send and receive tons of food all around the world. People also must know that we are ready to do this.
People usually live by the water-along rivers, the ocean and lakes. Not only can we navigate with our One Hopes in deeper water, but also in shallower water, around three feet deep. While water flows first into small streams, it always flows into a larger river, which in turn goes to the ocean. Because of such inter-relationships of the bodies of water, both large and small, almost everything benefits from the flow of water.
HOBBY INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE
An inescapable pattern of the future will involve fishing and sightseeing. Tourism is effectively a form of transportation itself. With the foundation of our boats, we will be involved in fishing, sightseeing, river transportation and international shipping.
When each country sees this varied use of the boats, they will adapt them to suit their own particular needs. I envision, not just small scale sightseeing or fishing, but large scale, high-level sightseeing and fishing at the international level. Go Tours should study, prepare and be ready to realize this goal. The fishing industry must be very much part of a larger leisure industry. Inevitably, everyone will benefit from our boat. How? We can achieve this by having a good sightseeing plan, including different luxury levels. This is a “hobby industry.” We will go out for leisure and sightseeing; while we are doing that, we can deliver goods.
Inevitably, this boat has to accommodate a family. It will go to a certain village and we will make it available to the people of that village. When we visit that village, we have to know what is their staple food, and what we can offer them. Rice and corn are available almost everywhere. Fish is not always readily available, and not available during all seasons. As the seasons change, the availability of different species change.
ESTABLISH DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
If we develop methods of making fish available and have the technology and ability to transport it, then we can bring fish to any location worldwide. We will also create regional bases and distribute to even the smallest villages. We will connect these activities with all the families of the recipient countries and villages.
Why should we want to connect with the village? The destiny and future of the world depend upon who has the initiative of economic activity. There was a time when the producer was the most important link in the economic chain, but this is not so now. Now the ones who have the raw materials have the essential role. The lower the level of the resources, the higher the price of the resources. Each country is anxious to preserve their resources. Without those resources, the countries cannot produce, no matter how sophisticated their factories are.
Even these days will pass. The key will become the market and who can secure the market. The pattern of retail will greatly change in the future. Already the signs are here. People will not simply go to the retail stores to buy. They will utilize distribution centers providing the cheapest and most available products. Such places will be welcomed by most people.
In Korea we have Il Heung, a fishing company. I assigned a town in Japan to be the sister city to one in Korea. It is being organized so that there will be a terminal every place we are working. We created a branch of Il Heung in each province and five vice-presidents-all of them women.
One species of salmon that is abundantly available here in America is the pink salmon. I want to bring these fish to Korea, even to the remotest locations, so they can distribute the fish there. We developed a very good freezer storage system. By having this in all the bases, we can distribute to even very small markets. To secure the market, we have to have confidence that we can supply the best product for the cheapest price. We can then organize, even at the smallest village level.
Of course, twenty years ago, many thought my ideas Were too far-fetched, and that I was merely a man with a good imagination. That day is passing fast. Even now some may hear this and say I am imaging great things, but this is not imagination at all! By organizing worldwide, in this way, and paying attention to surplus food, we will find ways to distribute it to the needy people.
FISH POWDER IS NUTRITIOUS
If you have nothing else to eat but fish, you can still survive. Fish is very nutritious. The world is really starving for good protein, fish protein; not just the protein from animals. I have now successfully developed fish powder. Fish, with bones re-moved, is ground and dried to a powder. Mr. Park said the purity was 98 percent. The existing standard is forty percent.
How does the Department of Agriculture respond to that? They say this is too good. It cannot be too good, but maybe we can lower the protein levels a bit. This means that if you have a pocket full of this powder, you have enough nutrition to get along for one month.
OUR FUTURE LIFESTYLE IS IN CONSTANT MOTION
Our future lifestyle will involve constant movement-sight-seeing, fishing, being engaged in various local activities. These days will come soon, and when we need easily portable food, this will be a most useful form.
If you go to a place, like Korea, traveling will be no problem because we will have a transportation network. We will create a network of transportation worldwide, so every existing boat will connect with us in some way.
A man must go around the world, see and experience the many different countries. Perhaps the Unification Church members are some of the most well-traveled people in the whole world. They may not travel lavishly, but they travel!
Think about it. You will have in-laws in hundreds of different countries. In one village there may be 100 families with international marriages. It means that village has in-laws in 100 different countries. You can take one of your best friends, not only to his in-laws’ country, but to your in-laws’ country. Fairly soon, you will find people asking you, “Why did you go to that house in that country and not to my house?”
There were representatives of 160 nations at the Youth Federation for World Peace inauguration in Washington, D.C. This time, I encouraged people not to stay in hotels, but to stay in families’ home. Each member wanted these visitors from each country to come to their homes. It was a beautiful sight.
Visiting other countries will be an everyday thing for us, especially because of our international marriages. Therefore, going to help in Africa will not be such a dry task. It can be fun. We can enjoy our life, while substantially helping other countries at the same time.
Think about it. When a needy village in Africa gets donations from a hundred different places in many nations, the village people will be quick to notice that the Unification community is doing what the big countries have said they would do.
People will be so grateful, and God will visit you, with gratitude for your efforts. Are you interested in doing this? Just being interested is not good enough. We have to start acting.
FISHING IS WOMEN’S WORK
Does all this bore you, should I stop? The interesting topic begins here. Your imagination is too small. This is a staggering thing. I have been emphasizing transportation of food from places of abundance to needy places. Now we will talk about staying at home, and feeding ourselves in a great way.
All humankind needs land and water. Where there is water, there is fish. You may say that Alaska is too cold for fish to survive, but that is not true. Fish are everywhere. They are ubiquitous. Migrating birds, stopping to rest and feed, pick up fish eggs and carry them to their next location. Fish get around this way. All it takes is one male and one female for a new stock of fish at this new location. By regulating the temperature and nurturing fish fry, you can “plant” some kinds of fish in any kind of water in any kind of area. You can drop them from a low-flying plane over a lake. The new batch of fish fry will settle into their new home, and then we can fish and farm fish easily.
The day will come when one small pond or lake can feed thousands, even tens of thousands, of families. The skill to fish is important. There will be so many fish to catch. Will fishing be men’s work or women’s work? Women’s work. It has to be. Why?
Because women have wider, heavier bottoms and it is more comfortable for them to sit for a long time, compared to men. Men are not built for that. If a man sits in one spot for three hours, his buttocks ache too much. He has to stand up.
If a woman catches three fish, it is enough to feed three children for one day. Five fish are enough for her husband and herself as well. If you go to a good fishing spot, catching ten fish in an hour is no problem. Not everyone in the village has to go to the river or the lake to fish to support themselves. With only a few people as representatives, they can catch enough fish to go around the whole village. There will be that many fish easily available.
THE BEST WITNESSING TOOL
Those who know nothing about fishing or fishing equipment can learn in one hour, and even learn enough to teach others. All you need is experience with a needle and thread. Now we have good nylon filament lines. If you bend the needle, you can make a hook. Heat the needle over a candle until it is red-hot, then it will bend easily. You can also use a little ingenuity. With a hammer and a hard surface, you can flatten it in places and make a perfect hook!
I spoke of this to world leaders once and later one person came and reported that he had tried this and it became the best witnessing tool! Would you be interested in these things? Tonight when you go home, get one of the strongest, longest needles you can find, heat it with a candle and, with a gloved hand, bend it. Pliers are even better. Make a line. Who cannot do this tonight?
Do you think this is only imaginary or is this very practical? Practical. I can draw a safe conclusion that all women can fish; their hips will cry if they cannot fish, for they will exist in vain. If you doubt it, pray about it.
You WILL NEVER STARVE
Making money from fishing will be no problem. No matter where you are thrown out in the wilderness, you will never starve to death because you have a way to survive. Tigers survive, how can you not survive? Animals survive, so why don’t you hunt animals to survive? The best, easiest hunting of all is fishing. When I go to any strange land or village, within three months, I can settle in.
Those who are from Africa or about to go to Africa, you must remember this seriously. We have land and water; there is always fish. The resources on land are limited. The ocean and fish resources are more abundant, almost limitless. Managed well, they can last forever. Do you think this is a project worthy of my interest? Should we be the first ones to make this impeccable, strong foundation? Is that because I am smart or slow? Double smart! It is not for us to live by, it is to help others live. The more we have and the more activities we are engaged in, the more assets of value we have in the spirit world. Our valuable property in heaven is how much we served Father here on earth. The goods and value we have here on earth lose their value in the spiritual world. It does not matter whether you are rich or poor in that country.
Where there is land, there are animals. When a person is starving, he is entitled to hunt and eat any animal. If a human being starves in the Belvedere area where there are so many deer roaming around, should he be prohibited from hunting or should the deer be available for those who need to eat? Of course, people are entitled to hunt for existence. In tropical zones there are alligators, hippopotamus and all kinds of animals that could provide perfect protein for man. Why starve? We must hunt to survive in those cases. Fishing and hunting are basic skills that we all must have without exception. Why? It is our mission to help starving people, and these are very basic skills needed to accomplish that.
So many people say Reverend Moon is a false religious leader because he loves to hunt, whereas all religions taught never to hunt animals. He cannot be a true religious leader. I have disdain for this attitude. Which kind of person is good, one who is noisy and criticizes others doing something or one who actually does something to save people?
No animal is too precious to save a starving human being, God’s child. Religious ceremonies have traditionally involved an offering. Here I am making everyone a priest who makes the offering to save humankind. This is a holy deed. Do you understand what I am trying to get at?
Would you change your mind now and be earnest in developing your fishing and hunting skills? Hunting and fishing will be part of our activities worldwide. There is a way to save people through fishing and hunting. Is there a third way? Farming.
TEACH OTHERS TO FARM
We must learn to farm. In many of these Third World and developing countries, why were people never taught how to farm? They were kept hungry, so others could control them. This is a sin. This is a crime.
I am running a model farm, experimenting in many ways. When we export that to other countries, we can teach farming and animal farming as well. We are farming deer and pigs, economically. Do you know how to farm? We can all learn the basic skills of fishing, hunting and farming. It does not take long to learn. You will then go to Africa and feed them for about one year utilizing your skills.
Though this is so basic, do you think it is necessary to get these skills? I will bring people from above average income levels, and take them sightseeing-including farming and fish farming locations. Travel agencies will bring them, providing them with tours that will include fish, animal and agriculture farms.
OUR BOATS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND STURDY
I trust that all 160 nations are represented in the gathering here today. You are aware that all those boats-starting from the 108-foot to the 85-foot, 52-foot, 28-foot, 20-foot-are ready to be sold commercially. The smaller ones-the 16-foot, 20-foot and 28-foot- are ready to be sold in quantity; we should sell as many as we can. Depending upon how cheaply we can make them, they will become very popular.
There was a time when people were most proud of their homes. Then people competed with luxury automobiles. Now they are competing who has the most plush boats. This is the time into which we are coming. Our boat has dual characteristics, unlike other boats. We can navigate in both fresh and sea water. Most pleasure boats are only built for fresh water or calm conditions. Our boat can cut beautifully through the bigger ocean waves. They are beautiful and they are sturdy. They are not sinkable and they are good in fresh or sea waters.
The Irvington [New York] Fire Department is so envious of our boats; they truly fell in love with them. I am donating one boat to them. They are so, so, so happy! If someone was going to give you that boat, would you be happy like the Irvington Fire Department? If you are so happy, you have to buy one or more boats! If you do not do that, you cannot say you are so happy.
How TO SAVE THE WORLD
Do you have a real feeling by this time that helping African people is really not a vague thing, but that you know how to very concretely? Do you have confidence now? Of course, you can take time and when you are ready you can do it, but which would you prefer, to shorten this dispensation of salvation and achieve it in the shortest possible time or let it linger on for an-other hundred or thousand years? (Shorten it!)
Do you really mean that? Well then, I am ready to learn from you! Would you teach me how to do that or not? How?
Depending on where you fish, the bait is very different. The only waters I know are the Kodiak waters, Hudson River waters, the Long Island Sound and some New Jersey waters where I catch striped bass, bluefish, flounder and black fish. Each of these requires different bait and different tackle rigging. In different waters in Texas or Florida, you have your own unique fish species and unique bait and rig. You have to teach me. “I had to teach Father how to catch these fish.” How proud you would be if this is what you did! You could really laugh.
Will the Unification community eventually perish or not? (No!) The Unification community will perish or grow and cover the world? (Grow.) Do you want to see all humankind bow down and thank True Parents? Do you want to see this day while you are alive or a hundred years after you die? (In our lifetime.) You want to do this quickly. How should we do it?
Christianity worked so hard for 2,000 years to finally secure a one billion Christian population. Now everyone sees that it is perhaps impossible to save the world through Christianity. Look at the five billion people, only fifteen percent or less are well-to-do people. The rest have a meager existence. This means that if one billion are Christian, four billion still do not understand Christianity. How many more years will it take to expand to a population of five billion?
Of the remaining four billion that are not so well to do, if they hear how Reverend Moon has been working so hard for twenty years to prepare to provide food for them, how would they feel? When they know they will no longer be hungry thanks to Reverend Moon and through you, do you think they will welcome you more or the Lord of the Second Corning who may be coming on the clouds? Who will they be more happy to see, you or the one on the clouds? When these four billion people are helped and can truly start living a secure life, will they become Christian or Unificationist? To whom will they belong? Is this clear? Unification Church forever! It is possible. In a matter of moments there are hundreds of millions of people who could join the Unification Church.
What will happen when the election comes? That is power. God wants that and all people want that. Do you want that foundation, too? Would you like to see this happen? We had no idea how to do this, but I taught you. It is now time for us to teach other people and to do it to help them. Are you going to be inferior to me, or are you going to do better? Better! You are younger.
Now I am angry because all you young people have tried to make use of an almost eighty-year-old grandfather! If you are still trying to make an eighty-year-old grandfather work, you will be punished. Until now, my work has been so focused. Now is the time to go around the world to see how you work, give you some advice, and to prepare for the spirit world. I am not going to do the same as the last twenty years.
Should I declare that the next twenty years is for you or for me again? Yes, you should accomplish this in your own time. Once you decide and dedicate yourselves, will the world be saved or not? Yes!
We have many strong supporting organizations. We have all the scholars ready to give their support in our endeavors. We have religious leaders and political, economic, student and women’s organizations. All can be interwoven to work to participate in these activities. I am the only one remaining in my generation. Everyone else in my generation has dropped out, faded away. The next twenty years is your time. Are you going to tread that way or not? Those who pledge that you will do it, raise both hands. God bless you.