Paul's Perambulations a personal blog

June 6, 2020

George Floyd and police justice

Filed under: General,Peace,Politics — admin @ 3:21 pm

Coming out of quarantine for two actions in Media today. This morning a call for resignation/firing of a prejudiced police officer. This afternoon “We’re Done Dying,” a vigil for the lost. Morning at the Media FOP headquarters, afternoon at the Courthouse. Good attendance at both. Now for follow through to further. We are interviewed toward end of article. 

April 24, 2020

Making war doesn’t stop for a pandemic. Neither do I.

Filed under: Peace,Politics — admin @ 10:53 am

Lockheed Martin, world’s largest weapons contractor, declares that it is open to meet its obligations to its “customers” (i.e. military contracts). Business as usual – how to make a killing, financially and literally.  Our usual Good Friday demonstration was cancelled, but I felt called to be there nonetheless. This action has been an important part of my life for decades, so I arranged to do it safely and solo My sign read “Covid 19: Country is closed, Lockheed Martin is OPEN for war. Close it down.” I had a pleasant officer for police protection (I assured him there would be no CD today), and he wished me “Be Safe and God Bless You” over his patrol car loud speaker when I was leaving.

January 20, 2020

Martin Luther King, Robin Hood, and who’s an outlaw?

Filed under: Peace — admin @ 8:30 pm

Back home just now from Lockheed-Martin, the world’s largest nuclear weapons contractor. My friends and I attempted nonviolently to carry copies of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to the workers at this facility, but were waylaid by security and police. In picture I am reading my current Villanova course text in the police van while waiting for whatever might be next. The course subject is the legend of the outlaw Robin Hood in Medieval Britain. It seemed particularly appropriate reading matter at this time.

January 4, 2020

No War with Iran, no assassinations.

Filed under: Peace,Politics — admin @ 9:21 pm

A major action at City Hall this afternoon followed by a parade around the city. Hundreds of us, mostly young people. We occupied the city  plaza and streets (no permits for this one) – seizure by people power. During the parade I carried one end of the lead banner that read “NO WAR AGAINST IRAN,” The youthful activists did well to organized this event so quickly. Loud and a good ruckus at times, but always nonviolent.

October 15, 2019

“Love your Enemies” comes to West Point Military Academy

Filed under: Education,Love,Peace — admin @ 4:13 pm

 

This weekend I attended the West Point Military Academy conference entitled Ethics of War and Peace. Once again I publicly identified as the sole pacifist in a group of about 75 (mostly cadets). I shared my views with cadets and others, and heard their views. After much reflection and discussion with others, I decided to wear my “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES” shirt tor part of the conference and (more…)

April 19, 2019

Ethics of War and Peace conference; Good Friday arrest at Lockheed Martin; War Tax Resistance

Filed under: Peace — admin @ 9:50 pm

The annual Ethics of War conference was held at Villanova in late March and I participated as usual. “As usual” means that in the Q&A of plenary sessions, I gave my unique (for the conference) pacifist position on the topic. I made a point of speaking with the West Point cadets who attended and  (more…)

February 1, 2019

Freedom School at Villanova

Filed under: Education,Peace — admin @ 7:55 pm

I was back in the classroom again as part of Villanova’s annual Freedom School. We (including three ROTC students) read and discussed how (quoting from my class description) “King’s ‘Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence’ – as Relevant Today as Ever’  challenges us through his linkage of “the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.” Delivered exactly one year before his death, this speech is as timely today as it was then. As we consider what he said at Riverside, it may help us understand why at the time of his assassination King was the most hated man in America. Have we white-washed the real King in our public praise of him?” I offer a class annually, sometimes on this topic and sometimes on King and civil disobedience.

 

May 19, 2018

Demand the Ban (on sale of assault weapons)

Filed under: Peace,Politics — admin @ 10:22 am

Fran and I participated (and were arrested) in the May 16 Demand the Ban (on the sale of assault weapons) nonviolent direct action outside Senator Toomey’s office in Philla. First an assault weapon was melted and re-forged into a garden tool, which we carried (more…)

January 15, 2018

MLK holy obedience at world’s largest war profiteer

Filed under: Peace,Religion — admin @ 8:53 am

Martin Luther King 2018  action at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest nuclear weapons contractor and war profiteer. Chilly, but a warm spirit in the group. I do this in a spirit of faithfulness to peacemaking and modeling a civil disobedience that may become increasingly called upon should our world become increasingly chaotic.

 

October 29, 2017

West Point Ethics of War and Peace conference

Filed under: Education,Peace,Politics — admin @ 5:55 pm

Plenary session

This weekend I attended a three-day conference entitled Ethics of War and Peace, held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I’m feeling both exhausted and energized/empowered to have once again been the sole pacifist at this annual conference co-sponsored by Villanova University. (more…)

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