Paul's Perambulations a personal blog

We Quakers did not support this unnecessary war and suffered for following the pacifist message of Rabbi Jesus and others. For non-participation, many Quakers had the sources of their livelihood seized from them – horses, cows, furniture, etc. A Quaker Fund for Sufferings Committee shared the costs of these seizures and worked to reimburse those who had loses. I am on that same Committee, 250 years later. Other Quakers had their houses broken into or were arrested by the revolutionaries. I have researched this period and have been representing Quakers at popular reenactments. If you have questions, ask me.

 I spoke of gently inquiring of past lady friends if they had ever had the experience of a man trying to force themselves onto them. I learned that about two-thirds of them had had such an experience — not a man jumping out from behind the bushes at night, but someone they knew. This is unacceptable and wrong, to say the least. So, men, do the right thing (text abbreviated).   I might also note that I was the only male speaker (there was an ‘allies’ category) other than brief introductory remarks, and there were essentially no men present. No pictures of this event – anonymity is held.

The way to stop war is to stop paying for it. It’s as simple (in principle at least) as that. There are practical ways to help make this happen. Attached is our letter to the IRS which makes public that we are redirecting some of our federal IRS taxes away from war and to peaceful purposes instead. See https://nwtrcc.org/ for detailed information. I speak about and promote this publicly – ask me. Picture is at Villanova University.

Lockheed Martin for Martin Luther King Day, once again. The site of the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons contractor. I entered their property to talk with Lockheed Martin employees concerning their deadly work, but partway there I was stopped by Lockheed Martin security. I spoke with them about Lockheed Martin’s supplying technological tools to the Department of Homeland Security (which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement – ICE) and delivered a copy of the United Nations Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons to Lockheed Martin security. When I attempted to go further, I was arrested for trespassing.

On August 6^th Brandywine Peace Community was at Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia for the 80^th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.  I intended to carry copies of Senate Resolution 323 (July 16, 2025) “a global effort to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.” and House Resolution 1888 (March 5, 2025) “to direct the United States to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons . . .”  to give to the workers at this facility but was stopped and arrested before I could deliver them. I gave my copies to their head of security instead.

We were charged with “creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition” (whatever that means) for standing in their driveway. There were about 200 at the demonstration and 25 of us cuffed, charged, and then released. Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons contractor.

This Memorial Day weekend I delivered a two-page message at Villanova that seems particularly relevant now. The message was left at the President’s office, the Augustinian Heritage Room, and St. Rita’s Hall. One side quotes Pope Leo XIV: “Never again war!” (5.11.25) “We must reject the paradigm of war.” (5.12.25) “War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering.” (5.14.25) 

The other side reads: Why did Villanova choose to particularly honor a war-maker as graduation speaker? No offense intended to Admiral Paparo, but couldn’t this University have done better in its Christian mission?

April 11-15 was a busy five days. Friday was a day-long Buddhist gathering at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan. Saturday Fran and I visited with friends we were staying with and celebrated Passover with them. Sunday I gave my Quaker Peace Testimony talk at Morningside Quaker Meeting on the 12th floor of Riverside Church. Monday we hiked all over Central Park, and Tuesday (April 15) at Villanova I demonstrated in support of peaceful use of taxes by carrying a large sign to that effect on campus. Later I went to the Media P.O. with my sign.

Ten of us braved the cold and wind in the Lockheed Martin entrance. I attempted to carry a copy of the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to their nuclear-weapons facility but was stopped and arrested.

Yesterday I met with Veterans for Peace walking from Maine to DC. After a meal and program at Springfield Friends Meeting, some walkers slept overnight at the Meetinghouse. Today I returned to join them in walking from the Meeting to Media, PA. Good work, my friends.