Spoke again directly with my U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon today (and also four months ago – see below) in a noon zoom appointment arranged by Friends Committee on National Legislation. There were ten of us, and focus was on Build Back Better bill (HR 5376) now in Congress, (more…)
November 18, 2021
November 6, 2020
Surviving and thriving in Covid times
Covid put a hold on some usual Fall activities (Peace Center, West Point, Drone Warfare). Attended an Immigration Rights rally last month and a Nov 5 rally to Count all the Votes. Picture of Immigration Rights marchers shows them in front of Minsell House, home of Media Historical Society. Fran is concluding her presidency of that organization at the end of the year. Simply keeping sane and healthy can be an accomplishment in these times. I have three sets of hiking friends that I see weekly, plus hiking and other activities with Fran. Missing some of the usual Villanova and Quaker activities. — ZOOM helps, but is not the same.
August 30, 2020
Three August Actions.
On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima, I was at Lockheed-Martin, world’s largest nuclear contractor. On August 26th Fran and I were at a Mama Bear’s Marina East pipeline action at Hickory Park in Chester Springs. Explosive gasses under high pressure will pass through residential areas and alongside public schools and senior facilities. My role was police/security liaison, monitoring the yellow team of Mama Bears (including Fran). They trespassed onto the work site and left only when threatened with immediate arrest. The security person I engaged acted aggressively, like someone right out of Blackwater training – not a good sign. Two days later Mama Bears arrived at an Exton drill site, where we held a legal demonstration while some of us carried a banner onto their construction easement.
October 15, 2019
“Love your Enemies” comes to West Point Military Academy
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…)
February 1, 2019
Freedom School at Villanova
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.
October 29, 2017
West Point Ethics of War and Peace conference
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…)
April 17, 2017
War Tax Resistance letter to IRS explaining why they aren’t receiving the full amount we owe.
April 15, 2017
To the Internal Revenue Service:
We support our country in all its peaceful endeavors, but for reasons of conscience and religious faith we do not support our country in its preparation for war and in war making. We are deeply troubled by the fact that about half of the federal income tax that we owe the government is budgeted for military-related expenditures, (more…)
October 14, 2015
“Is that a drone on that car?”
I have a drone model on the roof of my car when I am at Villanova. I park in front of the monastery, next to the chapel. This is a busy spot for students, and it is on the tour route for prospective students. As the picture shows, my drone gets attention. Signs in the windows read “Stop drone killing” and “Money for education, not war.”
March 28, 2015
West Point conference on the Ethics of War (an oxymoron).
I attended a two-day Ethics of War conference held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I was the sole pacifist in attendance, and my attendance was publicly acknowledged at a plenary session. I had some concern about attending, (more…)
February 14, 2015
“What would you do?” Building alternative communities, including chickens and bees.
Bee-built comb from one of our top bar hives.
Much of this blog is concerned with criticism of national and international events. One might ask “Well, what do you propose?” If I could answer that to people’s satisfaction, I’d be at the White House and UN, not typing this post. On the other hand, it is a reasonable question and I have some ideas that I am testing. I am working toward (more…)