Back from a hike with Fran through Valley Forge. As an historical symbol, Valley Forge has always been a bit of a stretch for me, comparable to using a cracked Quaker bell to represent the Declaration of Independence. It was Washington’s winter quarters for one winter of the war, with the greatest loss of life arising from disease in the warmer spring weather due to unsanitary conditions at the encampment (there were no battle casualties). I noticed that the story of Valley Forge has changed from what I once was told. (more…)
March 25, 2012
March 15, 2012
Paul enters the political foray with a letter published in the Philadelphia Bulletin during the Vietnam War.
One of my first forays into the public arena in support of truth and justice was my Letter to the Editor published in the Philadelphia Bulletin. My letter called for a Court Martial of General Curtis LeMay, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, for wanton disobeying of orders. (more…)
March 10, 2012
Freedom of Information Act – it’s such a democratic idea that our government has transformed it into an unworkable sham.
Will my application under the Freedom of Information Act reveal any records for Paul Sheldon? Pointless – if records existed, they would likely be classified as “blackballed” (exempt). (more…)
What is the responsibility of a member of the military?
Fran and I were at Swarthmore College recently for a gathering entitled “Reflections on the Occupy Movement.” I spoke my mind on some things. Afterwards, I spoke with a student who is a senior at West Point. (more…)
July 4, 2011
Moral Patriotism — is it an oxymoron?
It is natural to form a special attachment to family, friends and surroundings, whether we are Americans, Chinese, Bangladeshi, whatever. But must our individual welfare come at the expense of those (more…)
June 26, 2011
Do you choose to sing or not sing the Star Spangled Banner?
This CNN Belief Blog discusses the reaffirmation at Goshen College to not play the Star Spangled Banner at athletic events. For some people our national anthem is seen as so militaristic as to be offensive to religious conscience and not good for this country. (more…)
June 19, 2011
“Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” – NOT!
I have acquaintances who ask why the United States is accepting refugees from the Burma struggle, particularly when we are in a recession Why do we give them our jobs? I explain (more…)
June 18, 2011
Comment from the NYTimes re citizenship (not mine, but it speaks my mind).
“Unlike more civilized patriotic Americans who support the Fundamentalist Christian Agenda of self-sufficiency and the caste system, during my long life of sin, I have (more…)
June 1, 2011
Why do people think I was ever a Hippie?
Is Paul a Hippie? A colleague suggested this because I often wear a peace badge or peace T-shirts. OK, HUAC, I may be guilty of being a Quaker pacifist revolutionary socialist, and I have been a friend and fellow traveler of a number of other peaceful revolutionary socialists over the decades, but I do affirm (I don’t swear— Quaker, remember) that I was never a hippie. (more…)
Memorial Day thanks to the pacifists who prevent war
My special Memorial Day thanks are for those who have peacefully devoted their lives to the cause of peace. I hold in memory that we did NOT have WWIII with the Soviet Union and am grateful to the leadership of the peace movements (many were WWII pacifists such as A.J. Muste), who I believe did more to prevent wars and keep Korea and Vietnam from going nuclear (which almost happened), than any soldiers I know. (more…)