Good Friday is significant for me as I see the teachings and life of the inspired Jesus culminating at this time. The day is particularly meaningful for me through my attendance at the annual Good Friday demonstrations at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer (more…)
April 6, 2015
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.
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…)
January 10, 2015
Martin Luther King and Lockheed Martin (when will they learn?)
Today I was at the Martin Luther King Demonstration at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons manufacturer. I was attempting to read King’s Riverside Church speech to employees and police in their driveway. — but as pictures show, only got partway. Here is a sample of what they don’t want to hear at Lockheed Martin: “I knew that I could never again (more…)
September 18, 2014
Multinational corporations pay/bribe/finagle other corporations to not compete, and so they lay off workers.
I noticed in Macy’s recently that almost all of their furniture is imported from the Far East. On-line investigation showed that this is representative of American furniture sellers today. Whatever happened to all those manufacturers in our South? Mostly gone. CORRECTION, they are not hiring or manufacturing but many of those corporations still exist, often collecting money from China for NOT manufacturing. As this Washington Post article points out, (more…)
August 6, 2014
Hiroshima Day Civil Disobedience, 2014
Today was the usual Hiroshima Day demonstration at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons’ manufacturer. Did my usual Civil Disobedience, although a bit different this time. FIRST, instead of (more…)
May 23, 2014
What was (and is, and will be) Occupy?
In one sense, it was an exercise by members of the 99% for generating solidarity, strength, and public recognition during fall of 2011. Particular areas of concern were (more…)
April 5, 2014
Ethics of War conference at Villanova (and Paul speaks out)
The United States Military Academy at West Point and Villanova University jointly sponsored this two-day Ethics of War conference. The largest group in attendance were West Point cadets.
There were a number of presentations, followed by Q&As. After one presentation in which a cadet said that she had freely given up her autonomous rights when she promised to serve the military in an instrumental capacity, I questioned whether a promise to serve means that you can never change your mind, even if you gain new insights. I noted that military personnel can apply for conscientious objector status, even though (more…)
February 21, 2014
Conscientious Objectors and soldiers both can die in wartime.
Both Conscientious Objectors and soldiers die in wartime. I believe that COs’ sacrifice is the more meaningful. I respect the memory of the many COs I have known, (more…)
January 21, 2014
My biggest accomplishment on Martin Luther King Day? I helped a 94-year-old woman get arrested
Our home in Media is near Annie Geers’ retirement community, so I was able to drive her and be her accompaniment at the Brandywine Peace Community civil disobedience. She fell (from a sitting position), and the police did not want to arrest her (more…)