Catch A Peace Tiger By The Tail

May 21st, 2013 | Posted by Rowan in Moral Values | Shirts | War and Peace - (0 Comments)

This week, we have added a tiger to our menagerie of animals for peace. Is that safe? Shouldn’t we remember Life of Pi, for goodness sakes?

made in usa tshirt

It’s true that we all have the capability to act violently. We may even have the propensity toward violence.

That doesn’t mean we have to act violently.

The peace tiger reminds us that it is possible to be both powerful and peaceful. We don’t have to be perfect. In contrast to what some well-meaning, but annoying, activists say, no, we don’t all have to cultivate the purity of inner peace before we have a chance of ending the carnage of war.

Our dark impulses are real. So is our ability to keep those impulses under control.

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The Evolution of a Quote: Misconceived, Misattributed, Misconstrued

March 3rd, 2013 | Posted by Jim Cook in Mysteries | Tech | War and Peace - (4 Comments)

Yesterday a professional contact of mine shared the following message on Facebook:

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This contact of mine is a business marketer with a highly entrepreneurial approach to living, and frequently posts quotes like these as a motivation to keep trying, never give up, and have faith that things will work out if we strive and believe.

Misconstrued
There’s a virtue-by-persecution aspect to this quotation that suggests criticism and opposition are irrelevant or, what’s more, a sign that you’re on the right track. It may be true that people are often criticized for work of high quality, but it’s also true that people are often criticized for work of low quality. There may always be someone to tell you that you are wrong, but sometimes that’s because you actually are wrong. There may be difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right, and we all have been told with resist temptation, but what if your critics are right after all? To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage, and we all have been told how virtuous courage is, but what if you’ve mapped out a course of action that takes you over a cliff? Courageous + blind = dead.

Misattributed
I was so disappointed in this quote that I began to question whether the thoughtful mind of Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered it at all. This question is easily resolved with a visit to the online index of the complete lectures, letters and other written works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a quick search of which reveals that Emerson wrote no such thing. Someone has tried to grant legitimacy to this questionable idea by attaching the fictional authorship of Emerson in an appeal to literary authority. I suppose they might courageously say that I’m a naysayer doubting the wisdom of their course, but nothing will change the fact that they’ve misquoted.

[Update: a handy tip in the comments section indicates that the online source linked to above is not entirely complete. However, see below for indications that Emerson is not the source.]

If Ralph Waldo Emerson didn’t write this misguided motivational treacle, who did write it? Thanks to technology, sleuthing this sort of question out is not as hard as it used to be. A search of Google’s extensive archive of phrases in books reveals that the phrase “map out a course” does not appear in books until 1864, at the fading end of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s long career as an author:

The phrase "map out a course" does not appear in books until 1864

The earliest search result in the Google Books archive for the more complete phrase “map out a course of action and follow it” is the 1908 book Keep Up Your Courage: Keynotes to Success by Mary Allette Ayer. Keep Up Your Courage is one of many books in which Ayer lists motivational quotations on various themes from various sources; this book features the following quotation:

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always some one to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men to win them. - Young People's Weekly

The attribution to the magazine Young People’s Weekly is important, because Ayer makes plain in the introduction to her book that she admires Ralph Waldo Emerson and considers him a valuable source. Ayer provides 11 quotes of Ralph Waldo Emerson with the explicit permission of his publisher, and always cites him by name without source. According to Ayer, the Young People’s Weekly quotations come from its producer, the Christian tract publisher David C. Cook.

Misconstrued
Did you notice the transformation in the quote’s content from its apparently original publication in Young People’s Weekly to its modern version? The last sentences have been truncated: “To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men to win them.” This thought, that peace takes courage and that courage lies not merely in physical fights but in conscientious non-violent deeds, has been deemed culturally unworthy in modern times.

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List of Activist Protest Events during Keep Space for Peace Week 2012

September 26th, 2012 | Posted by Jim Cook in Activism | War and Peace - (1 Comments)

The Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space announces its list of activist protest events taking place during its annual Keep Space for Peace Week, October 6-13:

  • Andover, Massachusetts (Oct 11) Merrimack Valley People for Peace will hold a vigil in front of Raytheon, 7:00-8:00 am.  brian@quirk.ws

 

  • Bath Iron Works, Maine (Oct 6) Vigil across from administration building on Washington Street (Navy Aegis destroyers built at BIW) 11:30-12:30 am   Smilin’ Trees Disarmament Farm   (207) 763-4062

 

 

  • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Oct 12) Demonstration from noon to 12:45 pm with banners outside of the SAIC facility which is adjacent to Peterson AFB (HQ of Air Force Space Command) northgate.  That way we get a twofer. bill.sulzman@gmail.com

  • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Oct 12) Demonstration at West gate of Schriever AFB, home of the Space Warfare Center and numerous other Star Wars programs  3:30 – 4:30 pm.  bill.sulzman@gmail.com

 

  • RAF Croughton, England (Oct 6) Rally at U.S. communication base, March to main gate 1 mile – starts Croughton village 12.00 midday, Returns 3:00 pm, Oxfordshire Peace Campaign, oxonpeace@yahoo.co.uk

 

  • Deming, New Mexico (Oct 12) Weekly Friday Occupy vigil will carry Keep Space for Peace signs

 

  • Fort Meade, Maryland (Oct 9) Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will make its annual trek to the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade from 5:30-6:30 PM.  The spy agency continues to break a host of laws both U.S. and international.  Gather on Route 32 outside the main gate to alert the general public to the criminal activity taking place at the NSA.  RSVP to Max at 410-366-1537 or mobuszewski@verizon.net

 

  • Fylingdales, England (Oct 7) Begin bicycle trip from Fylingdales U.S. radar facility to Menwith Hill to highlight their connections with US missile defense and the use of space technology.   Overnight peace camp the night before.  info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk

 

 

 

  • King of Prussia/Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Oct 13) Noon. Brandywine Peace Community’s annual Keep Space for Peace Week demonstration (and observance of U.S. Afghan war anniversary) at Lockheed Martin.  Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer, a primary contractor of space weaponry as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, drones (including the Hell Fire missiles they carry) and the satellites which enable their remote control from the continental U.S.  brandywine@juno.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Menwith Hill, England (Oct 9) ‘The Faceless Face of Military Drones’ demonstration at NSA Spy Base in Yorkshire at 6-8 pm.   Will be welcoming the cyclists from Yorkshire CND when they arrive at Menwith Hill from Fylingdales.  (Faceless masks will be available)  Sponsored by CAAB  mail@caab.corner.org.uk  or 01423 884076

 

  • Nagpur, (Maharashtra state) India (Oct 12) Students rally at Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work.  Coordinated by Prof. Geetha Thachil  geethathachil@gmail.com

 

  • Nagpur, (Maharashtra state) India (Oct 13) A massive Dharna (Squating) will be held jointly with several organisations at Nagpur.  rao.jnrao36@sofy.com

 

 

  • Oita, Japan (Oct 12) Banner against the fast breeder reactor development in Japan and the international joint R&D of a nuclear fusion reactor  16:00~17:00 at Oita Kyusyu Electric Power Co  seamesky@sand.ocn.ne.jp

 

  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Oct 7) Vigil and demonstration against drone research at UPENN at 34th & Walnut Streets, 1:00 pm.  Speakers, music, and more; followed by kite flying in Woodland Walk field, between UPENN and Drexel University, behind the corner at 34th & Walnut Streets. End the War, Stop the Killer Drone Strikes, Space for Peace, not drone strikes directed from the U.S. through space.  Kites will be available, bring your own if you can, and don’t forget your umbrella in the event of rain.   brandywine@juno.com

 

 

  • Portland, Maine (Oct 8) Anti-Drone Die-In at Obama Campaign Headquarters, 533 Forest Ave., noon-1pm.  CODEPINK State of Maine & Portland  Pat Taub (207) 542-7119 pparee2011@gmail.com

 

  • Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (Oct 11) Vigil and flyer distribution at the north end of the Scarth Street Mall in downtown Regina, 12:00-12:30 pm. Making Peace Vigil 306-539-8853; sgerardm@gmail.com

 

 

 

  • Tucson, Arizona (Oct 9) Vigil from 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. at Raytheon Missile Systems, Hermans Road entrance to the plant (3rd traffic light south of Valencia on Nogales Highway, the extension of South 6th Avenue). nukeresister@igc.org

 

  • Vandenberg AFB, California (Oct 10) Monthly protest from 3:45- 4:45 pm at the Main Gate.  Anyone wanting to join us can call for info at (805) 343-6322.

 

  • Vandenberg AFB, California (Oct 22) Back country non-violent resistance action to occupy Pentagon’s global drone and missile nerve center. tierralinda@live.com

 

 

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Celebrate Mother’s Day: Stop War

May 13th, 2012 | Posted by Jim Cook in War and Peace - (0 Comments)

I had no idea until I read this piece that the original purpose of Mother’s Day was to protest war. Here is the founding Mother’s Day Declaration by Julia Ward Howe in 1870:

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says “Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.

Julia Ward Howe
Boston
1870

Celebrate Mother’s Day. Put a stop to war.

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Making Peace With Wolves

May 3rd, 2012 | Posted by The Green Man in Environment | Shirts | War and Peace - (2 Comments)

Since Barack Obama cleared the way for wolves to be taken removed, through political intervention rather than scientific judgment, from protection under the Endangered Species Act, 553 wolves have been purposefully killed by human beings in the United States. This slaughter is taking place in spite of the severe agricultural damage being done by deer, feral pigs, and other animals that have historically been controlled by wolf predation.

It’s been generations since wolves were hunted into near extinction in the United States. Yet, after all this time, people still haven’t come to grips with the idea of the wolf as a ravening, terrifying predator. The wolf still stands as an evil character in our imaginations, even though far more violence is inflicted upon human beings and livestock from domesticated dogs. Wolves, being wild, mostly steer clear of human territory.

This week, the state of Wyoming announced that it’s going to join the growing list of states that encourages the hunting of wolves. In some areas of the state of Wyoming, there won’t be any limit at all to the number of wolves that can be killed.

As hatred of wolves is growing, level headed Americans have a responsibility to encourage a more balanced view. We don’t need to deny that wolves kill and eat other animals to survive, but neither do we need to deny our own similar nature. Wolves may seem frightening, but if we can come to peace with that fear, we can become better masters of our own minds.

It’s with this idea in mind that I created this peace wolf tshirt design: A collection of wolves, captured in silhouette, gathered into the shape of a peace symbol. Rather than attempting to control every aspect of the natural world that disturbs our civilized sensibilities, we can allow some space for another kind of intelligence to roam free.

peace symbol made of wolves

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October 2011 Occupation’s Commitment to Peace Extends to its Own Event

September 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Jim Cook in Activism | Politics | War and Peace - (2 Comments)

The October 2011 Coalition, which is organizing an occupation of Freedom Plaza next to the White House starting on October 6, is adamant that its presence will be uppity, opinionated, occasionally loud, but decidedly non-violent. Organizer Margaret Flowers is already explaining how the Coalition will deal with any threats or acts of violence next month:

In early June we received an email from an individual who advocates violence and who wanted to bring a gun to the October event. We responded to him that this is a nonviolent action and that guns are not welcome and that we would inform the police. We chose not to take more action in order not to incite a single individual.

We recognize that there are people who advocate violence and who may attempt to bring weapons. This is a risk inherent in daily life, and increased in a protest situation. Rather than highlight any known individuals (and draw more attention to them, which they want), we have chosen to set precautions in place to the best of our ability. In truth, there may be violent provocateurs that we don’t know about, so the best course is prevention.

To those ends we:

1. Are training ‘peacekeepers’ to keep an eye out for violence and direct people away from it if it should occur.

2. Are requesting that participants undergo nonviolence training in order to know how to respond if violence breaks out.

3. Will have cameras (peace cameras) to video any person(s) who initiate violence and we request that you bring cameras too.

4. Are working with police to make them aware of threats and to isolate counter protesters if they should attend.

We cannot make guarantees that there will be no injuries. We will have medical staff in attendance and the DC ambulance service will be on site at all times for emergencies. We will do our best to prevent violence and ask that you assist by being vigilant and communicating anything of concern to the peacekeepers (who will be wearing green) or to the medical staff (who will be wearing yellow).

Update: I believe “uppity” is a compliment. Random House Dictionary

Uppity. adj. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be tractable or deferential.

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Is there a Peace Rally in Washington DC on July 6 2011?

July 1st, 2011 | Posted by Jim Cook in Activism | Mail | Religion | War and Peace - (4 Comments)

No, not really.

Sandy writes today from the southern tier of upstate New York to ask:

Would you provide me with more details on the non-violent rally for peace scheduled for Thursday, July 6, 2011, in Washington, DC?

Sandy’s question is a legitimate one; if you’ve read the Huffington Post, you’ve been told that “The Dalai Lama will visit Washington next month for an 11-day peace rally that is being billed as ‘the largest gathering for world peace in history.’” That would have to be a very big rally, considering that on February 15 2003, a whopping 3 million people gathered to rally against war in the city of Rome. Visit the website for the event, Kalachakra 2011, and you’ll find out that it’s being held in the Verizon Center in Washington DC, which has a capacity of just 20,500. This hype is a first indication of something woolly.

A second indication that something’s not exactly right: you have to buy a ticket to attend the “peace rally.” The affair is actually an for-pay event at the Verizon Center in DC scheduled by the Dalai Lama and charging ticket prices of up to $506.90 to attend. The cost of the venue has already been paid separately by hundreds of individual and corporate sponsors, taking away that excuse for the high ticket price. Kalachakra organizers are still milking donors for money, telling them that by giving money to the Kalachakra, they “thereby gain infinite good merit.” Traditional peace rallies in DC, such as the upcoming Seize DC nonviolent protest on September 10 and the October 6 anti-war convergence in Freedom Plaza are public events open to all that do not charge any money for admittance.

And how is this event planning to rally for peace? Tibetan Buddhist monks will chant and make a mandala, and then after a birthday celebration in his honor the Dalai Lama will hold lectures in which he explains Buddhism as he understands it. After that, the monks will dance.

If you want to pay hundreds of dollars for all this, I’m not going to stop you. If you’re looking for an actual peace rally that isn’t about raking in cash from dupes, think about the September 10 and October 6 protests. Unlike the chantfest inside the walls of the Verizon Center, these events will be actually be seen and heard by the White House, in the streets of DC.

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Dueling Odes on Anti-War Activism

March 25th, 2011 | Posted by Jim Cook in Activism | Irregular Verse | War and Peace - (2 Comments)
From The Bard of Murdock:

The Goose and the Gander

What’s good for the goose,
Should likewise prevail –
Barring some excuse –
For the goose’s male.

The peaceniks all decried
The Iraqi war zone,
With protests worldwide
In loud, lusty tone.

Where are you, Code Pink?
Come out, Dixie Chicks!
Don’t from protest shrink;
Wade into the mix!

Can but Michael Moore
A rebel voice find?
Is not this new war
With Bush’s affined?

It seems goose and gander
Are diff’rent kinds of bird.
The first endured slander,
The second: not a word!

Response from Irregular Times:

Avian Gender Dysphoria

The Bard vents his bile
on a peace-loving bird
But his acid asides
are quite frankly absurd

Where is Code Pink?
Right here full bore
at the White House, I think
opposing the war

Michael Moore is there too
If you’d bother to check
Speaking out much ado
So what gives? What the heck?

There are others protesting
World Can’t Wait shouts out “NO”
Older peaceniks are descending
to the Pentagon they’ll go

ANSWER’s put together
now twenty protests
regardless of weather
From the East to the West

Please forgive my strained rhyme
Yes, my meter’s a wreck
But my facts aren’t sub-prime
As I’ve bothered to check

If you want to find slander
Just look to the Bard
With his lack of full candor
He has earned disregard

Burma Shave.

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