A Peace To End All Wars?

There was a trend upwards until 1991, when the 20th Century numbers peaked. Since then, Marshall and Gurr, the authors of the report, say the numbers decreased from 51 conflicts in 1991 to 20 in 2004. In addition, attempting to gauge the scale of conflict, they say an indicator of “extent and destructiveness” went down from 179 in 1991 to 65 in 2004. We may doubt the details but the overall direction seems clear.

Another author, Mueller, studied deaths in war. He estimated that these, including those by disease or malnutrition caused by war, may have decreased, per capita, to the lowest level in history. Global spending on armaments is also in decline, going down from its peak of $1.3 trillion in 1985 to just over $1 trillion in 2004. The US bucks this trend. It is possible that the USA will come to spend more on armies than the rest of the world combined; currently it accounts for 44% of the total. [This may be partly due to the relatively high cost of everything here. But the Center for Defense Information reported in 2002 that the U.S. spent over three times as much as the rest of NATO]

Several factors seem to be reducing armed conflict. Economic growth and trade, much in demand, are now better and surer routes to status and international influence than war. International trade links nations, and war threatens their economies more than ever before. Democratic nations rarely fight each other, so their increase in number decreases the likelihood of armed conflict. Stable and effective government avoids the chaos which produces insurrections. Better communications make it harder for nations to control their populations and to keep crises secret, while making it appear there are more of them. In general, peacekeeping forces, despite problems, now work to dampen internal wars. International concerns about strife within nations lead to greater pressure to resolve issues. All these factors are increasing.

During the cold war armed conflicts within nations were enhanced by provision of arms and support from the two sides, East and West. This has now stopped, though the weapons still exist, changing hands, and an arms trade continues. As powerful nations seek to resolve conflicts peacefully, less powerful nations may be led to follow their example. But if the current conflict between Al Qaeda and the USA broadens to include whole Islamic peoples and governments, violent confrontation and war alliances may grow again. Indeed, America now allies itself with countries (e.g., Uzbekistan and Pakistan) for strategic reasons even when they do not match up to the professed ideals of the confrontation. And Russia and America still possess thousands of nuclear-tipped missiles on constant alert.

Is there a popular move away from approval and idealization of war? Mueller thinks so. He compares it to dueling, which Hamilton, disapproving, still thought a “peculiar necessity” for himself but which later died out under popular ridicule. And as family sizes decrease parents are more likely to object to their children having to fight in wars.

The peace achieved is not the peace which passeth all understanding, merely the absence of war. And it seems to be very much a by-product of prosperity through globalization, not of spiritual and moral awakening. But Mueller also compares war to slavery, saying, “For some time a small but socially active sect in England and the United States, the Quakers, had been arguing that slavery, like war, was repulsive, immoral, and uncivilized, and this sentiment gradually picked up adherents.” So this may be happening to war and it still requires work. While “mere” avoidance of war does not necessarily soften and reconcile hearts, it deflects governments and peoples from slaughter, encourages peaceable solutions, and increasingly makes war literally unthinkable, not even considered as an option. Millions of people may avoid death, bloodshed, grief, the destruction of economies, and suffering, as a consequence.

Discussion of information from “The End of War?,” by Gregg Easterbrook, The New Republic, May 10, which cites Peace and Conflict, by Monty Marshall and Ted Robert Gurr, and Retreat From Doomsday, by John Mueller. For the Center for Defense Information., go to http://www.citizenworks.org/issues/peace/peace-military_spending.php.

Vignette

Right Sharing of World Resources Newsletter, 2nd. Quarter, 2005. Go to http://www.rswr.org/.

Personal

David Bristol has a new house on Florida. Not in Florida. He is extending it by adding a dining room. Charles Goebel fulfilled a great wish by traveling to England during June to be at the wedding of a friend’s daughter. He had not been in England for 25 years and found that London was quite cosmopolitan. He stayed at the Penn Club and attended Westminster Meeting. He also visited with an old Scottish friend whom he had not seen for 66 years and he found her unchanged. In his past Charles has been a globe trotter.

Bill Sweet was a member of this Meeting who moved to Boston. He has written to Ruth Lofgren saying that his daughter Julie will be married to a man she knew in high school here, on April 23 next year.

Janaki Spickard-Keeler says, “I'm currently in the process of moving to Washington DC where I hope to find a job. I like teaching, but it isn't a passion, really, as I was hoping it would be. So I'm off to try a new direction!”

Janet and Ken Southwood have two adopted children, black and Indian, and two born to them. One of their white granddaughters, when she was eleven, went to her mother and said, “You never told me Uncle Andrew and Aunty Becky were adopted!” Children have to learn these things about differences. Chris Berajas and his new fiancée visited with the Southwoods in June, Chris wanting to show her San Antonio. Chris’s goal now is to become a musical missionary, perhaps in Asia.

Vivian Rule and David Bristol now have hybrid cars, Vivian a Honda and David a Toyota. Vivian says:

“The Honda hybrid runs smoothly and has an interesting feature: When you come to a complete stop, the motor turns off, and there is utter quiet. As soon as you take your foot off the brake, it turns back on. So you are conserving instead of idling in traffic.. The gas mileage is much better than our old van, but not what the advertising promised: In SA I get close to 40 mpg, in the hill country it drops to 36 or so. (The promised amount was 48-50).

The engine is very quiet, so the noise it makes starting up is not at all disturbing. Yes the batteries charge automatically, mostly when you are coasting or decelerating, and there is a cool column of green light on the dashboard that shows when this is happening. Overall, I like the car, although I've found that after driving that big old van, the small size of the Honda affects me more than I expected- it's hard to get my mom's wheelchair in the trunk.”

Dear Friends,

Howard and Galia will be going with David¹s mother Elizabeth to Huntsville for the week prior to the execution. They would like as many Friends to come to Huntsville as often as possible to be with them during the week and during the execution.

From now until the execution, the family wants special "holding in the light"on a regular basis, David, his family, the victim¹s family, the courts and prison officials, etc. Galia especially asks that Elizabeth be held in the light because of the fragility of her health and that Galia and Howard have the strength to give Elizabeth the support she needs.

Howard and Galia are torn as to what to do about the execution itself. If there are people who can advise them as to how to handle this event or who can be there to support them, please let them know.

Howard’s email address:

Howard: hhawhee@thgcorp.com

We will have a forum on the death penalty on July 10th. Ruth Lofgren will call Amy Kasteley, lawyer at St. Mary's University, to see if she can meet with us.

Miscellany

Did anyone see the “ fine P.O.V. docu-mentary ‘Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin’" on PBS on June 5? We missed it.

After Henry Cadbury had borrowed a thrown-out morning coat from AFSC’s warehouse to receive the Nobel Peace prize for the British and American Service Committees, “when other members of the AFSC asked Henry Cadbury if they could use the packing center for their own wardrobe, he replied that he thought it would be proper if they were on Committee business receiving the Nobel prize.”

Pocket Biographies

From age 3, Vivian lived in Beaumont, Texas. She describes it as a narrow, puritanical, racist, town. At 17 she left it and never returned. She attended UT Austin, where she met Gary Whiting. Both were looking for adventure, and they took off for Alaska. They were broke. Vivian got work doing xerox copies. They lived above a corner hardware store. The other three corners were bars and, going to work in the morning, Vivian stepped over prostrate bodies.

Needing more, Vivian returned to Austin to study physical therapy; too cerebral, she felt that studying the body would give her greater balance. Gary followed her. Vivian doesn’t like “occasions” and chose common law marriage, which “felt right.” She graduated and they went back to Alaska where she was employed by a new Elks program, inexperienced, and serving families up and down the coast from Skagway to Ketchikan. Her supervision took place in a bar.

“So, are ya helpin’ ‘em? Good,” patting her, “ ‘ave another beer. “She traveled by boat, bus, and pontoon plane to logging camps, isolated settlements, and Indian villages. When the plane couldn’t retrieve her, she had to rely on local hospitality among people who had chosen isolation.

One boy had grown up with dogs. At six, he walked on all-fours, barked and whined. Vivian’s skills were not always appropriate. After a year, she was pregnant and it was too much.

They went to Columbia, Missouri, where Gary went back to school. Vivian was determined not to birth in a hospital and found a midwife, illegal there. For some time after, she worked with the midwife in the underground culture of midwifery. They lived in a slum. One 5-year-old, at Hallowe’en, asked what he was, replied “A rapist.”

In 1991 they came to San Antonio, now with Amanda and the twins, and Vivian has worked since then in Home Health, visiting homes to care for elderly and disabled people., dealing with victims of strokes, angry old men, crotchety old women, trying to care for each other, often wanting to die. She does what seems necessary, washing dishes, cleaning, chores not in her job description. She feels this is Quaker work. They found this Meeting in 1996.

Yet, walking through nature, seeking meaning remained difficult. She decided not to seek meaning but to focus on what was real. She went back to school for an MS in Biology to find what life is. She finished this year, finding dissection but not understanding.

Vivian finds God in nature, walking through woods, marveling at spiders’ webs, listening to birdsong, sensing oneness. Her work, on contract, gives her time for this. She seems always to find people grasping for power – biologists experimenting with animals to gain more power for humans, politicians and doctors with power over women’s lives and choices, banning home birthing. Amanda will be at UTSA and Molly and Clara leave for TSU, San Marcos, this year. Vivian is coming to the next stage.

The Meetinghouse

The builder has been finding his materials scattered, presumably by youths, who also threw rocks from the entrance (the little ones) onto the roof.

Bill Watson sent a man to fix the leaks in the first room, next the stone wall, to rehang the gate on its loose hinge, and to fix the bolt. There is still a problem with the bolt.

A Texas Partnership

The Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation will be committed to promoting the ‘recovery of persons who may be deprived of the use of their reason, and to finding new ways to allow them access to asylum … to receive … requisite medical aide and sympathetic attention to soothe their agitated minds.’ This paraphrase of our Mission statement reflects the concerns of members brought to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in Third Month, 1811.”

From a recent announcement from the Board of Friends Hospital. The first mental hospital to try to treat patients with kindness was The Retreat, in York, England, founded by Friends in 1796, “. . . called The Retreat to avoid the stigma attached to the words “asylum” or “madhouse.”. . . Patients were treated as guests, though employment was required.. Chains were forbidden and also all resort to terrorism.” (Howard Brinton, Friends for 300 Years).

We’d Rather See Alcoa Go!

(Read more: http://cfomaquiladoras.org/ english%20site/alcoa89%25.en.html).

Events

Rosalyn Collier spoke there of the origin and work of the Peace Center. An ex-army nurse spoke of tending to the bloody, sometimes fatal, wounds of soldiers, saying that the only solution was to end war. Those present read the names of Texan military men killed in the war in Iraq. Ken read the names of fifteen men who had died. Each of these experienced the rending of his flesh by explosives, steel fragments, fire, or bullets. How many more, friend or foe?

Fuerza Unida is the organization of women laid off from the Levi Strauss factory, which closed in 1990, relocating to Costa Rica. The women were left with little severance pay and no pension healthcare, and little retraining. It’s mission is to educate, empower, and organize workers to become advocates for social change, economic justice, and the democratic process.

It is supported by the Service Committee and it is coming to its fifteenth anniversary. An organizing committee has been set up for a celebration to be held in November. Watch this space.

The next chapter of Geoffrey Hubbard’s book, Quaker By Convincement, to be discussed on July 10, is “The Necessary Minimum.” It covers the essential characteristics required of us to be able, as individuals, to call ourselves Friends.

Tutu II, Too

Her emphasis was on the need for all to speak and hear truth about racial oppression. Some perpetrators of racial violence in South Africa did not tell the whole truth before the commission; they could not face the shame. But, at Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was confined, there is now a museum with residential staff from both ex-prisoners and ex-guards.

She emphasized that we all have racist bones in our bodies and need to discover and deal with them.

HATE
Hate is the color of magma,
It sounds like the crackle of flames.
It tastes like limes,
And smells like smoke.
It makes you feel horrible.

LOVE
Love is the color of a valentine,
It sounds like cherry blossom leaves
Gently floating down to the ground.
It tastes like sugar,
And it smells like roses.
It makes you feel warm.

Neil, one of our young Friends, aged twelve, has a poem is called Shadows of Sounds being published in a book and CD called The Sound of Poetry and given an Editor's Choice Award.

Mark Twain’s War Prayer

‘"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle – be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it – for our sakes who adore Thee. Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.’

(After a pause)

‘Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits.”’

Twain describes the reaction of the congregation thus:

“It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.”

Harper’s Bazaar rejected Twain’s story as “not quite suitable."’I don't think the prayer will be published in my time. None but the dead are permitted to tell the truth,’" he said. It was not published until after his death.

(From Wilson’s Almanac and the Congo Times).

In response to the current environment, in which the voices of lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals are being suppressed in government, the media, and in religious institutions, we are moved to speak out. We affirm that spiritual gifts are not distributed with regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. Our experience has been that the spiritual quality of our faith and practice has been enriched over these years by the full participation and leadership of lesbian and gay Friends.

A statement to the press issued by Madison Monthly Meeting in February.

The Important Book

      Mom: The important thing about my mom is that she loves me! It’s true that she is fun to play with. Sometimes she is serious. She is very funny! My mom is fun to cuddle with. She is very talented. My mom loves being a Quaker! She loves teaching philosophy! My mom takes care of me very well! She loves ballet! My mom never gives up. She never forgets anything. My mom loves all of her friends. She likes spending time with her family. But the most important thing about my mom is that she loves me!
      Dad: The most important thing about my dad is that he is hilarious. It’s true, my dad is hardworking and never gives up. Sometimes he is strict but he is always forgiving. He always believes in himself. My dad is very lovable and loves me very much! My dad when I was little loved to read me stories at night. My dad lets me help him in the garden. But the important thing about my dad is that he’s hilarious.
      Sebastian: The important thing about Seb is that he loves Soccer! Seb loves running the track. His favorite T.V. show is The Simpsons. Its true, he is very nice and funny. He is 13 going on 14 in October. Seb always goes to Churchill soccer games. But the most important thing about Seb is that he loves to play Soccer.
      Emma: The important thing about Emma is that she’s my big sister! Emma is funny sometimes. She’s never serious! She’s joyful, hardworking, and never gives up. Emma loves to play soccer! She likes her room clean. Emma never lies. Emma always looks forward to family bike rides. She likes spending time with her family. Her favorite food is pizza. But the most important thing about Emma is that she’s my big sister.
      Samuel: The important thing about Samuel is that he’s my little brother. He has lots of friends. Samuel loves soccer. Samuel gets into fights a lot but most of the time he’s nice. He loves all animals but his favorite is a dog. Samuel is 5 years old. Samuel loves going to the park and always looks forward to the next day. But the most important thing about Samuel is that he’s my little brother!
      About the Author: The important thing about me is that I’m me. I’m very hyper and I never give up. I’m very funny and always look forward to school. I’m very joyful and playful. My favorite subject is Writing. My favorite animal is a snake. I love camping and I’m always ready for a good swim. I love my fish. It’s true, I have a messy room. I have lots of friends. But the important thing about me is that I’m me!

Audrey read this to us at the Bring and Share evening in June.

“Nearer, My God, to E-mail

The Rev. Keith Kimber, whose congregation at St. John’s Rectory in Wales can now send emails or surf the internet during church.”

San Antonio Express-News, June 5

To which committee should this concern to attract San Antonio businessmen go? To M&O? Outreach? Or perhaps to Meetinghouse Development for wiring in the new meetingroom?

And if any of you know God’s website, please inform us.

Our Neighborhood

But, if this defeats you, stick around for about 15,000 years. Over the next 10,000 years or so it should explode. It’s well worth waiting for.

Advice

Philadelphia-Centrism

Yes, but did the Philadelphia 76ers ever win the NBA championship? (Quotation from the Poleys’ book, Friendly Anecdotes).

July 3 Sunday ........ Potluck lunch. No Forum.
July 10, Sunday....... 9 a.m., discussion of Quaker 
	By Convincement, Ch. 3, The Necessary Minimum.
	Forum: Death Penalty and the Alternatives
July 11, Monday ...... Interreligious Council, Meetinghouse., 6:15 p.m.
July 17, Sunday....... Business meeting
July 21, Thursday..... Midweek meeting at the Drennons, 7 pm
July 24, Sunday ...... Forum, Gary Whiting, Use of the New Meetingroom.
July 31, Sunday....... Forum . Open

Each Thursday, at 4-5 pm, a silent peace vigil is held at the NE corner of Main Plaza (Commerce and Dwyer or Commerce and Soledad, which is the same thing) near the San Fernando cathedral.

Clerk: Bill Wilkinson, e-mail: bdwilkinson@earthlink.net
Newsletter Editor: Ken Southwood, e-mail: jksouthwood@grandecom.net
Website: http://www.sanantonioquakers.org/.

Donations may be made to Friends Meeting of San Antonio, P.O. Box 6127, San Antonio TX78209.

Meeting telephone to leave a message: (210) 945-8456.

Friends Meeting of San Antonio,
7052 N. Vandiver,
PO Box 6127
San Antonio TX 78209

Colby Glass