Instead of Division, Schools of Thought
by Rachel MacNair Several kinds of arguments show up in most large, long-lasting nonviolent social movements. Activists often express distress about these divisions, thinking more unity would mean more success. I’d like to make the case that instead of thinking of “unity” – an unworkable concept when dealing with large groups of people with strong…
The Death Penalty and Abortion: The Conservative/Liberal Straitjacket
by Rachel MacNair A freelance writer recently interviewed me on this question: Why is it that U.S. states tend to divide out, with some having the death penalty but passing restrictions on abortion, while others fund abortion and don’t have the death penalty? You can see the list here of death penalty states and abortion-funding…
Culture of Conscience: Would You Pay Taxes that Fund Abortions if Hyde and Helms were Repealed?
by Thad Crouch (see at the bottom for a link of a video of the author speaking the same content) Taxes for Violence This month, several pro-choice congressional representatives introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage bill to repeal the Hyde Amendment and allow federal funding for domestic abortion violence for any reason to any…
Masking Up but Not Shutting Up: Defending Freedom of Speech during a Pandemic
by John Whitehead Shortly after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, activists and journalists raised concerns about how governments’ response to the crisis might restrict freedom of expression and other civil liberties. More than a year later, we have a better sense of how the pandemic response has limited press freedom and…
Consistently Nonviolent Mutual Funds
For consistent-lifers saving for retirement and otherwise investing money, we offer this practical guide. Social Responsibility There are a good large number of mutual funds that have social responsibility criteria, generally aimed at peace and environmental concerns (here’s one list). Poverty concerns are generally addressed as part of social justice in a variety of ways….
Lethal from the Start: Uranium Mining’s Danger to the Most Vulnerable
by John Whitehead Nuclear weapons kill directly when they are exploded in wartime or in tests. They also kill indirectly: obtaining uranium, the metal used to produce both nuclear power and nuclear weapons, can expose people to radiation or other hazards. The results are often harmful, even lethal. As with nuclear testing, the people exposed…
Let us all agree on this one simple thing: It is not OK to kill people.
by Robert Randall (reprinted) It is not OK to kill people because you don’t like them. It is not OK to kill people because they don’t like you. It is not OK to kill people because they are different from you. It is not OK to kill people because of what they believe. Or…
Reflections from My Decades of Consistent Life Ethic Experience
by Fr. Jim Hewes In 1978, Frank Staropoli and I founded the Diocesan Human Life Commission, with our charter clearly being what was later called a “consistent life ethic” or a “seamless garment.” During those years, when we tried to reach out to pro-life groups, we ordinarily didn’t find the warmest reception because of our…
“The Affairs of a Handful of Natives”: Nuclear Testing and Racism
by John Whitehead While nuclear weapons haven’t been used in war for over 75 years, they’ve still killed and hurt people. Testing of nuclear weapons exposed many to radiation, with terrible health consequences. The people harmed have frequently been from different, far less powerful, ethnic groups. Nuclear weapons’ deadly effects have combined with racial injustice….
The Civil War Conundrum, 150 Years Later
by Rachel MacNair My great-grandfather was born a Quaker, but when he married my great-grandmother, he converted to being Methodist for her sake. His parents were Quakers, and once I took an interest in genealogy, I found that, through them I had Quaker ancestors (that is, members of the Religious Society of Friends) going all…