June 2003

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

From the editor's desk

It's been a slow, cool, extraordinarily lovely spring in New England this year, and people who care at all about the state of the world are deeply depressed. We've chosen Zinn and Roy as "bookends" for this issue of Peacework. Their clarity and eloquence help us though bad times. Their moral courage summons our own. Certainly there are plenty of causes that will require it--that, and hard work.

Howard Zinn asks us to "redefine patriotism.... expand it beyond that narrow nationalism that has caused so much death and suffering. If national boundaries should not be obstacles to trade--we call it globalization--they should also not be obstacles to compassion and generosity....Tom Paine used the word Ôpatriot' to describe the rebels resisting imperial rule."

In this June Peacework, we offer Robert Meeropol on the underlying meaning of treason and the sharp costs of principled patriotism and dissent. Adin Ballou, spiritual and intellectual ancestor of Tolstoy, Gandhi, and King, stands as a reminder that war is never part of the patriot's toolkit.

Looking around this troubled world, what we offer you about Iraq is Karen Armstrong's useful essay on the Shia religion, and a warning on threats to international rule of law from the US's bizarre adventure in "authority." The prognosis for the Roadmap to peace in the Holy Land is poor, as Adam Keller of Gush Shalom spells out; but, in spite of everything, quixotic initiatives such as the Compassionate Listening project continue to work within the principles of faith and nonviolence.

And looking around some more--oil is a basic ingredient in the master recipe for trouble, not only in Iraq, but also in places as distant is sub-Saharan Africa and East Timor. Did you notice what Roy said on that subject: "Empire is on the move, and Democracy is its sly new war cry. Democracy, home-delivered to your doorstep by daisy cutters. Death is a small price for people to pay for the privilege of sampling this new product: Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy (bring to a boil, add oil, then bomb)"?

And if not oil, try water. Prime Minister Sharon wants Israel to retain control of it in the Occupied Territories. Worldwide, large corporations, with the blessings of the World Bank, would like to meter it and bottle it and charge poor people a lot of money for what once ran free. Arnie Alpert describes the situation in Nicaragua.

Global corporatization and global war are not only messy and violent, they are cruelly expensive. The bills are beginning to come due in our cities and towns, and they will continue to impoverish your grandchildren and ours unless we do something about it. Marty Jezer spells out the issues.

If you are one of those who turns to the "Pieces" section of Peacework first off, you will already have noticed that a nice AFSC peace & justice monthly is looking for a new editor. Yup, that's Peacework. My kids think it's time for me to retire, and I guess I have to agree. It's with greatest reluctance, though, because Peacework is a wonderful publication and this is an amazing job. But it's also with great excitement, because I can't wait to see where the next generation will take it. If you think of someone who should apply for the job, tell them to give us a call.

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