Tag Archives: labor

Nonviolence: Muste’s Getting Rid of War

The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of PeaceThe twelfth chapter of The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace  contains A.J. Muste‘s 1959 essay  Getting Rid of War.  The essay leads off the third section of the book:  The Cold War and Vietnam. Muste’s life was a journey toward pacifism and through politics and religion.  He was a labor organizer, anti-war leader and civil rights mentor.

Muste seeks a path to “abolish war and the benumbing threat of nuclear destruction.”  He defines the problem as having two “characteristics”: 1) the cancerous growth of weapons of mass destruction, and 2) the political intransigence between the Western and Eastern blocs.  The first problem has not been resolved.  The second has only changed players, but the fight over resources has not.  Continue reading Nonviolence: Muste’s Getting Rid of War

Danny Glover at Occupy Oakland: Re-imagining democracy and humanity

Danny Glover made the speech of a lifetime — the speech of our lifetime — at Occupy Oakland on October 15th. Listening to the speech has sent Duchess Susanna into a fit of hopeful tears, such as one experiences during the happy ending of a momentous film.

The entire video, and all of Danny Glover’s words, are worth experiencing and absorbing. Please watch it! Below, The Duchess has inscribed in text some of the quotes that she was able to capture and type out this morning.

Continue reading Danny Glover at Occupy Oakland: Re-imagining democracy and humanity

Royal Book of the Day: Monday 8/22/2011

More info about this book at powells.com (new window)Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin is the Royal Book of the Week for 8/22/2011.  Duchess Susanna and I have loved this children’s book for years, and were not surprised to find it for sale two years ago on a union website as a gift for children.  With the current drive to destroy good, middle class jobs by union-busting, this book seems even more timely.

This book is the best example we have ever seen to inspire a love of writing, and a feeling of empowerment. Talk about the power of the pen! Spoiler Alert! When Farmer Brown’s cows find a typewriter in the barn, they realize they can start making demands. They go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want.

Continue reading Royal Book of the Day: Monday 8/22/2011