Peaceful Ways

Nature’s Bounty

Paul — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:33:39 +0000

It was billed as the Blizzard of 2010. But don’t believe the news or you’d think it was the end of the world. We saw this as an opportunity to appreciate nature’s beauty, and so we headed out the door with our packs on. We hiked through untrodden snow to a secluded spot in nearby woods and set up our tent at dusk in the falling snow. Nature’s “bounty” nearly buried our tent during the night, but the sight was glorious when we first saw the woods and stream the next morning. We were well equipped for the weather and stayed relatively warm and comfortable, while news reports all proclaimed “Danger — stay inside” and similar disaster scenarios. Nature can present danger at times, of course, but much of this fear is of our own making and reflects man’s alienation from the natural world.

What difference is there, in principle, between killing a fellow man in war and paying another man to kill him?

Paul — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:09:59 +0000

The essence of war tax resistance is the realization that paying for war is essentially no different than doing the deed itself. We are just as culpable if we give a gun to an individual to commit what we feel to be a crime, as if we did the deed ourselves. When we realize that nearly half of the federal budget, supported through our income taxes, is war related in some way or another, we experience this culpability directly. The government has no interest to draft my body, but they do wish to conscript my money for purposes often immoral according to my religious convictions. I hold that my beliefs against paying for war should be given the same first amendment recognition that applies to conscientious objectors to war in the case of a draft. Considering that I would apply (and be eligible) for alternative service if our government still had an interest in drafting my body, I am working toward the passage of a law that would likewise recognize my constititutional right to have my money perform alternative life-affirming service. I have no desire to be civil disobedient. But until a peace tax provision becomes law, my conscience does not allow me to be otherwise. I must live my life in harmony with the belief that there is no such thing as a good war. Thus I work to avoid complicity with war, acting openly and publicly.

Paul a co-complainant to the U.N. Human Rights Council

Paul — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:40:52 +0000

I am a signatory and co-complainant in a formal complaint to the United Nations (see excerpt below). We are waiting to receive a full response.

Submission to the Complaints Procedure of the United Nations Human Rights Council:
The signatories of this submission are citizens and residents of the United States of America. We lodge this complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council as individuals who are forbidden by conscience to participate in war or any military activity. The government of the United States violates freedom of conscience rights by forcing us to pay for war….We are therefore victims of a violation of our freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as defined in Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights….

International Peace Conference, Manchester, UK, 2008

Paul — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:40:14 +0000

For three days in early September 2008, pacifists from around the world assembled at the University of Manchester for the 12th International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns. In the words of the conference invitation “Our purpose is to achieve worldwide recognition and accommodation of the right for conscientious objectors not to pay for war or the preparations for war. We meet for mutual support, exchange of ideas and experiences, and to to coordinate our campaigns on the international platform.”

I attended with the support of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting, Chester Quarterly Meeting, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and carried letters from these groups endorsing my attendance at the Conference. In turn, many of those present added their own comments to my letters, which I shall convey to my endorsers. This traditional Quaker practice serves to connect us with the wider world.

You can read my more personal comments at http://blog.peacefulways.com/

Iraq War Not Just

admin — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:52:11 +0000

A new sign has been added to my office windows: “Iraq War Not Just — Augustine, Aquinas” This sign is a result of my reading and interpretation of just/unjust war principles. Supporting documents are available at http://blog.peacefulways.com/?s=unjust+war (I wish to thank Dr. Betz for his help). As with all my activities, I sincerely hope that this may generate an on-going dialogue within the Villanova community. Such dialogue is supported by the Villanova Mission Statement. For any with differing views, let me encourage you to participate in the dialogue or to post your own signs, if you wish. In this manner, Villanova can continue to grow as a vibrant and loving community. Peace, Paul

Who Would Jesus Train To Kill?

admin — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:11:03 +0000

A sign asking “Who Would Jesus Train To Kill?” now fills the large window of my office at Villanova. It is legible from some distance, including Mendel Field where ROTC drills, and the Augustinian Monastery. I sent the following email to our Office for Mission Effectiveness at Villanova:

I have recently placed a new sign in the main window of my office at 352 Tolentine. It poses a simple question, for each to answer in his/her own heart. I am letting you know about this because I strongly believe that it serves the Villanova Mission, as follows:

“Moreover, it (Villanova) seeks to add its influence to the search for world peace and justice…” and “The University attempts to develop an environment in which students, faculty, and staff may experience a Christian intellectual and moral perspective….”

I mention all this because my query, visible from some distance as one approaches Tolentine from the campus side of the Monastery, may generate a variety of responses. I pray that it contributes to a meaningful dialogue among us.

Peace,

Paul Sheldon

Villanovans for Peace

Paul — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:05:26 +0000

Villanovans for Peace is an anti-war student group on campus, for which I serve as faculty moderator. We’re active both on and off campus. For example, the last two years we’ve hosted the Pennsylvania AFSC “Eyes Wide Shut” demonstration of combat boots representing every death of a Pennsylvania soldier in Iraq. We sponsor speakers (e.g., Veterans against the Iraq War) and show peace-oriented movies and documentaries (e.g. The Ground Truth). Last spring we held a successful Peace Awareness Day in the center of the campus and collected many signatures against the Iraq War.

Two weeks ago (September 15) a busload of us went to Washington, D.C., to demonstrate with tens of thousands of others against the Iraq War. I went as the faculty advisor (along with my wife Fran), and you can see many of us in the picture above.

Lost and Not Lost in the Woods

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:27:35 +0000

Fran and I were recently day hiking while camping in a remote section of Massachusetts. We had trail maps and GPS. But the trails were not where the lines appeared on our map (this is not uncommon). Were we lost? Fran says no. We always knew where we were, just the trails were lost. But there was still the possibility that we might be in the woods at dusk. The wonderful and surprising thing is that this did not feel like any problem. We would just bed down for the night where ever we might be and next morning follow trails leading in the direction of our base camp. I felt quite at peace with the possibility. This experience leads one to consider the experiential meaning of such words/ideas as “lost” “security” and ”home.”

p.s. We got to a recognized trail, and our campsite, before dusk.

Immersed in the Wilderness

admin — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:36:52 +0000

Fran and I are backpackers, and we recently took a three-day hike in a wilderness area of western Pennsylvania. It is an interesting experience to feel so totally immersed in nature — this is a particularly remote area. It’s something I’m pondering. This is a shared earth, the bears and snakes are part of it and, fortunately, not my enemies. It felt scary and exciting, and yet right, natural, and appropriate, to experience these animals in their natural habitat. We are so used to seeing these animals only in zoos, it’s something to realize that they really live (and can thrive) in nature. We got lost in the woods twice, but had all we needed to survive on our backs, so what’s the worry? We are a part of this natural world, and need to remember that and accept it.

A full acount of this backpacking trip on the Donut Hole Trail is available at www.blog.peacefulways.com/

Conscientious Objection to registration for a draft

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 01:58:47 +0000

For some of those conscientiously opposed to war, their conscience does not allow them to even register for a military draft. They feel that by doing so, they are supporting the military system that requires all males to register. Attempts by the government to prosecute such conscientious resisters have not always been successful. Thus, the government has enacted laws that, without providing any recourse to demonstrate how such registration is offensive to one’s most deeply held religious beliefs, punish those who in good conscience cannot register. Particularly, such conscientious young males are deemed ineligible to recieve government loans that they need in order to be able to afford a higher education. In some states, the punishment for following your conscience in this regard, is that the state will not issue you a driver’s license. Despite what would seem the patent unconstitutionality of such punishment without any hearing, the government is intent on enforcing this on all non-registrants, and thereby lumping those religiously opposed to war with those who simply neglect to register. In response, a fund has been established to provide educational loans for those who can demonstrate hardship on account of their refusal to register for a draft (more information is available on links to the right).