Trying to stop war

posted by Kathy

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE ADDED AN UPDATE WITH DETAILS OF THE CND COACH.

We've just passed the fifth anniversary of the big anti-war march in London. I've been thinking about it quite a lot. Even my worst fears didn't foresee the devastation that followed the invasion of Iraq. I find it hard to see any good that has been achieved by our soldiers' presence there or in Afghanistan - and I hoped that some good would come, despite the cruelty of war.

The Stop the War campaign has been in touch. They are organising coaches to another demonstration in London on Saturday 15th March. The march will call for troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, will oppose any attack on Iran and will also call for an end to the seige of Gaza. The local group is running a stall in Beeston in the Square on Saurday, 23rd February between 11.00 and 1.00 and would appreciate help with leafletting. If you would like to help, please turn up. There's no need to commit yourself to the whole two hours.

If you can't come to the square but would like to book a place on the bus to the London demonstration, click HERE for details of how to contact Nottingham Stop the war.

The 15th March demonstration is also backed by CND (currently celebrating its 50th birthday) and the British Muslim Initiative. CND is calling for people to surround the Atomic Weapons Base at Aldermaston on Easter Monday (24th March). I don't yet know if anyone is going there from Nottingham. But it might be a good way to spend a holiday weekend.

The Quaker Peace Testimony is more complex than mere opposition to war. But when our country is at war, it seems necessary to speak out as best we can.


UPDATE: There IS a bus from Nottingham to Aldermaston for the Easter Monday demo. Details are HERE on the Nottingham CND website. I don't know how easy it will be to get to central Nottingham on Easter Monday so anyone who knows about public transport then might like to post a comment or share the information by e-mail or at Meeting.

Open to new light?

posted by Kathy

"Are you open to new light, from whatever source it may come?"

That's one of the challenges posed by Advices and Queries. One of the blogs I read from time to time is Adventus, an American blog which I think comes from an Episcopalian (C of E) perspective. Sometimes I find it "speaks to my condition".

Today it includes an extract from an interview with President Ahmadeinejad of Iran, broadcast on United States television. Being told that President Bush is "without question, a very religious man", President Ahmedeinijad began to question this. This led him to explore what religion means:

"What religion, please tell me, tells you as a follower of that religion to occupy another country and kill its people? Please tell me. Does Christianity tell its followers to do that? Judaism, for that matter? Islam, for that matter? What prophet tells you to send 160,000 troops to another country, kill men, women, and children? You just can't wear your religion on your sleeve or just go to church. You should be truthfully religious. Religion tells us all that you should respect the property, the life of different people. Respect human rights. Love your fellow man. And once you hear that a person has been killed, you should be saddened. You shouldn't sit in a room, a dark room, and hatch plots. And because of your plots, many thousands of people are killed. Having said that, we respect the American people. And because of our respect for the American people, we respectfully talk with President Bush. We have a respectful tone. But having said that, I don't think that that is a good definition of religion. Religion is love for your fellow man, brotherhood, telling the truth."

While I am not in sympathy with all the President Ahmedeinijad's statements, his words on this occasion deserve consideration. I'm glad to have read this - and Adventus's post on the subject.

Meanwhile, Nigel recommends this article from today's Guardian about Quaker Meeting and silence. And I can't remember who recommended reading this piece in which the previous Guardian religious affairs correspondent gives the reason for his resignation.

And I've just followed a link to a page of Quaker information, ideas, diaries and resources, including the chance to win a Quaker T-shirt! Is this a Quaker first?