In this issue our theme is Peace. We asked for articles on this theme, and have received such a wealth of good articles that we have decided the theme deserves two issues! It is encouraging to find that the quest for Peace is still a driving force in the Society of Friends. The article on the Peace Testimony reminds us that early Friends found, by experience, that the Spirit of God would never lead them to fight with weapons. Since that time Friends have sought to establish the kind of society in which war will be unthinkable.
In this issue we have decided to concentrate on what Friends are doing now – from our youngest Friends to our most seasoned. And as this is the year when people are looking back to the First World War, and Friends are looking at how our members have opposed war in the past, this will be the focus of our next issue.
We hope you will find this an uplifting issue!
Glad to see coverage of the first world war – history is useful for looking forward, as we heard from Margaret Macmillan, historian, who recounted how JFK’s hand was stayed in 1962 (Cuban missile crisis) because he’d read Barbara Tuchman’s The Proud Tower and was aware of how political leaders can choose ‘catastrophe’ (war) or peace.
I’d be happy to offer an annotated resource list – a top 5 things to read & see (YouTubes) – or perhaps invite that!
Chloe Mason
02 9281 1751