Letters - 07 April 2023
From A third way? to Youth participation
A third way?
If I were living in a country that was threatened by, or subject to, an armed invasion I would not want to stand passively by; but, as a Quaker, I would not feel able to endorse the prior existence of an armaments industry that would be the precondition of a conventional military response.
Is there a third way that, within the framework of our Peace Testimony, would enable Quakers to give a robust response to an armed invasion while also eschewing the production, sale and use of lethal weaponry?
Richard Wadey
‘I Serve’
The Friends of Brummana High School (BHS), Lebanon, met recently and I was again struck by the value of the school’s motto, ‘I Serve’.
We heard about the kidnapping gangs, economic and political chaos, and natural disasters in Lebanon, but BHS carries on. The school was founded on Quaker values 150 years ago and the spiritual strength of that heritage is proving its worth. ‘I Serve’ is key to BHS culture and means that the community looks outwards at ways to help, rather than inwards.
Instead of being paralysed by the enormity of their own challenges, BHS sent van-loads of donations to earthquake victims in neighbouring Turkey and Syria, while concerns about sustainability and ecological degradation are met by raising money for solar panels, planting indigenous species throughout the campus, and creating a botanic garden. It’s remarkable!
To hear more, join us online at Britain Yearly Meeting, on 22 April.
Sarah Barrett
Convener of Friends of Brummana High School in UK and Ireland
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.