Letters - 14 April 2023
From The Peace Testimony to Quaker sporting links
The Peace Testimony
David Boulton (17 March) states a simple truth. ‘Russia invaded a country… in defiance of international law.’ History does repeat itself sadly without the lessons being learnt.
In 1968 Russia (then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) invaded Czechoslovakia to overthrow the government of Alexander Dubček. As the tanks rolled in, crucially Dubček ordered his army and his people not to fight back with the inevitable result that the Russian occupation was successful and the Czech people endured some twenty years of occupation before the Russians were obliged to leave when the Soviet Union collapsed.
At the time of the invasion and throughout the occupation the Czech people united in carrying out a campaign of nonviolent civil resistance – to the great discomfort of the occupiers. Crucially, due to the nonviolent response, many lives were saved, buildings and industries remained intact, and the country did not collapse into devastation. The people were able to carry on with their almost-normal lives, although it took a long time before they were once more free.
There are many lessons from history that tell us that nonviolent resistance in line with our Peace Testimony can and does achieve success. Our Veterans For Peace UK campaigning mission statement says: ‘War is no solution to the problems we face in the 21st century.’ As we in the west continue to supply one side with ever-more- lethal weapons we are now facing an increasingly protracted and escalating war which reminds us only too well of what happened in 1939-1945.
John Bourton
Funerals
I was interested to read Barrie Mahoney’s account of his neighbour’s non-funeral (24 March). George’s widow, Maureen, is quite right in implying that funerals are expensive. But it is not necessary to have a funeral in order to celebrate a life. Maureen could invite those friends who loved George to his garden for a small tea party. Barrie could bring the cake. They could all share their memories of George without fuss or expense in the place he loved.
Penelope Putz
Woodbrooke
What Friends do is Meet. Only when Woodbrooke has closed and Friends can never again Meet there will they know what they have lost. I am sure Rosemary Wells (31 March) speaks for many. She speaks for me and I would gladly do what she urges.
Stephen Deas
Bricks and mortar
Well said Rosemary Wells (31 March): ‘bricks and mortar do matter’. We need a physical presence such as Woodbrooke for those who don’t realise that they are Friends, of which I am convinced there are many, to find us.
In the same vein, we need our Meeting houses. If we start getting rid of those, as some would, we lose an essential arm of outreach. In particular, many of our historic Meeting houses just ooze silence, peace, comfort and safety if you just take the time to listen to them.
David G Bower
Population
Many Friends will be aware of the Quaker recognised group Quaker Concern Over Population (QCOP), which seeks to inform Friends of the dangers of population growth. This arose from a concern recognised at Nailsworth Meeting, and confirmed at Gloucestershire Area Meeting. We have a website at qcop.org.uk.
In common with all bodies acting to address this issue, we do not advocate coercion. Indeed much of such bodies’ efforts are in countering the coercion of those working against our cause, such as: the American right-wing efforts to ban abortion (and possibly to ban contraception too, consequences of religious dogma about contraception); economists who subscribe to the current mantra that all growth is good; populist rulers who see strength in numbers; and general unawareness.
Recent reports of the drop in fertility have caused some panic because the inference is drawn that humanity is in decline. But a drop in fertility is not the same as a drop in the rate of growth, much less a drop in total numbers. The sixth, seventh and eighth billion have taken twelve, twelve and eleven years respectively; the rate of growth is as fast as it has ever been, and is slightly increasing.
The reason that I am writing this now is that we have received notification of a group of Friends who are concerned, as we all are, I hope, with climate justice, who have recently published an online educational booklet which includes a passage in which they appear to equate population concern activity with fascism, and accuse activists of racism and eugenics. I shall not name them, but we in QCOP have already contacted them to explain our concerns, and I hope they will see this letter and respond. No good comes of name calling – it is unQuakerly apart from anything else, and reasoned debate is better.
Roger Plenty
‘Wake up Russia’
I am very convinced of the power of collective prayer and meditation. It is very important that we daily maintain a positive and healing attitude in our daily prayers and meditations. ‘The wise ones’ assure us that prayer and meditation have a much wider effect than we dare to acknowledge. Thus we must be careful to have a positive attitude and not be despairing and negative. Yes, this can be very difficult to do. We are encouraged when we learn that the effects of prayer and meditation is now well researched under the term ‘Super Radiance’. The results are very interesting showing that collective prayer on love and forgiveness can have a very widespread effect on the world around us
Russia wake up! You are a great nation. Unfortunately, you are being led in a negative and very destructive way by the tyrants in the Kremlin. What suffering to the whole world and especially Ukraine is the result! These nasty wars and ‘military exercises’ have to stop. There is only space now on earth for positive cooperation.
I have in the past met some marvellous Russian people and been very impressed by their constructive thinking. I am aware that there has recently been amazing advances in energy and fuel technology. Russia has immense reserves of oil and many gases which can be converted into less harmful substances with only a small amount of toxic gas (carbon dioxide) released into the atmosphere. Such advances will be of immense benefit to the whole planet. I have found that if one can visualise something of the other person’s viewpoint, both sides will benefit. Surely if many persons daily concentrate on a suggested positive outcome to our problems benefits must ensue?
Anthony Fox
Scruffy Quakers
I remember when we moved to Surbiton in the late 1960s we met an elderly widow living next door. She came in once and saw a copy of Quaker faith & practice and exclaimed ‘Oh I knew you were Quakers the moment I saw you moving in – you were so scruffy’.
It turned out that she had been a very active Young Friend, clerk of Junior Yearly Meeting at one point. But she had married an Anglican clergyman and so was now one of the most respectably dressed people on our street. As an ex-Anglican myself, the relief at Friends’ dress code was a powerful incentive to join.
Audrey Hills
‘What a nice place’
‘What a nice place.’ This was spoken enthusiastically and excitedly, by one of four people visiting the cafe at Friends House – a quartet for a business meeting in front of me in the café. This was a wonderful compliment for the culture that is Quakers. Congratulations to the staff and management of the Friends House hospitality. Thank you for all you do for Quakers.
David Fish
Quaker sporting links
Your item on past football scores in the Eye (17 March) led me to check the nickname of one football club (along with 1,056 others). One of Darlington FC’s nicknames is The Quakers, because of the historic influence the religious movement had on the town. I wonder if any Darlington friends still support the club? Some football clubs have chaplaincy teams, I believe.
Bernie Kennedy
Comments
Stephen Deas, and also Rosemary Wells in recent letters, speak my mind with regard to the tragedy for the Society of Friends at the decision to close Woodbrooke. I ask “Was this really inevitable”? Do we realise what we are losing. How many Friends have been helped by physically meeting together to deepen their Quaker faith over the years in this iconic Quaker place. I have a heart felt fear that we are throwing cherished ways of rooting ourselves together in the divine by the rush towards a contact free world.
Simon Ewart. Penzance LM.
By Simon Ewart on 14th April 2023 - 9:55
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