A Pacifist Dictionary [written by a U.S. Quaker pacifist, posted on the "nonviolence org website"]

The Nonviolence Web ^ | Oct. 15, 2001 | Kate Maloy

[summer]

From above editorial:

Someone recently said to me: My pacifism stops when someone declares war on me.

I agree.

And, I read her editorial. She did not change my mind one bit.

Sorry, Kate. You sound to me like you are a nice person. But, when planes are hijacked, people murdered and the WTC destroyed, well, IMO, "peace" is not a rational response to such an attack.

[summer]

FYI -- And, the author is a Quaker.

[DWSUWF]

"...When at risk, we want to destroy the enemy that has put us there. This is not our noblest option..."

Kate, you're full of Bullsh!t.

Enemies are for vanquishing, if you can manage the grit and the will to do it. There'll be time enough for your putrid version of 'peace' in the grave.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Freedom. A human condition that arises from a generous sufficiency of food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, civil and religious liberties, and employment opportunities. It is a self-limiting condition; it breeds no desire for excess, whether material, behavioral, or political. A truly free person or nation sees that in a world of finite resources the drive for disproportionate wealth and power necessarily exploits or subjugates others and thus betrays humanity’s first principle.

This sounds more like Marx's view of freedom than America's.

[summer]

But, Cokie is sounding good here:

We are dismissed by the likes of NPR’s Cokie Roberts, who, when asked whether there is any opposition to this current war, answered: None that matters...

[Madame Dufarge]

It sees that all weapons are powerless against hatred, as our country’s massive arsenal was powerless against militants with knives and boxcutters.

Only a pacifist wouldn't recognize that a sucker punch is just that - a sucker punch.

OK, call back the Rangers! They sucker-punched us. Wrap it up, time to go home...

[glockmeister40]

It's easy to be a pacifist in the United States. They have the rest of us to protect their rights. I wonder how long the quakers would last in a typical middle east dictatorship? If you're not willing to fight for your country then go somewhere else or, at least, shut up.

[Gorzaloon]

We pacifists know that our definitions are not in common usage

Unfortunately the poor silly goose does not realize that they are not shared by somone who casually kills 6,000 cubicle workers.

Further, such a society shares virtually none of her delusional goodness and has nothing but contempt and hatred for Western Civilization. There is no point of commonality and no possibility of dialogue.

One may as well discuss Thomas Aquinas with a reptile, for all the good it would do.

The killers do not even share some of the fundamental assumptions upon which Civilization is based.

I have a friend who came here from an old Warsaw Pact country, whose culture was nowhere as alien as that of the mass murderers. Yet, he told me, "The part I cannot express or get across to Americans, is that where I come from, a single individual human life does not mean sh!t!!"

[lds23]

Basically a circular argument regarding equality. Would the author care to explain just how to achieve "equality"? Who decides what aspects are to be equalized? Who decides who gets/has how much? Sounds nice, but utterly worthless.

[Valin]

Those of us who hang onto pacifist ideals, even in times like these, are dismissed, attacked, and mocked.

Could it be because there are those who are just whiney little twits who equate pacifism with blame America first, or just can't be bothered with helping to preserve and protect the nation where you can be a pacifist?

[DWSUWF]

"...But, Cokie is sounding good here:..."

Cokie's an unpredictable, quirky old hide, I'll readily concede that.

But, in the end, after venting her spleen, she usually stands with America's enemies.

[Octar]

No matter how it is dressed and garnished, a pacifist is still a coward and a parasite. And a self-deluded fool, I might add. Could you ever trust one?

[A.J.Armitage]

Freedom. A human condition that arises from a generous sufficiency of food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, civil and religious liberties, and employment opportunities. It is a self-limiting condition; it breeds no desire for excess, whether material, behavioral, or political. A truly free person or nation sees that in a world of finite resources the drive for disproportionate wealth and power necessarily exploits or subjugates others and thus betrays humanity’s first principle.

No wonder their definitions aren't in general use. Here's a definition of freedom that has nothing to do with being free. By that definition, a well fed cow in a pen has freedom.

[AmishDude]

Some Quaker. "Jesus" is never mentioned. "God", "the Almighty" or any variation thereof, is never mentioned. The only indication she may be religious in any way (other than stating so at the end of the article) is that she uses the word "pray". Once.

[A.J.Armitage]

Of course, the actual definition is the absence of undue restrictions.

[AmishDude]

I stand corrected. She also uses the word "grace".

[summer]

Could you ever trust one?

Well, I sure wouldn't want to be in the military with one.

[nothingnew]

A Pacifist Dictionary

I wish I'd known this was a version of some pea-brained idea of Nirvana before I slugged thru it.

FMCDH

[summer]

...can't be bothered with helping to preserve and protect the nation where you can be a pacifist?

I think some pacifists have a genuine aversion to violence. But, having said that, I think a person who is truly a pacifist should do everything else possible to help others willing to fight for the country where one CAN be pacifist.

I mean she doesn't have to join the U.S. army, but there a million other things she could and should do to demonstrate her love of humanity during this time of war, including: her love of her fellow countrymen HERE IN THIS COUNTRY and our MILITARY wherever they may be.

[summer]

I thought my title made it very clear!