Letters: September/October 2018

What Jesus Really Said

In response to “Is Nonviolence Naive?” (by Andrew Klager, July 2018), remember this: Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Not “Blessed are the peacekeepers.” We often confuse the two. Making peace is proactive!

Rick Williams
From Facebook

Violence Escalates

I enjoyed “Is Nonviolence Naive?” However, I think there was not enough of a distinction made between pacifism, absorbing the violence without reaction, and nonviolent resistance—which either throws a bar into the spokes of violence to stop it or puts it on public display to arouse outrage. Both tactics are intended for the ultimate redemption of the perpetrators of the violence. I found the discussion question on whether it was correct to punch a neo-Nazi poorly thought out. Violence always escalates (what Walter Wink calls “mimesis”), as can be observed in everything from a common street fight to a war. Mimesis states that, in any violent conflict, the methods of the “attackee”—if he or she resists—will rise to the level of the attacker plus one level. Eventually the “attacker” returns the favor and raises the ante on the level of violence. The question would soon be, “Is it right to kill a neo-Nazi after you have punched him in the face, and the fight escalates?”

Daniel Lehman
New Bern, North Carolina

Committed to Peace

Regarding “Is Nonviolence Naive?”: Some would call themselves a “conscience objector,” others “nonviolent.” I happen to prefer the term “peacemaker.” It conveys actively pursuing a path that honors and values all persons toward peaceful resolution of conflict. I am Anabaptist, committed to peace, not running away from conflict, but embracing a greater hope even in the midst of conflict. I am glad to hear that the peace movement is growing among Catholic and Protestant groups.

Joseph Fox
From Facebook

Being Patient with Beavers

Let’s hear it for beavers! Thanks, Bill McKibben (“Leave it to Beavers,” June 2018), for your enthusiasm. McKibben mentions occasionally flooded basements without saying how he convinced the beavers to relent. However, it seems that thousands of other Americans are not so patient. As a result, Wildlife Services, a branch of the Department of Agriculture which, on request, also kills coyotes and cougars and such, is said to kill more than 20,000 beavers each year. It seems that many Americans do not want their property turned into environmentally friendly wetlands! Why the usual procedure is to kill rather than relocate beavers and other creatures, I do not know. But the Center for Biological Diversity has sued Wildlife Services over this issue, arguing that beavers are a keystone species and that we need to find more peaceful ways to live with them.

Norm Mundhenk
Silverdale, Washington

A Valuable Perspective

I enjoyed reading Wil Gafney’s reflections in the Living the Word section (July 2017 to June 2018). What she shared encouraged and inspired me, and I appreciated that Sojourners gave me the opportunity to be taught regularly from the perspective of a woman of color.

Shevawn Ramsey
Huntington Beach, California