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A LANDMARK OF PEACE WORK IN AN ARMY TOWN
New Book Describes 40 years of Unique Witness by Quaker House, Fayetteville NC
More Information: Chuck Fager 910-323-3912
chuckfager@aol.com
Or Chris McCallum: 910-483-0400 chrismcc@riseup.net
Fayetteville, North Carolina –
From the street, Quaker House is merely a modest bungalow on a quiet residential
street.
But looks are deceptive.
Since 1969, Quaker House has been a
persistent and visible witness for peace, close by Fort Bragg, one of the
largest US military bases:
More than fifty thousand GIs have
called its GI Hotline for help getting out of the military.
And under its traditional cedar
shingle roof, two generations of activists have hatched peace protests large and
small, quiet and noisy, with more to come.
When it started during the Vietnam
War, there were dozens of similar projects near military bases. But Quaker House
is the only one that’s still going.
Fire-bombing couldn’t stop it.
Military spying didn’t intimidate
it.
Even fallow periods "between" wars
haven’t withered it.
Now, on its 40th
anniversary, a new book: YES TO THE TROOPS – NO TO THE WARS, tells the exciting
and improbable Quaker House story.
YES TO THE TROOPS – NO TO THE WARS
describes how Quaker House not only survived next door to one of the largest US
military bases, but in 2009 is still going strong.
It's been quite a ride. Jane Fonda
came and went. So did Sixties radicalism, and official harassment. Founding
organizers died in a car wreck. Money was often so tight it squeaked. Many staff
didn't want to live in a tough military town. The Board repeatedly wondered if
the venture was still needed or useful. The roof leaked.
But Quaker House stayed afloat.
One reason was because Quakers can
be stubborn. Harassment toughened their resolve.
But another was that, after
Vietnam, other wars followed: Central America. Desert Storm. Iraq again;
Afghanistan. (And new wars are waiting: Iran? Pakistan?)
So while dozens of similar projects
died out, Quaker House stayed alive and kept working.
Since September 11, it's been
busier than ever:
The GI Rights Hotline. Iraq.
Afghanistan. Torture flights from nearby airports. GI resisters and AWOLS.
Violence and suicide within the military. Truth In Recruiting. You name it.
The recent changes in Washington
haven’t ended the wars. So there's still need for an active, long-term peace
witness "up-close and personal" with a military hub like Fort Bragg.
That's why, with 2009 marking its
40th year, Quaker House is looking back in order to look ahead. Its
anniversary slogan is: Forty Years of Front-Line Peace Witness – And Just
Getting Started."
Author Chris McCallum and Editor
Chuck Fager spent nine months researching and writing YES TO THE TROOPS – NO TO
THE WARS.
This remarkable saga of persistent, creative peace action is full of
implications for future work to end war and find alternatives to militarism.
For more about the book, including excerpts, photos and ordering information go to: www.quakerhouse.org
For interviews or to request a review copy, contact Quaker House: 910-323-3912 or chuckfager@aol.com