Our Blog
War, Artificial Intelligence, and Humanity
Artificial intelligence in war weapons rarely makes it into the news. Yet, it requires our careful attention because it is already part of international and national lawmaking. The United Nations (UN) Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on the Convention on Certain...
Victims are Both Hard to Recognize and Easy to Spot
You might think I made a mistake with the title of this article, as it contradicts itself, but read on, and I will explain. Many people have a preconceived notion of what a “battered woman” looks like—poor, several children, high school education or GED, submissive,...
Friends Keep Lines Open After Hurricane
When Hurricane Michael took out our internet for a few days, hotline calls were not interrupted because nearby Quakers, Heather McIver and Suzanne Lowe (pictured with Steve), opened their door and shared their working internet with us. Here we are in their living...
Coming Full Circle to Gratitude
Last week we received this email from Gary, one of the conscientious objectors we helped apply for discharge when he could no longer reconcile his Christian faith with being in the military. “One year ago I gave you a call. Today I got a call from my Company...
Desensitization and Apathy to the Realities of War
Thoughts about a war culture after reading the text of the speech given at the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act on August 13, 2018, at Fort Drum, in Jefferson, New York. The following quotes are from that speech (emphasis added by me). Words following...
In Memoriam: The Legacy of Bill Carothers and Quaker House
You could say that Quaker House underwent a kind of trial by fire in 1970, and Bill Carothers was one of the firefighters who stepped in to help. Specialist William Carothers, as he was officially known, was serving with the 612th Quartermaster Company at Fort Bragg...
Quaker House at 50 — Still Witnessing for Peace
They say that a week is a long time in politics, and half a century is more than the working lifetime of most politicians and members of the military. For those working for a more peaceful and just world, and for Quakers, who’ve been advocating for peace for 380 years...
When Military Recruiting Goes Awry — The GI Rights Hotline
Delayed Entry Program (DEP): On the GI Rights Hotline, we receive calls from service members in all phases of military service. Some of our favorite calls come from those in the Delayed Entry Program, individuals who have signed up but not yet reported for basic...
Bringing Order to the Mental Chaos of Trauma
A client has been with us from his transition as an active duty soldier to civilian life. While in the Army, he had experienced some depression and moral injury. After his Army contract was cut short due to a severe injury, he felt he could make a change in others'...