from killing to living JAKE HOOGLAND This article is not intended to be an outline of nonviolent national defense. It is only intended to be an introduction to a concept that is almost totally ignored in America. America is primed for violence. This year the Department of Defense will spend more money on a $100,000,000 program to develop a laser beam for military use. The death ray of Flash Gordon is here, and being promulgated by the United States. Of course, the Department of Defense doesn't think a thing of it. They see it as merely another advancement in the pursuit of our national defense. The Department of Defense doesn't consider the morality or immorality of such a weapon or the "laser beam defense mania" which will sweep the country after the weapon is perfected. But more importantly the defense establishment also ignores the greatest force for national defense ever possible a system of non-violent national defense. Non-violence is not a popular subject with the military. It is looked upon as a weapon of outsiders, those who live and operate for change from outside of the system. Violence is seen as the only way of defense for a strong onward going nation, and violence is seen as a way of life for Americans and for America. Violence is a pattern of thinking for military leaders. Non-violence disrupts the idea of "machismo" which has been developed around the United States military establishment. This concept of "machismo" is used to entice potential warriors into enlisting. The concept usually runs that the power wielded by the military will, in some mystical manner, rub off on the enlistees. The strength of the United States is looked upon as a personal strength by some members of society. "I am a part of the United States. I am also a man. If the United States is strong militarily then I am stronger." Military strength is seen as evidence of personal prowess, military arms means strength; lack of military arms means castration and impotence. Non-violent national defense calls for the presence of a high sense of morality by the citizens of a nation. This sense of morality is difficult to instill in a nation. It cannot be infused into the citizenry by any program but must be an integral part of every day living in society. Military strength breaks down the morality of a nation. "Boot camp" is a prime example of this attempt at the debasement of the morality of young men. Simply and essentially "boot camp" trains men to kill. It trains men to perform the most abhorrent of all acts, to take the life of another human, something that the citizen would be condemned of planning, let alone acting out in any society. America has grown used to processing individuals in this manner. We have accepted the thought that it is easier to train men to kill than to train them in the ways and methods of non-violence. The economic system of America has been tooled for the ways of violence. An adoption of non-violent national defense would require the shifting of our economic directions from killing to living, from a preparation for slaughter to a practice of brotherhood. Naturally the effecting of such a large scale operation would have to be undertaken over a series of years, gradually and truthfully "winding down" the machine of war after making known the intention of adopting the non-violent defense pattern. People would no longer be asked to die for our economic way of life, but to live that way of life in such a manner that any death would not result. Non-violent national defense has not been researched in depth due to the lack of funding and general lack of interest by the defense establishment. The main points, however, have already been set down. If invaded: 1. No service or supplies to be furnished to invaders. 2. No orders to be obeyed except those of the constitutional civil authorities. 3. No insult or injury to be offered the invaders. 4. All public officials to be pledged to die rather than surrender. With our current arms only killing is assured in conflict situations. Non-violent defense promises no sure victory, but it does promise that morality and the sanctity of life will be preserved. A just nation totally disarmed would have at its call the power of the people, the reality of a general strike multiplied to the nth degree. With such a power and the avowed non-violent non-cooperation of the people no "enemy" (and with no arms could an enemy exist) would ever hope to successfully invade a nation which practiced non-violent national defense. Now it is necessary for America to take up the cause of non-violence as a national policy. America has never been a nation to shy away from new methods of violent confrontation, we now require a new method of preserving our morality and philosophy. This reality can only be achieved through non-violence. How can you be content With peanut butter and jelly When ham is on the way? Why dream of brown When you bought yellow? Why wear trunks for underwear When a washer is in the next room? Why pray only at the table, Or before your next test? God is around all day. You can't start all over, So start with today. STEVE CRANFILL You are pale, Jesus. The lilies fadest From thy cheeks. Pale, Pale, Pale, Poor Lord. As crosses shrivel Into Delicate Microcosmic Pallid Gold. CHARLOTTE HOE Where love is Time is forgotten Where hope is Time doesn't matter Where love and hope both are Bliss is to be found. E. H. TAYLOR reunion Seeing you again Is burping of onion. i didn't like you then; I don't like you now. Yet I'll still smile, Shake your hand firmly, And somehow produce a, "Hi, nice to see you again." People are foolish sometimes. I'm sure I'd like you; If you'd only put out your cigar. STEVE CRANFILL