Celebrating International Day of Peace: Books on Display

Throughout U.S. history, antiwar activists have gathered and lobbied to prevent armed conflict.Often their work put them at odds with the majority population.Sometimes their antiwar positions gave their opponents' reason to questions the activist loyalty to the United States.The Fight for Peace traces the work of antiwar activists from the Revolutionary War (1776-1783) to the conflict in Iraq in the 2000s.This book shines light on the U.S. peace movements and organizations that developed in the 1800s, as well as the international pacifist groups that bucked the majority in the 1900s.The book also gives voice to these who argue that some causes are worth fighting for.In so doing, the Fight for Peace makes us face the ongoing tension between those who fight wars and those who fight to preserve peace.

In this highly anticipated Buddhist perspective on resolving conflict, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrates how a real peace process is based on spiritual,not political strength. Inspired by an ongoing Buddhist retreat project for Israelis and Palestinians, this book offers practical ways to handle our strong emotions and misperceptions and provides a possible way out of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Peace Begins Here is rich with stories from individual Israelis and Palestinians, as well as examples from Thich Nhat Hanh's life, including his experience with nonviolent action during the war in Vietnam and its aftermath. Highlights include personal stories from participants in the peace retreats and Thich Nhat Hanh's collected practices for peace, including deep listening, deep relaxation, mindful walking, mindful eating, and loving speech.

The world has changed dramatically since the 1988 first edition of this work. The very notion of what is meant by peace, at least domestically, has been profoundly affected by the events of September 11, 2001.New to this edition are additional discussions of the contributions of feminist theorists to the understanding of peacemaking, the role of the family in peace education, and the creation of visions and hope for the future. The present volume begins with a discussion of the concepts of peace and peace education. It then considers religious and historical concepts of war, peace and peace education, describes how peace education can move people to work for social change and look for alternatives to violence, and discusses ways to begin implementing peace education in schools, churches and other community settings such as youth groups. It goes on to address sensitive issues in peace education, key concepts and topics, important biological and cultural factors, and barriers facing those who teach peace. It provides the how of peace education by examining optimal pedagogy and practices.Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

All of us say we want peace, but only a few are willing to prove it. John Dear, SJ, has been arrested more than seventy-five times. He has spent more than a year of his life in jail. He has been mocked by an armed and angry U.S. National Guard battalion standing outside the doors to his New Mexico parish. All this because he so fervently believes in peace. A Persistent Peace, John Dear's autobiography, invites readers to follow the decades-long journey and spiritual growth of this nationally known peace activist, and to witness his bold, decisive, often unpopular actions before government officials, military higher-ups, and even representatives of the Church. From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, Dear's incredible story will touch the heart of anyone who believes in the power of peace and the possibility of a world where love conquers all. Praise for John Dear and A Persistent Peace nbsp; "Once more, and in a plenary way, we are blessed by the eloquence and moral passion of John Dear. . . . More power to this intrepid disciple of Christ--The Peacemaker." nbsp;--Daniel Berrigan, author of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine nbsp; "John Dear understands that peacemaking is not a part-time job. . . . John has walked the talk for years, an inspiration to all of us to do more than we think we can." nbsp;--Jim Wallis, author of The Great Awakening and president, Sojourners "John Dear has been arrested in the cause of peace and human decency more times than anyone else I know. I am honored to consider him a friend." nbsp;--Joan Baez, singer and peace activist "John Dear is a great spiritual progressive leader whose wisdom, courage, and gentleness make him one of the most beloved teachers of nonviolence in America. . . . Reading this book will make you less lonely by knowing that you're sharing your time on earth with John Dear." nbsp;--Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine "Look, I know this guy. He's real; and he shows that it's possible for ordinary folks to really live Jesus' call to be peacemakers. . . . Prepare your own heart as you open this book." nbsp;--Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking "John Dear's life story is inspiring and heartwarming." nbsp;--Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States

To see if nonviolence could be taught, in 1982 Colman McCarthy became a volunteer teacher at one of the poorest high schools in Washington, DC. In the thirty-two years since then, he has taught peace studies courses for more than ten thousand college and high school students. Large numbers of those students have faithfully kept in touch with McCarthy, often with handwritten letters, and he has answered them with the same seriousness he brought to his columns and books. The exchanges rise to a rare kind of literature that blends personal warmth, intellectual honesty, and shared idealism. The discussions range from peace and war to a host of other issues of social justice, such as the death penalty, human rights, poverty, the living wage, animal rights, and vegetarianism. The wide-ranging letters suggest how teacher and students co-create a world of more love and less hate.

Civil wars pose some of the most difficult problems in the world today and the United Nations is the organization generally called upon to bring and sustain peace. Lise Morjé Howard studies the sources of success and failure in UN peacekeeping. Her in-depth 2007 analysis of some of the most complex UN peacekeeping missions debunks the conventional wisdom that they habitually fail, showing that the UN record actually includes a number of important, though understudied, success stories. Using systematic comparative analysis, Howard argues that UN peacekeeping succeeds when field missions establish significant autonomy from UN headquarters, allowing civilian and military staff to adjust to the post-civil war environment. In contrast, failure frequently results from operational directives originating in UN headquarters, often devised in relation to higher-level political disputes with little relevance to the civil war in question. Howard recommends future reforms be oriented toward devolving decision-making power to the field missions.

Featuring a diverse group of writers, War No More gathers the best of America's vibrant tradition of antiwar and peace literature, essays, letters, speeches, memoirs, poems, stories and songs spanning almost three centuries. It offers an unprecedented view of a powerful and perennially relevant American tradition, encompassing five-star generals, theologians, nuclear physicists, folk singers, signers of the declaration, quietists, anarchists, veterans, and Nobel laureates.