Why I am not a Friend (Christian, Buddhist, Atheist...)

[Judy Panetta]

Thank you Otto.

But...as for the role Quakers played in the abolition of
slavery - it was not as prominent as some would like. The
popular image of the kindly bonneted Quaker offering shelter
to the poor pitiful slave is a community history propagated
by a racial majority. Economics played a greater part in
eradication rather than any efforts of the spirit. As for
the Underground Railroad...9if we can avoid the argument
tween the folklorists and the historians, for now) it was
largely an African American organization (with some help by
the Friends, reformed Jews, and others).  I did note in my
research a conspicuous absence of Catholic participation.
Evidence to the contrary would be greatly appreciated.

A-a-and I only have anecdotal understanding into the
thinking of 17th & 18th c. friends...but geez, for the
modern ones - as with anyone looking toward, what? personal
insight? nirvana? blessedness? It is an on-going struggle.
No one's keeping score.  I don't understand why this passage
is so hard.

Terrance, I seem to remember the friends teaming up with the
mennonites to protest slavery late-ish 17th c.?? I could be
wrong. Memory fades.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org
> [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org]On
> Behalf Of Otto
> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:57 AM
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: Re: Why I am not a Friend (Christian,
> Budhist, Atheist...)
>
>
> "If we study the history of the Quakers, we
> cannot but admire the strength
> they have acquired through their faith and
> through their efforts to live up
> to that faith in their daily life. They have
> always been opposed to violence
> in any form, and many considered their refusal to
> take part in wars the most
> important tenet of their religion. But it is not
> quite so simple. It is
> certainly true that the Declaration of 1660
> states: «We utterly deny all
> outward wars and strife and fightings with
> outward weapons, for any end and
> under any pretence whatsoever. And this is our
> testimony to the whole
> world.» But that goes much further than a refusal
> to take part in war. It
> leads to this: it is better to suffer injustice
> than to commit injustice. It
> is from within man himself that victory must in
> the end be gained."
> Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee
> http://www.nobel.se/peace/laureates/1947/press.html
>
> What are Quakers? A minority taking the example
> Jesus gave literally, a
> difficult thing in the world we're in. And quite
> different from intolerant
> Puritanism in 17th century America.
>
> Technically Daniel Boone cannot be called a
> Quaker because the became Roman
> Catholic and "volunteered in the War of 1812, and
> was disgusted to be turned
> down because he was 78 years old."
> http://websites.quincy.edu/~hardeja/cemeteries/Boo
ne-obit.html

Is Dixon still one when he encounters the classical
Quaker-dilemma? He
proves to be a brave man, a victory for humanity, but
personally it's a
defeat for a Quaker. But nevertheless it's a Quaker quality
he shows, he's
not afraid of getting into trouble to help other people.

For our European view Quakers have always played a prominent
role in the
history of slavery in the USA; they were the ones who gave
shelter to
runaway slaves, helped them to get to the North. While their
ideas of
equality and tolerance found their way into the constitution
the society in
large parts has not gone that way.

>
> Franklin, Poe, Melville, Cooper, Whitman, Hawthorne,
Irving,
> Dickenson, Alcott, Alger, Stowe, Lippard....lot of Quakers
in American
Lit.
>

Since there are not that many Quakers living in America an
impressive list.

Otto

----- Original Message -----
From: Terrance <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 12:05 AM
Subject: Re: Why I am not a Friend (Christian, Budhist,
Atheist...)