Pass laws workaround
Some leading Democrats are beginning to speak openly about bringing some of our troops home from Iraq. President Bush and most Republicans won’t entertain such an idea. An eminent world citizen tells them that they are both wrong.
The author of Letters to World Citizens (World Government House, 2004), Garry Davis, tells us what it means to be one. In a letter about the Persian Gulf War, he states that “world citizens…are not ‘against’ war nor ‘for’ peace…we are peace.”
Davis would know something about war. He served as a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II. But three years after the war ended, disenchanted with an “international anarchy” created by the United States and other nations, he renounced his US citizenship. From that point on, he has considered himself a citizen of the world.
He then began to compose letters, most of them in newsletter form, to fellow world citizens. In his first letter, he spoke of forming the United World Government in 1956, insisting that world citizenship gives rise to world government.
In later letters, he sets forth other principles. He states that “to choose one’s political allegiance is the essence of democracy and the beginning of sovereignty.” He says that peace is the consequence of law. And he opines that people who refuse to link world citizenship to world government are “sunshine patriots.”
The book documents that over the years, he has developed a following. In 1975, he visited the 35 Senators and 129 Members of Congress for Peace through Law. Over 750,000 people have applied for World Service Authority World Passports, which his organization sponsors.
Davis served his native country only to find that his country did not serve his interest in peace. One cannot help but read his frustration with the United States’ insistence upon the hydrogen bomb and its “we-and-they thinking.” He challenges the President’s authority to make peace, suggesting that anarchy is the price we pay for world security. And he criticizes the US assertion that it gave back Iraq’s sovereignty recently, saying that invading a nation doesn’t gain the invader any such thing.
Some parts of Letters to World Citizens are a little hard to follow. For instance, Davis talks of filing a petition with the World Court citing then-President Reagan and then-Soviet leader Chernenko as “war criminals.” It took me a number of re-readings to determine why he condemned the two leaders (he considered war illegal and said the two superpowers had the ultimate weapons of war – nuclear weapons).
Also, he fails to adequately introduce each letter with an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the letter. A short paragraph would give each letter its proper context and could include insight gained from hindsight.
Overall, Davis’ book is a fascinating read written by a fascinating person. He has lived his life according to the motto “world peace through world law.” He has interrupted the United Nations General Assembly with a plea for “one government and for one world.” Perhaps most importantly, he has called all nations to shed their divisions which, in his opinion, cause war and free the people to be true citizens of the world.
Dean Hartwell is a political scientist and the author of Truth Matters: How the Voters Can Take Back Their Nation. The book advocates specific electoral reforms and implores voters to choose honest candidates. It is available in both e-book and regular book forms at his website at www.deanhartwell.com. You may become a free subscriber to his columns, the Hartwell Perspective, at the same site.
The author of Letters to World Citizens (World Government House, 2004), Garry Davis, tells us what it means to be one. In a letter about the Persian Gulf War, he states that “world citizens…are not ‘against’ war nor ‘for’ peace…we are peace.”
Davis would know something about war. He served as a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II. But three years after the war ended, disenchanted with an “international anarchy” created by the United States and other nations, he renounced his US citizenship. From that point on, he has considered himself a citizen of the world.
He then began to compose letters, most of them in newsletter form, to fellow world citizens. In his first letter, he spoke of forming the United World Government in 1956, insisting that world citizenship gives rise to world government.
In later letters, he sets forth other principles. He states that “to choose one’s political allegiance is the essence of democracy and the beginning of sovereignty.” He says that peace is the consequence of law. And he opines that people who refuse to link world citizenship to world government are “sunshine patriots.”
The book documents that over the years, he has developed a following. In 1975, he visited the 35 Senators and 129 Members of Congress for Peace through Law. Over 750,000 people have applied for World Service Authority World Passports, which his organization sponsors.
Davis served his native country only to find that his country did not serve his interest in peace. One cannot help but read his frustration with the United States’ insistence upon the hydrogen bomb and its “we-and-they thinking.” He challenges the President’s authority to make peace, suggesting that anarchy is the price we pay for world security. And he criticizes the US assertion that it gave back Iraq’s sovereignty recently, saying that invading a nation doesn’t gain the invader any such thing.
Some parts of Letters to World Citizens are a little hard to follow. For instance, Davis talks of filing a petition with the World Court citing then-President Reagan and then-Soviet leader Chernenko as “war criminals.” It took me a number of re-readings to determine why he condemned the two leaders (he considered war illegal and said the two superpowers had the ultimate weapons of war – nuclear weapons).
Also, he fails to adequately introduce each letter with an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the letter. A short paragraph would give each letter its proper context and could include insight gained from hindsight.
Overall, Davis’ book is a fascinating read written by a fascinating person. He has lived his life according to the motto “world peace through world law.” He has interrupted the United Nations General Assembly with a plea for “one government and for one world.” Perhaps most importantly, he has called all nations to shed their divisions which, in his opinion, cause war and free the people to be true citizens of the world.
Dean Hartwell is a political scientist and the author of Truth Matters: How the Voters Can Take Back Their Nation. The book advocates specific electoral reforms and implores voters to choose honest candidates. It is available in both e-book and regular book forms at his website at www.deanhartwell.com. You may become a free subscriber to his columns, the Hartwell Perspective, at the same site.
posted by professor rat at 6:42 AM
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