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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 19, 2014 at 12:15pm

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/peace/DG051-099/DG076ABigelow.htm

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Permalink Reply by Rick Massengale on 3rd mo. 19, 2014 at 12:24pm

Laura

Very Interesting.... Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 19, 2014 at 12:31pm

Yes, Rick I thought it might interest you.  I spend a lot of time in Humboldt here in Northern California.  They brought the boat up from the bottom somewhere and it was just a pile of boards and it looks beautiful now. The slide show shows the progress.   When a person like Albert Bigelow changes course from being a military officer of high rank to the life of a committed Pacifist ready to die for that I sit up and listen.  While I don't know if any of the Veterans for Peace here in Humboldt are Friends, Albert Bigelow did join the Religious Society of Friends.

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Permalink Reply by Olivia on 3rd mo. 20, 2014 at 4:28pm

So if I understand this correctly this was on par with (and actually far beyond) the actions of the folks who climb trees and live in them for months or years, in protest, hoping the company won't cut them down or themselves fall from the sky...This appears to be the story of 4 guys who knew that nuclear testing was going on in the area and, to protest and call for change, they decided to go sailing into it??

Thanks for sharing this.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 20, 2014 at 4:51pm

I think so,  it seems somewhat similar. I know lots of tree sitters around here anyway, my son-in-law sat in trees for months  .   .   Anyway, I need to re-read the many articles on the story to make sure I am recounting it correctly.  But Albert Bigelow was a high-ranking naval officer a few weeks from retirement when he heard that the atomic bombs had been dropped in Japan.  He resigned from the Navy almost immediately on hearing the news,  losing the benefits he would have been entitled to.  They interfered with nuclear testing in the Golden Rule and also I believe were among those that hosted the "Nagasaki Maidens", young women disfigured by the bombs who came to live in the United States.  He and his wife joined the Religious Society of Friends, and I have heard that there is a link between the Golden Rule and the later emergence of the Green Peace boats.  So, the Veterans for Peace pulled the boat up from the bottom of the bay here and are restoring it, planning to sail around.  I don't know if they plan on doing any Civil Disobedience or not but the boat will be a teaching tool regarding issues about peace.  I put these links up about things that I know about but am certainly not an expert about so that those who are interested can get fully informed if they want to  and there are other people who can talk about these things with greater accuracy than I can.  Don't know how that boat fell into such disrepair that it sunk but its rebirth is certainly a metaphor that I celebrate.

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Permalink Reply by Olivia on 3rd mo. 20, 2014 at 5:09pm

This is great to hear about "They interfered with nuclear testing in the Golden Rule and also I believe were among those that hosted the "Nagasaki Maidens", young women disfigured by the bombs who came to live in the United States.  He and his wife joined the Religious Society of Friends, and I have heard that there is a link between the Golden Rule and the later emergence of the Green Peace boats. "

I appreciate the link but also appreciate your words as they help us to see the Spirit of what you're showing us better.  (= thanks for summing it up for those of us in the ADD-ish crowd)

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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 20, 2014 at 5:14pm

Maybe someone who knows more about the matter will speak up. 

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Permalink Reply by Rick Massengale on 3rd mo. 21, 2014 at 6:50am

Laura,

I continue to be inspired Albert Bigelow and crew.

It's one thing to make a stand after you have nothing left to lose.. and quiet another to make a stand when you have everything to lose. 

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Permalink Reply by Martin Kelley on 3rd mo. 21, 2014 at 10:25am

Friends Journal ran a piece on the restoration last year, "The Golden Rule Shall Sail Again," and I see it's author  Skip Oliver has just joined QuakerQuaker: http://www.quakerquaker.org/profile/SkipOliver

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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 21, 2014 at 10:44am

Thanks for letting me know. 

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Permalink Reply by Laura Scattergood on 3rd mo. 21, 2014 at 11:07am

Rick Massengale said:

Laura,

I continue to be inspired Albert Bigelow and crew.

It's one thing to make a stand after you have nothing left to lose.. and quiet another to make a stand when you have everything to lose. 

 

Thanks Rick.  I always feel that people who have spent time in the military have a lot \to teach us if we listen and a lot more credentials to take a different stand if they decide to do so.   I really don't know if I will ever be called to endanger my life for the cause of Light and Truth but actually on a daily basis  just being decent to other people and holding my tongue and my temper is a challenge.  Praying for someone who tailgates you and flips you off, not getting engaged in gossip,  etc. constant challenges that I don't always meet.  So wherever we are there is Spiritual Labor to do.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Oliver on 3rd mo. 21, 2014 at 2:32pm

Hey Laura & Olivia & Rick & Others -  

     As Martin wrote, I did an article about the Golden Rule saga which he posted above.  

     The whole purpose of restoring the boat is to honor the original crew and teach folks about the example that they set.  And yes, Bigelow was a Navy Lt. Commander in WWII, and gave up his Navy pension just three weeks before it was to come due.  (See his book [public domain, downloadable] "the Voyage of the Golden Rule".)  The other crew members were equally noteworthy - James Peck, Wm. Huntington,  Orion Sherwood and George Willoughby.  

     Laura, stop by the boatyard where we are working (see website for directions).  It's inspiring - if you put your hand on the keel of the old girl, she will whisper to you.  I'm only exaggerating a little.  Ha ha. 

     And we have two websites other than the one you mentioned -  VFPGoldenRule.org  and a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo   http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-golden-rule/x/5305079

     Check out the neat video on the Indie site.  All done by volunteers.  

     Any way that you can boost our Indie campaign would be greatly appreciated.  We really want to splash this year and start voyaging again for peace.  

     Footnote - I'm a Vietnam vet, but not proud of what we did there.  Joined VFP to partially atone, I guess.  To me, the real heroes are the ones who say "NO" to violence - like the Quakers.  I wrote an article about this in November, Google Arnold Oliver, "Redefining Heroism".   

        PAX & Fair Winds,    AJ (Skip) Oliver 

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