Preparing For The Future
Sir,—A pacifist ex-soldier, sick of war, is at least a realist. If he chooses to spend the rest of his life seeking to prevent war, this is surely a good thing. The true pacifist is not a “pacifist” doing nothing, but one who believes that spiritual forces are stronger than physical ones and is prepared to pledge his or her life to prove it; who believes in negotiation; not armed conflict; who sees that war does not settle problems,
but creates them, particularly bitterness and hatred, which die slowly. He wants peace, not just for his country or group of countries, but for the world; he believes that peaceful co-existence is not only possible but desirable; and sees that the Russian temperament is suited to their form of government (they are not individualists), while the Chinese are working out their own. Let us be tolerant and understanding in these matters.—Yours, etc., L. M. THORNE. April 29, 1965. [This correspondence is now closed. Ed., “The Press.”]
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Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 14
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169Preparing For The Future Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 14
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