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Focus 1-16 No Dates.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2017 08:38 Page 1 on peace, hope and pacifism The inspiration behind Mel Gibson’s movie, Hacksaw Ridge – page 4 Focus 1-16 No Dates.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2017 17:56 Page 2 2 3 Focus 1 Focus 1 OCUS magazine is committed to the examination of themes that our readers may find relevant, perplexing and encouraging. One hundred years on from the introduction of the FMilitary Service Act – and therefore conscientious objection – we look at the important topics ©antony spencer/istockphoto.com of non-combatancy; pacifism and passive resistance; surviving and resolving conflict; and the ultimate prize of peace. Our cover story is about Desmond Doss, arguably one of the twentieth century’s bravest men. 04 Desmond Doss: The makings of Hacksaw Ridge Victor Hulbert explores the Under the direction of Mel Gibson, his phenomenal story has been turned into a movie with the inspiration behind the making of the major forthcoming Mel Gibson movie, Hacksaw Ridge. title Hacksaw Ridge, which is scheduled for release on 4 November 2016. In this issue we also tell the powerful stories of others who have literally ‘walked through the 08 What is passive resistance? Julian Hibbert examines the ins and outs of pacifism, valley of the shadow of death’ and lived to share their experiences. passive resistance and peacemaking. We take this opportunity to remind you of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, which is commemorated around the world on 15 May, and of the International Day of Peace that is held on 12 Hope after horror Victor Hulbert shows us how, against all the odds, people still manage to 21 September. The latter date will also be the day on which a new Peace Garden will be opened at make a new life for themselves. Stanborough Park, Watford. The venue will be open to the public, providing a quiet place for those who wish to reflect on peace, their personal loss and related matters. 15 They also served . Julian Hibbert shows how an initiative by a group of young Quakers With this brief introduction we wish you a worthwhile read . led to the formation of the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) during World War I. The Editor 16 Conflict resolution 101 Helen Pearson makes it personal. How can we actively deal with conflict in our own lives. 20 Fourteen soldiers in God’s army Victor Hulbert details how many of the conscientious objectors – the infamous ‘conchies’ of World War I – were despised and severely treated over their political or pacifist positions. There was a small group, however, whose concerns went beyond this. 24 Hope and peace from Hiroshima’s ruins Victor Hulbert shares the story of two women who survived the atomic bomb. 26 Quiet courage commemorated . A special new Peace Garden to commemorate the courage of conscientious objectors is to be opened in Watford. 28 What will your message be? Ian Sweeney takes the bigger picture. How big can peace be? Focus MAGAZINE Vol. 37. No. 1. ISSN: 9771437920018-51 Editor: Julian Hibbert ©acmanley/istockphoto.com Contributing editor: Victor Hulbert Design: David Bell Proof reader: Andrew Puckering Subscriptions: 01476 591700 Printed in the UK ©Peter Davies/istockphoto.com Focus 1-16 No Dates.qxp_Layout 1 18/01/2017 17:56 Page 4 4 Unlikeliest Hero into a cinema release that His citation reads, ‘Through his outstanding 5 takes a very different look at the battlefield. bravery and unflinching determination in the Focus 1 Hacksaw Ridge covers the war experience of a face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Focus 1 principled young man who was willing to serve Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His his country – but unwilling to do so with a name became a symbol throughout the 77th weapon in his hand! Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far Doss took scorn and bullying from those above and beyond the call of duty.’ fellow soldiers who despised his Christian Exciting reading – but how do you transform pacifist principles. Nevertheless, when the time that tale into a blockbuster movie – particularly by Victor Hulbert ow can a book so inspire a man that he came, he saved their lives. He served on the when you discover that Doss doesn’t watch will spend the next 40 years trying to bloody battlefields of the Pacific theatre of movies himself and doesn’t like the theatre? Hturn it into a movie? The Unlikeliest Hero World War II, becoming the first conscientious That is where providence – or fortune – led is the simple courageous story of a war hero objector to be awarded the American Jensen into the path of screenwriter/producer, who refused to fight, but, as a war medic, Congressional Medal of Honour. In one of the Gregory Crosby, grandson of legendary singer saved hundreds of lives. That story somehow most famous battles – the one which gives the and actor, Bing Crosby – he of ‘White caught the imagination of a young Canadian, film its title – Doss carried 75 injured Christmas’ fame. By this time Jensen was Stan Jensen. Although he had no experience in men, one by one, over the store manager for a Christian book centre in publishing or media, he determined that edge of a 120-metre-high Glendale, California and Crosby was there for his life passion would be to help escarpment to safety below. an in-store demonstration. tell what he saw as a life-changing Similar valour continued in Jensen, recognising an opportunity, story. He even moved to LA to be close subsequent days as Doss approached him with a copy of the book, to Hollywood, hoping to make contact with repeatedly put himself directly asking him to read it because, as he said, someone who could help him fulfil his dream. in the line of fire to help the ‘I always thought it would make a great The name of the medic: Desmond Doss. wounded. Not even his own idea for a movie.’ And after many convoluted twists and turns, wounds stopped him, and he Crosby recalls that Stan seemed and ten years after Doss’s own death in 2006, continued to treat the casualties like a really nice guy, so he said, a major blockbuster movie, Hacksaw Ridge, even as others applied first aid to ‘Sure’ – but that was about it. has transformed Jensen’s 1970s read of The him. Such requests come with the territory for those in the movie business. ‘I get infinite people approaching me to read their scripts or story ideas, so I didn’t think too much of it at the time – although, I must admit that the concept of Desmond Doss being the first conscientious objector in You can be a hero and still history to win the Congressional stand by principle. Medal of Honour intrigued me, so ©LifeJourneys/istockphoto.com Focus 1-16 No Dates.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2017 08:37 Page 6 6 indeed, I did take the book home and what it was about Doss’s religion that made be who you are, to walk your own path, and 7 put it on my already overly-cluttered him tick, Jensen and Crosby finally met with that it doesn’t matter what other people think as Focus 1 desk.’ the man himself – at an annual get-together long as you’re doing what’s right in your heart.’ Focus 1 And that is where the book stayed with fellow war veterans and Medal of Honour The rest is now history. The movie has been for many months until, one Sunday, recipients in Los Angeles. made, Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson Crosby decided to tidy that desk and Entering a lobby packed with hundreds of and starring Andrew Garfield as Doss. discovered the book buried under veterans and their families, Crosby and Jensen What makes this film different to all the paperwork, notes and other spotted ‘this humble, gentle hero’ talking with a other war movies out there? Talking to the submissions. ‘Two hours later,’ he young soldier. ‘Then, seemingly led by some Hollywood Reporter,1 Gibson said he found the recalls, ‘I was literally reading the higher power, Desmond shook the young story of the ‘army medic who wouldn’t touch last paragraph as my wife and son man’s hand with a big smile, then looked my a weapon but yet who wanted to be part of returned home and walked into my way, and made his way over to me and Stan as saving lives in the worst place on earth’ to be though he recognised us as lifelong friends,’ ‘inspirational’. He added, ‘To walk into the Crosby recalled. ‘We had never met him, yet worst place on earth and not have a weapon ©EdStock/istockphoto.com Desmond somehow knew it was us, as if he and walk amongst it and do his job as a Corps was being divinely guided. It was a goosebump medic and save so many lives, it’s remarkable.’ moment for sure, and I’ll never forget it.’ For Jensen, seeing the movie is a dream Doss receiving the American Congressional Medal of That led to a long and fruitful meeting come true – but he wishes it had come earlier, Honour from President Harry Truman including deep discussions on life, family, even before the Iraq War. ‘It is counter culture. morals, religion, and eventually the big A film like this can give people hope that it’s OK easy – except for one major hurdle – question, ‘Could we make a movie of his life?’ to take a stand. You can be a hero and still Doss himself did not believe in movies.